Showing posts with label Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Energy. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Huge Jacobs Ladder
Caused by a malfunctioning 500kv switch opening hot.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Swift Wind Turbine - Cascade Engineering
Continuing the Unofficial "Off Grid" Theme of the Week
Originally Developed in Scotland by Renewable Devices the Swift Turbine is also being manufactured and Sold in the U.S. by Cascade Engineering. Unlike most wind turbines, the Swift was engineered for roof top installation from the beginning and is intended to satisfy residential zoning ordinances. To reduce objectionable noise in the neighborhood, the turbine uses a small diameter (7 feet), 5 blade ringed rotor (the ring is designed to help disrupt blade tip vortexes, a major source of noise). To cut down on noise within the house it it features special vibration damping roof mounts and because it's not mounted on a huge pole, you don't have to worry about it blowing over and landing on your neighbors house. The Swift is rated for 1.5kw in a 31mph wind and Cascade claims that noise at any speed never exceeds 31db. Cascade's web site has a neat little program that can help you determine if a wind turbine makes sense in your area.
More Info
www.swiftwindturbine.com
More Info
www.swiftwindturbine.com
Friday, January 16, 2009
Atomic Soviet Lighthouses via Gizmodo (via English Russia)
Soviet Atomic Lighthouses Are Both Spooky and Deadly
By Jesus Diaz , 7:51 AM on Fri Jan 16 2009, 15,956 views
Once upon a time, back when people in Russia used big moustaches and sent other people to Siberia, there were no GPS or tacky cellphones. But they had atomic lighthouses to light the Artic shores.
Since there was no easy way to travel by ship across the Northern coast of the Soviet Union, the smartypants of the Communist regime decided that they needed a chain of autonomous lighthouses that could run 24/7/365. The answer: light-weight nuclear reactors and a generation of lighthouse guards with four hands and six eyes.
Right now, these structures can be visited, if you don't care about you or your future kids growing up extra members—the lighthouses are, obviously, contaminated with radiation. [English Russia]
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