This post is a preliminary enquiry to see if there is likely to be enough local interest to make it worthwhile planning and running this construction as a series of workshops. The construction will be going ahead anyway. (If you’re interested, please leave a comment below rather than responding on eg. Facebook. Comments on this page won’t get lost or superceded by more recent news.)
Sometimes, when the number of Big Things needing done threatens to become overwhelming, it’s occasionally worthwhile to do a small thing, just for that sense of achievement, satisfaction and progress it can give. Well that’s my excuse at least.
Small thing in the foreground. Big Thing in the background
We got the power!
Solar panels on their temporary framework. They’ll move to their final position when renovation work on the main building is complete.
This post comes to you powered exclusively by the sun. Not only is this site hosted on 100% solar-powered webservers, but the computers and router servicing it are now 100% solar powered too.
The next stage in the water wheel construction is nearing completion. Because the ‘engine’ of the system is a permanent magnet generator from a wind turbine, and a water wheel turns much more slowly than a wind turbine, the wheel needs to be linked to the PMG via a gearing system that steps up the number of revolutions. To work out the optimum gear ratio for this installation, we needed to measure the actual rpm the wheel produces at present water volumes. For that to be done, we needed to construct a chute to deliver the water to the wheel.
Present water volumes in the barroco. Not huge. About 2 litres per second.
The water wheel is now installed in the barroco, along with the framework for the permanent magnet generator. Next stage is to construct the chute to deliver the water to the wheel, measure the flow rate and to have the appropriate gear wheel machined.
Work has begun on renewable energy power generation at the quinta!
Having seen local engineer Wayne Sutton’s water-wheel installation on his own property, it was immediately obvious to me that this was exactly what we needed for the hydro component of our planned renewable energy generation system.
With the stove working daily for almost two months now, it was obvious the flue was becoming obstructed with creosote deposits. When it got to the stage of smoking the yurt out every time we opened the stove door to add more wood, it was time to do something about it.
I also wanted to make a slight modification to my earlier modifications. (The upside-down flue pipe has been working perfectly. No leakage of creosote or smoke.)
Yesterday I went back and fitted the stove all over again. I wasn’t happy with the way the flue was installed, even though it was fitted the way it was designed to be.
The single skin stainless steel flue pipes, fittings and caps (chapéu) on sale here aren’t the most ideal flues from the point of view of efficient stove operation as the thin metal leads to rapid cooling of the combustion gases, causing condensation of water vapour and creosote accumulation at an accelerated rate. I’d already swapped my initial choice of 130mm pipe for 110mm before installation to increase draw and flue temperatures, but the nature of the pipe is such that 20mm diameter probably doesn’t make a massive amount of difference. (Though what do I know? I’m not a heating engineer.)
Christmas Eve. Seems a good time to get the stove finally in and working. I’d forgotten just how good this little stove is, and it draws to perfection with 3 lengths of 110mm flue pipe. At this rate I should have the yurt warm and dry and fit to move into within a reasonable time. Always providing I can source the firewood …
I just read about Pete and Cynthia Bampton’s new RAM pump which they’ve installed over at Quinta da Mizarela to bring water from their stream up to the houses and terraces. I can’t wait to get back to Benfeita to see this in operation for myself, but meanwhile it’s given me lots of food for thought.
Follow us on the|
moon phase |
