Natural Gas Generators

[twcpfan1]

I think they need to be a fixture in every house on or near the Gulf Coast. I'm one of the lucky ones with power right now. Still a lot in The Woodlands and Houston are still suffering. I have people one street over who do not have power yet and I'm almost feeling guilty sitting here in my comfortable electric powered house.

They start at about 1700.00. I was seriously thinking of getting a small one enough to power a small room with a TV,a small wall unit a/c, small fridge. a small lamp and a computer and the peripherals to access the internet. Does anybody have any experience with these and how they perform?

And on that subject, I wonder why we do not power more appliances with natural gas. Is it a question of cost?

[rwilleby]

Hmmm... That's pretty cool... Did a quick google and one thing they point out is that Natural Gas is usually available in all homes... So, not only could we still cook our meals, we would have had some type of power too... Very interesting...

No running to find gasoline with the other type of generator too!

Look at this... http://www.norwall.com/product_info.php?cPath=17&products_id=600

[rwilleby]

and this explains how it works... http://www.guardiangenerators.com/Products/Information/HowDoesItWork.aspx

[twcpfan1]

Hmmm... That's pretty cool... Did a quick google and one thing they point out is that Natural Gas is usually available in all homes... So, not only could we still cook our meals, we would have had some type of power too... Very interesting...

No running to find gasoline with the other type of generator too!

Look at this... http://www.norwall.com/product_info.php?cPath=17&products_id=600

All through Katrina, Rita and Ike, I don't believe that Natural Gas supply was ever interrupted. If you had a diesel powered car to go along with a NG Generator, the after effects of a hurricane would be almost a non issue providing your house stays damage free.

[rwilleby]

All through Katrina, Rita and Ike, I don't believe that Natural Gas supply was ever interrupted. If you had a diesel powered car to go along with a NG Generator, the after effects of a hurricane would be almost a non issue providing your house stays damage free.

I think mine was fine too... When NG gets interrupted, we may have a whole new set of problems and should probably be somewhere else...

And remember, the station down the road has power for you to get your Diesel...

[twcpfan1]

I think mine was fine too... When NG gets interrupted, we may have a whole new set of problems and should probably be somewhere else...

And remember, the station down the road has power for you to get your Diesel...

Through the outage, NG made a world of difference for us since we were at least able to take hot showers and cook at home.

[rwilleby]

Through the outage, NG made a world of difference for us since we were at least able to take hot showers and cook at home.

Oh, that's right... Hot showers... I forgot about that... Not sure where I would install one... The electric is on one side of the house and the gas on the other... Plus, it's not something I wold want to put right out in plain sight... But then again, the AC units are right out there... Hmmmm....

[Favpack]

We have a gas stove - each burner would work fine for about 10 minutes - then cut out. We were down to our final burner when power came back on. I will call Reliant and see why that was - not sure.

[Firebird]

The U.S. in general needs to heed Pickens' advice and start switching everything we can to NG and CNG, including cars. An affordable CNG hybrid car would be one of the biggest things we can do for our national security. The technology is almost there. It's a cleaner fuel, it's more abundant, and it will help fill in the gap as we try to boost truly fossil fuel free sources of energy.

[chhspantherfan]

The U.S. in general needs to heed Pickens' advice and start switching everything we can to NG and CNG, including cars. An affordable CNG hybrid car would be one of the biggest things we can do for our national security. The technology is almost there. It's a cleaner fuel, it's more abundant, and it will help fill in the gap as we try to boost truly fossil fuel free sources of energy.


and you well know the issues are in the distribution chain. Come on now, we have the technology now, but no automaker will spend the dollars if we can't get the fuel to the consumer/

[Firebird]

and you well know the issues are in the distribution chain. Come on now, we have the technology now, but no automaker will spend the dollars if we can't get the fuel to the consumer/

Which is why....instead of "Drill baby Drill"....we need to start investing in things like a CNG distribution system that show actual promise of weaning us off our oil habit:) You know, tighten the belts and sacrifice a little TODAY and plan for a better TOMORROW. Instead of living for NOW and holding off the consequences as long as possible.

My parents always taught me that living for the moment was irresponsible, but I've learned lately that it is LIBERAL. Who knew:confused:

[twcpfan1]

and you well know the issues are in the distribution chain. Come on now, we have the technology now, but no automaker will spend the dollars if we can't get the fuel to the consumer/

At the risk of sounding ignorant. If you can power up your water heater and range with Natural Gas, why wouldn't you be able to fuel up your NG powered car from your house?

[rwilleby]

At the risk of sounding ignorant. If you can power up your water heater and range with Natural Gas, why wouldn't you be able to fuel up your NG powered car from your house?

?? car = compressed?

[Firebird]

Yes. Autos run on compressed natural gas, which is different from what gets piped into your home. There are challenges to a widespread distribution system of CNG, but unlike pipe dreams of discovering a never ending ocean of oil that will be ALL OURS, a good CNG distribution system could be done.

[Slim-Rob]

K i dont know much about this topic but wouldn't supply and demand cause the cost of natural gas to rise? And by the time everyone switches to natural gas, the cost of petroleum products will drop because there is less of a demand for it right?

[chhspantherfan]

CNG is not a 100% fix, it is a method to reduce the dependance on 100% fossil fuel. I see it being regionalized for max efficiency, but the problem there is it would be politicized to the advantage of respective region's party affilitation.

I think the 12 yr old kid that is getting the grant for his solar work is closer to a "good" fix.

12-year-old from Portland has won a $25,000 award from a national organization that supports gifted youth.

William Yuan's award from the Reno, Nevada-based Davidson Institute for Talent Development, came for scientific research that he conducted.

William invented a new design of a highly efficient, three-dimensional nanotube solar cell for visible and UV light.

