My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on November 1, 2005

As winter and cold weather nears, those of us running ‘Biodiesel’ need to re-evaluate our alternative fueling strategies. Many return to petroleum diesel (D2) in order to avoid potential gelling and fuel starvation problems associated with untreated biodiesel. Even those running treated biodiesel are concerned as most treatments only lower the cloud and gell points of B100 (100% biodiesel) to just under the freezing point. Usually I just blend biodiesel with a treated D2 for simplicity and settle for about a B20 mix.

Lately though, I’ve been reading with some interest about Cuphea (Lythraceae). The flowering Cuphea plant produces a tiny oilseed, which contains lauric acid and other natural fatty acids. Modified lauric acid is used in a variety of household products, including soaps, detergents, shampoos and toothpastes. The hybrid version of the Midwestern US grown crop is currently being monitored by a couple university ag programs and is planted in less than 100 acres nationwide. A primary benefit for biodiesel is that it seems to have outstanding properties that could address the cold climate issues. Cuphea oil “has been used in the development of a model diesel fuel and lubricant where superior physical properties compared to petroleum products were observed. In the case of lubricants, estolides were synthesized using Cuphea fatty acids and oleic acid to give a material with a pour point of -42 deg C and a rotating bomb oxygen test (RBOT) time of 420 minutes.” (see USDA Agracultural Research Service study.)

I’ve clipped couple of quotes from an email that I’ll include below:

“This is a specialty crop that literally has the potential to be a major new oilseed crop,” said Andrew Hebard, CEO of Technology Crops International, a global specialty crop production company that is leading commercialization of the crop. ”We will be looking to significantly increase our contract crop production of cuphea in 2006 and are seeking qualified growers interested in spearheading its commercialization at the farm level.”

For example, below -20 degrees C, aircraft fuel thickens, creating pumping problems, but the addition of oil extracted from cuphea reduces the fuel’s freezing point. The project is administrated by EERC’s Center for Biomass Utilization, which is co funded by the Department of Energy and various corporate partners, and promotes research and development in converting biomass to energy, fuels and marketable products.

Technology Crops International will hold grower sign-up meetings in the Midwest in December and January.

Category: Biodiesel | No Comments »
Tags: alternative, biodiesel, cuphea, fuel

Posted By RichC on October 31, 2005

A friend of mine is always coming up with interesting ‘car related’ news and emails … he has forwarded me this one for Halloween; its a bit of a stretch to see the ‘ghost,’ but worth ‘scaring’ … I mean ‘sharing’ here.

This is a car advertisement from Great Britain. When they finished filming the ad, the film editor noticed something moving along the side of the car, like a ghostly white mist. They found out that a person had been killed a year earlier in that exact same spot.

Is it a ghost, or is it simply mist? You decide. If you listen to the ad, you’ll even hear the cameraman whispering in the background about it near the end of the commercial. A little creepy but pretty cool!

A Short “less than one meg” WMV Video Clip: GhostlyCarAd.wmv.

Category: Automotive, Humor, Video | No Comments »
Tags: advertising, mp4, scary

Posted By RichC on October 29, 2005

Last night I watched the NBC program “Three Wishes” that I commented (see post) on a couple of weeks ago; they helped welcomed home the 3/25 Marine unit from Iraq to Ohio. It was a heartwarming 60 minute program that was very emotional. The program actually granted four wishes with several receiving homes, a couple cars and to one widowed wife also a full 4 year education by Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Generally I’m not much of a television watcher, but because one part was recorded in my community and the others included the NE Ohio area and the MAPS museum, I had an interest. I’ll include the final segment of the program here, although the entire show was well done and worth seeing.

Click to play a streaming quality 9 mb Media Player .wmv clip (Windows Media Player Required) OR download (right-click/save as) a H.264 MP4 fullscreen high quality .mov clip, but a larger at 32 mb. Note: This is a long download for dialup users. If you are interested in seeing the entire program, drop me a comment and I’ll post it.

