Power Generator for travel trailer - alternative energy kinds like biodiesel or hydrogen or solar?
Question:
Answer:
Hello,
I find your question very cool as alternative fuels are one of the hot topics of our times.
Ok, I'll list the most popular alternative fuels and some chunks of information and useful links alongwith them:
1- CNG i.e Compressed Natural Gas.
In India's capital city Delhi, the public transport vehicles have switched to CNG. It not only helps reduce pollution but, also is good for the economy. Your country, Canada is one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world.
I think you folks might try switching to CNG. I recommend CNG if you have a nearby retail CNG gas-station. CNG cylinders might also be available there.
Here are a few useful links:
1] Info on Natural Gas in Canada
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/fu...
2] Technocarb Equipment Ltd.- Alternative Fuel Power
http://www.technocarb.com/news.htm...
3] FIBA Canning Inc.- Another company pioneering the Natural gas buisness
http://www.fibacanning.com/firsts.htm...
4] Very useful info on CNG and its market
http://www.transoceangas.com/
5] Canada's initiatives with the "Green Gas"
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/04/...
6] You want fuel cylinders? Check this link out:
http://www.dynetek.com/
7] A forum for starters
http://www.ngv.org/ngv/ngvorg01.nsf...
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2- Biodiesel
An excellent choice for alternative fuel this one. I didn't need to research much about it as there is a website called biodiesel-canada.org on the internet. Here is the link:
http://www.biodiesel-canada.org/...
You can find almost everything you might wanna know there.
Here is another site with awesome info on biodiesel and ethanol-
http://www.greenfuels.org/biodiesel/inde...
A useful link from greenfuels.org -
http://www.greenfuels.org/biodiesel/pand...
Unfortunately, I don't think biodiesel generators exist as it is produced from organic activities e.g. decaying of leaves etc. You'll have to buy the cylinders from biodiesel stations.
Here is some more info about this :
http://www.thevarsity.ca/media/storage/p...
If you are intersted in trivia, here are some biodiesel facts :
http://www.canadacleanfuels.com/biodiese...
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files...
Now, if you'd like to "brew" biodiesel in your own backyard, here is a web-page you'll love :
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/biodiese...
If you like researching, Wikipedia is the place to start :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/biodiesel...
(Just click on the external links under the article)
And if you'd like to see some papers and books about biodiesel, here is the link:
http://web.missouri.edu/~pavt0689/biofue...
An advice: Please, be sure that the use of biodiesel has been approved by the manufacturer of your vehicle.
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3. SVO - Straight Vegetable Oil
Dancingrabbit.com has some useful info on unmodified Veg oil which is used mixed with other fuels. Here is the link:
http://www.dancingrabbit.org/biodiesel/...
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4- Hydrogen
I am afraid, Hydrogen (as an alternative fuel) too might not be available through generators. You'll have to go to fuelling stations like this one to run your vehicle with Hydrogen gas :
http://www.h2.ca/index.php?option=com_co...
Here is the ultimate website for some who wants discussion papers, CDs, accesibility, info, etc on Hydrogen as an alternative fuel, check it out :
http://www.h2.ca/
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Here is a great online journal about alternative fuels:
http://www.greencar.com/index.cfm?conten...
You might also be interested in alternative fuels other than those listed above. Here is a list of some other interesting alternative sources of energy :
* Electricity,
* Ethanol,
* The p-series,
* Propane,
* E85 (E85 is an alcohol fuel mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, by volume) and
* LNG (Liquified Natural Gas).
I don't know of any other generators except the usual oil and kerosene. Sounds like a really neat project, good luck.
Bio diesel engines are not commonly available but you could get one if you search the net.Hydrogen powered engines are not safe,Hydrogen fuel cell plants are a good option even though they are very expensive.Why don't you try wind power?
A good source for all autonomous living technology information is the centre for alternative technology
They have data sheets and courses on reed bed sewage systems, composting toilets, wind generation, hydro, solar heating & pv, bio-diesel ... AND they have actually lived with it for decades.
OK they are not in North America, but closer to you than the west coast.
The military is working on portable hydrogen generators to replace battery packs, I dont think there is anything comercially available yet
The only economic disaster for the investor greater than not making Renewable Energy economically viable is for there to be no replacement for fossil fuel. Without a replacement expect the economy of 1850 by 2050. The start of the change over has to start before the baby boomers retirement bill collides with the energy crisis. Without the change over already under way the economies of the 1st World will never recover.
The problem Renewable energy will never be cheaper than the energy that produce it unless the cost of the original source skyrockets after installation.
I do have a solution but it will never happen, because it require 2 international governments to donate/invest a large enough amount of land for the private investor to sit-up & take notice. The debate in both legislative branches would do the due diligence for the investor, show the need is real, the governments are intending for a return on investment, advertise both the investment, and the place to move a business. The solution is based on creating sell-able spin-off benefits.
Both governments have been advised of the solution. Senator Fienstein replied patting herself on the back saying she was doing exactly what I wrote to her was inadequate to change the economics of Renewable Energy. I wrote back telling her she just insured that our energy bills will skyrocket to cover the cost of the infrastructure. She didn't reply.
Bio disel exist and research is going on . keep trying
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