An Engineering Exploration of Stonehenge

November 11, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: History, Random, Solar

An Engineering Exploration of Stonehenge

The Britons worked out how the heavens move thousands of years before the Greeks started thinking about it. That is, in a nutshell, the story of engineer and author  Jonathan Morris.

His hypothesis originated from a solar renewable energy concentration system which he developed, using small fixed pieces of flat reflectors.

By chance, he discovered that the structural support of the solar energy system appears to be duplicated at Stonehenge, the enigmatic monument built 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. Every single one of the technical features required are precisely duplicated in size, height, location and orientation at Stonehenge.

Morris outlines his ideas in a novel (“The Broken Stone”) and a technical outline, available via his website: “Heavens’ Henge: A geocentric worldview“.

Rocking Chair Knits Winter Hats

November 10, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Random, Rocking chairs

rocking chair knits winter hats

“Shown in the ruckstuhl building as part of ECAL’s ‘low-tech factory’ exposition during designers’ saturday in Langenthal, Switzerland is ‘Rocking Knit’ – a design that makes the transition to the winter season a little less onerous. Students of university of art and design Lausanne Damien Ludi and Colin Peillex created a chair that will fashion its user a beanie as they leisurely rock back and forth, activating gears that put the machine to work as its sitter relaxes.”

“The project is in response to the exhibition’s theme, where students were required to reinterpret the idea of manufacture – deconstructing the fabrication process of a product to a slower, more considered pace. Designers’ saturday showcased the work in the ruckstuhl carpet factory, appropriately surrounding the work by spools of thread and feverish machinery, connecting concept and real-world techniques in a meaningful way.”

See and read more. Previously: Wind powered knitting machine.

The Most Effective Solar Cell

November 6, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Solar

Solar cell embodied energy“One can note that the carbon intensity of China at 788 g/kWh is greater than that of Canada at 184 g/kWh. (…). The most effective carbon-mitigating PV cell would be produced in Canada and sent to China. The low carbon intensity of the electric grid in Canada and corresponding low embodied carbon of the cell would combine with the high mitigation potential in China to produce an optimized mitigation technology.”

Unfortunately, it is the other way around. Solar cells are produced in China, and shipped to countries with relatively clean electric grids.

The quote is from: “Towards real energy economics: energy policy driven by life-cycle carbon emission“, Energy Policy 38, 2010.

Build a Solar Thermal Direct-Air Heater for $200

November 1, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: DIY, Heating appliances, Random, Solar

solar thermal direct air heater

“The town I live in is located near the Alberta-BC border, about 100 miles north of the US Canada border. Winters here are long and cold, but many days are crystal clear and sunny.”

“Our tool shed has a south-facing wall which was ideal to mount a solar thermal direct-air collector panel. The collector panel exterior dimensions are 48” high x 49.5” wide. Total budget: $200.00 Result: 16 sq ft harvest up to 6 kWh/day.”

Build a Solar-Thermal Direct-Air Heater (PDF). Introduction (and another project) here.

Wooden Bicycle Rims

November 1, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Bicycles, Bikes, Random, Travel, Wheels, Wood, Woodworking

wooden bicycle rims

“They are hard to build with, they require regular maintenance, they are expensive and they flex a lot. However, if you want a traditional looking wheel, avoiding metal altogether is a marvellous move, something that we’re lucky to still be able to do today.”

Cerchio Ghisallo has been producing wooden rims since 1946, and in this video father and son show how they do it. Inside Cerchio Ghisallo part 1, part 2, part 3.

More about wood rims: Building with Wooden Rims / Cycling before Lycra / Wheel Fanatyk / Is Wood the Goods? / Wood Sprints /Cerchio Ghisallo / Sacro Bosco Bicycle works / CB Italia.

Picture: d’Annata by Sartoria Cicli.

Making Bellows

October 31, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Bellows, DIY, Random, Wind Power

making bellows

“This is hopefully the start of a set of documents that will help in the construction of a portable, authentic forge and bronze casting set up. I am starting with the bellows as I can use them at home to help get the fire going in the winter months.”

“I have repaired a number of sets of bellows, but this is the first set I have actually made myself from scratch. They appear to work well – good flow rate, nice range of movement, practically no air loss. If you follow any of the instructions below and it doesn’t work properly – well then you are just doing it wrong.”

Making bellows.