EDIT: Link for .WMV version of first 40 minutes of the Three Wishes. Warning: 69mb file.

EDIT 2: Scan of article in our local paper: Scholarship surprise wish for soldier’s widow

Category: Video | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on October 27, 2005

Yeah Baby … I had fun driving this little puppy! I had a chance to test drive a friend’s 2004 BMW MiniCooper ‘S’ in Northeastern Ohio. I’ve looked with envy at these little go carts since their re-introduction, and have been waiting for an opportunity to buzz around a bit. It was fun.

John was quick to toss me the keys and let me zip around some corners … and ‘zip’ is the optimum word.

The short wheel based, ground hugging ‘shoebox’ handled like very few other vehicles. Its ‘run flat’ low profile tires stuck like glue to the cold asphalt and the BMW like control was very precise. I really enjoyed the super tight handling characteristics.
Perhaps the telltale sign of a higher performance ‘S’ model is the center exhaust, that and the ‘S’ on the rear hatch. From the front, the functioning scoop cools the super charger and boosts the standard 115 HP/110 lb. ft. to 163HP/155 lb. ft., impressive for a 1.6 liter gasoline engine. Unfortunately the even the S model with a 6 speed transmission left me wanting. It failed to impress me while I navigated some traffic filled streets as there wasn’t any low rpm torque. The ‘git up and go’ was really missing when the revs were low; maybe I’m too accustomed to the low end torque available in a ‘tuned’ diesel?

For those of you unfamiliar with the Mini, it was introduced in England in 1959 and has a transversely-mounted engine and front wheel drive. This was unique for cars in the fifties and sixties but is the norm today. The original Mini was a tiny, boxlike two-door sedan about ten feet long and hold four people ‘with’ luggage in surprising comfort. The designer was Alec Issigonis and within a short period of time his Mini design theme became mainstream.

The original Mini was powered by an 850 cc engine, enlarged later to 997, 1071, and ultimately 1275cc. The old Mini’s engine was a pushrod overhead valve design, where the new engine has an overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder. In the early 1960s, Formula One builder John Cooper was called upon to improve Mini performance, and the Mini Cooper was born. (there is a John Cooper Works version of the mini today as well) The racing world primarily tuned the 1275cc engine in the early days where they now have a whopping 1600cc to work with. The Mini’s most famous win was not on a race track. It was at the Monte Carlo Rally, in 1964. One of the progenitors of today’s World Rally Championship, the Monte Carlo Rally (or, in French, Rallye Monte Carlo) was – and is, as it continues today – run over regular European roads in the depths of winter. Slippery conditions were and are the norm, with plenty of snow and ice, especially as Hopkirk and co-driver/navigator Henry Liddon started from Minsk, then in the Soviet Union. The Mini’s traction, Hopkirk’s driving, and Liddon’s navigation beat all competitors, even those with considerably more power and factory money behind them. The win was not a fluke; Minis went on to win the next three Monte Carlo Rallys in a row.

The old Mini was nicknamed “the flying shoe box” for its functional, boxy shape and diminutive size. Today’s Mini is of the same mold, although larger – at 12 feet long versus 10 – and more rounded in the front. Cooper S models, have a functional hood scoop to feed the intercooler. Although the Mini Cooper is small, it is a fully-functional car, with more interior space than some much larger sports coupes. Six-footers can fit comfortably in the front buckets, and two adults can fit in the rear as well. The rear hatch opens and provides storage behind the rear seat. The battery is in the rear and although the car is without a spare, it does have low profile $200+ a piece 205/45 VR17 ‘run flat’ Goodyear tires. Did I mention it “sticks like glue?” Fun, Fun, Fun.

I found it very comfortable and was impressed with all the switches ‘literally at my fingertips.’ With my hand on the gear shift I was practically able to control every creature comfort feature, including windows.

