Factor E Farm Blog

Last year, we have begun work on the automatic, open source chicken incubator – Hexahatch. It did not work well, primarily because the big rotor was too heavy. This year’s design – Hexahatch v2.0 – was changed to a simpler, still-air design, with a flat disk as the rotor for turning the eggs. We finally have a working prototype, after replacing a faulty thermostat and after upgrading the motor to a stronger one. See the incubator in action:

Here is an explanation of the build and issues involved: (more…)

Last year, we have begun work on the automatic, open source chicken incubator - Hexahatch. It did not work well, primarily because the big rotor was too heavy. This year's design - Hexahatch v2.0 - was changed to a simpler, still-air design, with a flat disk as the rotor for turning the eggs. We ...

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Here we show the complete documentation of a biodiesel production run. The video shows the process from oil settling to fueling the car – with titration and addition of reactants in between. We used 5 parts of waste vegetable oil to one part methanol, with potassium hydroxide as the base. We produced about 42 gallons in this run.

Open Source Biodiesel Tutorial from Marcin Jakubowski on Vimeo.

Used vegetable oil containst partially decomposed oil molecules, which must be neutralized. To determine the quality of the oil, we do a titration. (more…)

Here we show the complete documentation of a biodiesel production run. The video shows the process from oil settling to fueling the car - with titration and addition of reactants in between. We used 5 parts of waste vegetable oil to one part methanol, with potassium hydroxide as the base. We produced about 42 ...

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Here’s something to think about regarding our recent refocus on locally produced fuel and steam engines at Factor e Farm.

Energy is slave labor without the slaves. At Factor e Farm, doomsday peak oil scenarios are not particularly threatening because we know that a high standard of living can be attained readily by using technology that is 100 years old and which can be grown locally. Here’s how.

Pyrolysis oil fuel can be produced locally from biomass, reportedly at yields of up to 75%. There are already personal pyrolysis oil fuel makers on the market. Couple that to a Babington burner, which can burn crude oils of any kind. Add a steam engine, and we have 100% locally grown power – with modern steam engine efficiencies comparable to gasoline engines but lower than diesel engines. Fab this steam engine with the open source lathe, hot off the press at Factor e Farm, and you have local economic power, in both senses of the phrase. (more…)

Here's something to think about regarding our recent refocus on locally produced fuel and steam engines at Factor e Farm. Energy is slave labor without the slaves. At Factor e Farm, doomsday peak oil scenarios are not particularly threatening because we know that a high standard of living can be attained readily by using technology ...

[8] Comments

I’m in the process of designing a simple 3kW steam engine for both a combined heat-and-power gasifier system and our solar power generator system. I can’t help but think about the future possibility of small-scale steam power for both stationary and mobile steam power applications.

In absence of a really suitable open source 3D CAD program, I downloaded a free trial version of Alibre Design Xpress 3D solid modeling software – to do a basic 3D model of the engine we’re building, for which we have a $250 bill of materials:

The basic concept is – as mentioned in a previous post – a high performance modern steam engine of 20% efficiency can be made without much technical difficulty. Remember that our present solar turbine design requires only 5% efficiency to become feasible.

Moreover, a simple direct coupling of the steam engine to a linear hydraulic pump -

means that you have a super-simple hydraulic power source for devices like our open source tractor, LifeTrac. This brings LifeTrac much closer to the reality of being powered by high performance, modern steam – via local production. As such, LifeTrac would become integrated into the local agricultural ecology – capable of being powered by a gasifier or pyrolysis oil from local biomass.

Now I’m busy on the standard steam engine of the 3D drawing above – so if you want to see the latter hydraulic pump hybrid come to reality sooner rather than later – contact us right now and let’s start talking about fabrication. By the way, there is a resurgence of interest in such hydraulic drive in the mainstream economy. (more…)

I’m in the process of designing a simple 3kW steam engine for both a combined heat-and-power gasifier system and our solar power generator system. I can’t help but think about the future possibility of small-scale steam power for both stationary and mobile steam power applications. In absence of a really suitable open source 3D ...

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After rain and more rain, a sunny day was warmly welcomed by all.

Yama (our dog)  sunbathed.

The chickens ate an extra helping of weed seed.

And we made biodiesel.

Actually, I continued diligently on soldering, caulking, and trimming the solar panels. Marcin cut metal for the panel frames.   I’ve been working on the panels for the last 3 months and Marcin is bored after doing anything twice, so, while important aspects of the operation here, these are hardly worth a post.

The biodiesel, on the other hand, is this beautiful amber-golden liquid that became a reality as we slept.  It finished its reaction overnight and all we had to do was pour off the glycerin from the bottom of the drum and then fill up the vehicles with fuel. That is newsworthy.  That is an engaging drama.  That is Factor E Live quality material.