Source:
koin.com

[chhspantherfan]

here is more


William Yuan, a Beaverton, Oregon 12-year boy, invented a new kind of solar cell that can absorb both visible and ultraviolet light.

I bet this kind of news makes you feel pretty weird about your own accomplishments so far. It sure made me. And, to scare you even further, I took a look at little Will's resume. Oh my, here goes.

Two years before finishing elementary school in 2007, he became a member of the First Lego League (FLL) and this determined him to delve into the research of nanotechnology and renewable energy. Since he realized the importance of the latter for the future, he focused his attention on the study and development of solar cells. Regular visits to Portland State University helped him with his project.

Besides that, he broadened his intellectual interests and began attending computer programming, biology, media design and mechanical engineering. Here are some of the institutions he "visits": FLL, Science Bowl, MESA (Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement), Signal to Noise, American Mathematics Competitions, Mathcounts, Chess, Geo-Bee, and the Discovery Education Young Scientist Challenge. Furthermore, Yuan plays chess and piano and likes to ski, while he also has a black belt (for those under 15) in Taekwondo. From 2005 up to now, he won 17 awards for most of his interests.

Regarding his project, called "A Highly-Efficient 3-Dimensional Nanotube Solar Cell for Visible and UV Light," he has recently been granted a $25.000 scholarship for research purposes. He came up with some carbon nanotubes that help overcome the boundaries of electron movements, which doubles the efficiency of light-electricity conversion. He also designed a solar tower model, as well as a piece of software that simulates and optimizes its parameters. This optimized design allows for 500 times more light absorption than the commonly available commercial solar cells and about 9 times top-notch 3D ones.

He plans to get his invention out on the market, which will depend on its cost efficiency. Given his youth, William has an entire lifetime ahead to improve on that as well.

:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy

[ktCarl]

I think they need to be a fixture in every house on or near the Gulf Coast. I'm one of the lucky ones with power right now. Still a lot in The Woodlands and Houston are still suffering. I have people one street over who do not have power yet and I'm almost feeling guilty sitting here in my comfortable electric powered house.

They start at about 1700.00. I was seriously thinking of getting a small one enough to power a small room with a TV,a small wall unit a/c, small fridge. a small lamp and a computer and the peripherals to access the internet. Does anybody have any experience with these and how they perform?

And on that subject, I wonder why we do not power more appliances with natural gas. Is it a question of cost?

$1700.00!!:eek: That plus the gas to run it seems to be more expensive than staying in a relatively cheap hotel/motel.

I think natural gas would be good. More homes used to have it in the past but now most homes built from the late 70's to now are all electric. Oh, how tiresome it got to hear the newspeople on the radio telling us, "Don't drink your tap water! Boil it first before you drink!!" How can you boil water without power? :confused:

[chhspantherfan]

ok, so what's my point?

in order to reduce our dependance on 100% oil, no single thing will take it's place right now. However, with these types of discoveries, we can proportion difeerent segments some of the burden.

Fossil Fuel X%
CNG Y%
Solar Z%
other ?

you get the picture. But it will take a plan. We need a business person to run this. So the most important person taking office in January may not be the President, rather the Secretary of Energy. IMO

[chhspantherfan]

$1700.00!!:eek: That plus the gas to run it seems to be more expensive than staying in a relatively cheap hotel/motel.

I think natural gas would be good. More homes used to have it in the past but now most homes built from the late 70's to now are all electric. Oh, how tiresome it got to hear the newspeople on the radio telling us, "Don't drink your tap water! Boil it first before you drink!!" How can you boil water without power? :confused:

duh, turn on the stove.:rolleyes:

[rwilleby]

$1700.00!!:eek: That plus the gas to run it seems to be more expensive than staying in a relatively cheap hotel/motel.

I think natural gas would be good. More homes used to have it in the past but now most homes built from the late 70's to now are all electric. Oh, how tiresome it got to hear the newspeople on the radio telling us, "Don't drink your tap water! Boil it first before you drink!!" How can you boil water without power? :confused:

Next time come by my place and I'll let you boil water and take a warm shower... :)

[ktCarl]

Next time come by my place and I'll let you boil water and take a warm shower... :)

I was only out of power for 11 hours and since I only take a shower once a month I was in no eminent peril.. I've been a boy scout before; I can take it.

[rwilleby]

I was only out of power for 11 hours and since I only take a shower once a month I was in no eminent peril.. I've been a boy scout before; I can take it.

See red above... What about your lovely wife... Ha!

[rwilleby]

Start a thread about oil and wind so we can stay on topic for a change... and yes Carl for 1700.00 we could go stay somewhere else but you have not met many of my relatives... Ha! 1700.00 might just be a bargain...


Back on topic... I wonder if they have something that runs on propane like the floor waxing machines at Walmart...

[twcpfan1]

$1700.00!!:eek: That plus the gas to run it seems to be more expensive than staying in a relatively cheap hotel/motel.

I think natural gas would be good. More homes used to have it in the past but now most homes built from the late 70's to now are all electric. Oh, how tiresome it got to hear the newspeople on the radio telling us, "Don't drink your tap water! Boil it first before you drink!!" How can you boil water without power? :confused:

A one week stay in a hotel for a family of 4, including eating out, would exceed that, not to mention you'd have to find one first. You would have to travel. Besides, I think those are good for more than one hurricane. I think it's worth it.

BTW, for all those in Houston still without power, you'll be happy to know that the temps are supposed to stay with lows down to the low to mid 60's all through to the 29th. Decent sleeping weather. Hang in there.

[twcpfan1]

Interesting tidbit on the news. FEMA has agreed to pay for hotel rooms for 135,500 families and yet less than 9000 are currently checked in.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080920/ap_on_re_us/ike