The original mini had a four-speed gearbox; the S has a 6-speed Getrag box that is a true pleasure to shift. Low ratios in first and second make the most of what power is available below 3000 rpm, not enough IMHO. It takes off over 3000 rpm, and around 5000 there is noticeable a supercharger whine and a serious kick from the blower. Unfortunately I have forgotten how to drive a car over 5000 rpm and perhaps didn’t get to experience driving it while keeping the tach in supercharger territory.

Sunroof – WOW – this is the only photo I need to show my wife if I want to convince her that we need a Mini Cooper! There is a lot to like about this great headturning package of ‘zip’ … it is functional, fun car and can still averaged over 30 mpg.

Category: Automotive | 1 Comment »
Tags: BMW, john bezusko, mini cooper, scooz

Posted By RichC on October 26, 2005

Jermaine Dye’s single was all that was needed for the White Sox to complete the sweep of the Houston Astros. Last night’s game was a defensive nailbiter with outstanding pitching and World Series defensive play by both teams. Dye’s 8th inning single put Chicago White Sox up 1 -0 and gave Sox fans their first World Series title in 88 years. (1917) The Astros became the 19th team to suffer a championship sweep while the White Sox made their first Series appearance since 1959 in convincing style.

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Posted By RichC on October 25, 2005

Interesting story: A body believed to be that of a World War II airman, found frozen in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California was found by recreational climbers. The spotted a body with an Army uniform still attached to a world war two parachute. On Monday the body was sent to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii for identification.

The body was discovered earlier this month mostly encased in a glacier in Kings Canyon National Park. It had been thawing since last week at the coroner’s office in Fresno County and then moved to Travis Air Force Base before being sent to the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii. Many believe this identification could solve the disappearance of a navigational training plane that left a Sacramento airfield in November 1942 carrying a crew of four on a routine flight.

LINK to PDF of an article

Category: Millitary, News | No Comments »
Tags: ww2

Posted By RichC on October 24, 2005

Hurricanes have not let up for 2005 as we prepare for another hit here in the US. This time it is Wilma who has already left dead in other areas. Wilma hovered over the Yucatan penninsula for the longest time until she accellerated as a Catagory 3 hurricane last night. Monday morning as I post this entry, Wilma is moving at 23 mph and rolling ashore with damaging winds and heavy rain. As the TV reporting is coming in, the folks on the east coast look to receive the heavy rain and damaging winds.

Marco Island, an affluent communty with beautiful homes and condos, looks to have received the eye of Wilma. I would expect to see quite a lot of property damage and hopefully no loss of life. Most of the southwestern Floridians wisely moved inland and hopefully found safe shelters.

My family is primarily concerned for the area on the east coast as our area might been next of Wilma’s hit list. According to the storm track we are on target for this strong storm to trigger tornados and inches of rain. Perhaps the storm surge is not as dangerous on the east coast but expect that with Wilma’s speed that the winds will still be hurricane strenghten and above. We are crossing our fingers.

Category: Weather | No Comments »
Tags: hurricane

Posted By RichC on October 20, 2005

Some of your reading my blog are diesel drivers and find the VW TDI or diesel content interesting so I’m making a late afternoon entry to point you to one of my favorite journalists and podcasters, Frank Giovinazzi. He had an opportunity to interview Tony Fouladpour, public relations manager of Volkswagen and talk about VW TDIs, diesel fuel and what the future ‘might’ hold for them in the US. I found Mr. Fouladpour comments rather reserved, how about you? Check it out over at CarBuyersNotebook.com.

Category: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on October 20, 2005

Another concept is unveiled by VW, this time at the Tokyo Motor Show. Volkswagen has an interesting mid-engine diesel sports car “concept” touting fuel economy translating to 69 mpg and capable of 143mph. Considering the ‘wise’ Volkswagen management of late, and a diesel, I’m sure VW is planning at this very moment to bring the Ecoracer to Anytown, USA. [/sarcasm]

The power for this concept car is a tuned 1.5 liter TDI diesel, similar to those developed for the popular VW TDI Toureg, Golf, Jetta, NB, Polo and Passat. This particular engine generates 134-hp utilizing TSI twin-turbo technology and is mid-located in a carbon fiber reinforced plastic car body. This lightweight sports car weighs in a a mere 1,874 lbs and can accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 6 seconds. This smaller 1.5-liter TDI diesel is using a new twin-charged TSI family of engines which promises a smaller engine size delivering the performance of higher displacement engines while reducing the overall fuel consumption. As with many production models, the EcoRacer as it is being called, uses the DSG double-clutch transmission for almost instant shifts.

What are the chances that the US will see new TDIs, let alone dream abot a VW EcoRacer TDI. US concept cars are bad enough, but hoping VW brings a diesel concept car to the US … dream on!

EDIT: An excellent writeup has been posted on the TDIClub forums which came from VWVortex.

Category: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on October 19, 2005

An Arlington Virginia company, SkyBuilt Power Inc, has found a new investor in its “drop and plop” electricity generating units: the 1999 CIA founded company called In-Q-Tel. The new investor will allow continued investment in a fuel-less power unit that can be used to provide continual power for small units in remote locations.

In September, the Wall Street Journal detailed the objective of this privately run investment company that makes it more efficient to develop the many products helpful to our country working around the world. This recent investment might help even the private sector, especially in rural areas, live a more comfortable and efficient off the grid life.

SkyBuilt’s Mobile Power Station (MPS) can generate up to 150 kilowatts of electricity, says David Muchow, the firm’s president and CEO. That’s enough to power an emergency operations center, an Army field kitchen, or a small medical facility. Skybuilt and In-Q-Tel announced Tuesday that they have signed a strategic development agreement, including an investment in SkyBuilt.

In-Q-Tel’s support is a breakthrough for the small firm. (The “Q” in In-Q-Tel is a whimsical play on the movie character “Q” who supplies James Bond with nifty gadgets.) SkyBuilt provides innovative energy solutions with the potential to help meet a wide variety of critical government and commercial power needs, says Gilman Louie, In-Q-Tel president and CEO.

The power stations could have important uses for disaster relief, homeland security, military operations, intelligence work, and a variety of commercial applications. The units are not yet designed for use by homeowners. After hurricane Katrina, SkyBuilt units could have been rushed to the scene and set up in hours, restoring power to hospitals, evacuee centers, police and fire departments, and cellphone towers.

One big drawback of solar energy until now has been that it was a “custom industry,” says Scott Sklar, vice president of SkyBuilt. Components are usually put together on-site, and differ from location to location. “When you buy a car, do they ship in all the pieces to your front yard and have somebody assemble it? I’m afraid not.

It works this way: Parts for each Skybuilt unit are packed into standard-size shipping containers. The containers, specially modified and strengthened, can be moved by ship, truck, train, or even dropped by a laser-guided parachute to the most remote location.

Once on-site, the container is opened, and arms and poles are attached to the outside to hold solar cells and wind turbines. A prototype built here in Arlington has been running steadily for more than a year without repairs or maintenance.

While SkyBuilt has 140 patent claims on its energy system, most of its individual component parts are widely available. Mr. Muchow explains that its MPS can use photovoltaic cells, small wind turbines, computers, batteries, and other parts from essentially any manufacturer.

This open architecture allows its MPS units to be upgraded whenever a battery or other manufacturer comes out with a better product. It also reduces costs.

This was attractive to In-Q-Tel. The government could develop its own advanced technology (as “Q” might do). But it is far less costly to support technology like SkyBuilt’s that also finds a larger market in the private sector, says Troy Pearsall, vice president of technology at In-Q-Tel.

In-Q-Tel, meanwhile, has signed agreements similar to this one with more than 80 companies since it was set up in 1999. Its mission is to identify and invest in firms with cutting-edge technologies that can aid US national security.

Reported in the Christian Science Monitor.

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