Well, don’t get too excited yet.  We have the footage and will share the updates in the near future.  In the meanwhile, I thought you might enjoy a few pictures to wet your appetite.

From left to right: The heavier, darker glycerin is drained from the bottom of the reaction chamber.  Next, note the lighter color.  Some biodiesel is escaping with the last of the glycerin.  On the right, after all the glycerin has been drained off, we empty the liquid gold biodiesel from the tank.

After rain and more rain, a sunny day was warmly welcomed by all. Yama (our dog)  sunbathed. The chickens ate an extra helping of weed seed. And we made biodiesel. Actually, I continued diligently on soldering, caulking, and trimming the solar panels. Marcin cut metal for the panel frames.   I've been working on the panels for ...

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Digging with the tooth bar bucket on LifeTrac was a major success.

We’ve already described the open source tooth bar in a previous post. Here is the tooth-barred bucket in action.

We have fixed minor problems with LifeTrac, including a frame that cracked in half. One can say this is field testing for real – open source tractor, backhoe, tooth bar bucket, rototiller. Problems come up, problems are solved. Yes, I said minor problems. It took me two days to fix it and and fabricate a new part – on an issue that could have been a major setback in the project – as we had with our former industrial tractor. This is a beautiful example of post-industrial eco-technology in the making. Post-industrial – in sociological terms – means that the distinction between master and servant is clear. The promise of human-centered technology is delivered in practice.

We are now in the dirt digging for gold: soil for CEB construction. In the short time before it rained, we have dug enough soil for about 600 bricks.

Then the most unique event happened in our orchard – as also shown in the video. One of our orchard apple trees – it’s blooming in November!

That is absolutely inspiring. It just shows a reality: anything can happen at any time. The world is full of mutants, freaks, alternatives, surprises, expanded consciousnesses, and other things tucked under the rug. Homogenization may be a major mainstream ill – but good old diversity always wins. The only constant is change itself. I’m interested in hearing other stories like this – with plants or other topics.

Digging with the tooth bar bucket on LifeTrac was a major success. We've already described the open source tooth bar in a previous post. Here is the tooth-barred bucket in action. We have fixed minor problems with LifeTrac, including a frame that cracked in half. One can say this is field testing ...

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The spirits run high as Bob’s Bab Lab produces a roaring Babington burner flame at Factor e Farm:

Our next steps are to put a shroud around the flame for flame continuity, and installing a water heat exchange coil in the shroud for hydronic heating, steam generation, and other applications. We are currently considering a CEB masonry stove – the CEB kachelofen – as a center of our CEB additions. We would like to use this stove for hydronic heating, cooking, drying, and soon as a steam source for combined heat and power.Any details on winding techniques for continuous steel tubing are welcome. We are considering a 100 foot coil of 1/2″ or 3/4″ heat exchange coil – which we are trying to wind in a 6 inch spiral. Also, details on a possible masonry stove design are welcome.

The spirits run high as Bob's Bab Lab produces a roaring Babington burner flame at Factor e Farm: Our next steps are to put a shroud around the flame for flame continuity, and installing a water heat exchange coil in the shroud for hydronic heating, steam generation, and other applications. We are currently ...

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Ecology and technology. The tractor is borne of plants and rock – transformed to rubber and steel.

It’s munching up the soil – with the tiller. It is site preparation for the first Hexayurt – in minutes as opposed to 2 days with 3 people with heavy hoe by hand. We are on schedule as shown at:

. The crowd funding already paid for materials. Bob is here. The site is prepared. Tomorrow you’ll see pictures of the Hexayurt – temporary shelter for Bob and others as we get going with CEB construction.

The tractor is going through shakedown – hydraulic pressure adjustments, electrical switch upgrade for turning the tractor on, a 1100 pound weight on the back.

We are still looking for at least 2 more people – do you have any suggestions? We aim to be in production of the CEB presses themselves in 6 months – with 4 per week capacity. We won’t need the crowd funding as much then – once we’re producing. In the meantime, donate to accelerate that progress. It’s the critical startup stage.

This crowd funding is like a virtual reality game – except we are your real-life players – with product and video footage to show it.

Ecology and technology. The tractor is borne of plants and rock - transformed to rubber and steel. It's munching up the soil - with the tiller. It is site preparation for the first Hexayurt - in minutes as opposed to 2 days with 3 people with heavy hoe by hand. We are on ...

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Yesterday, LifeTrac rolled out of the shop under the power of its own engine. It purred like a cat, turning smoothly over the ground with its articulated steering. Brittany, Jessica, and I celebrated with elderberry champagne. Farm-fresh organic, of course.

That was a great moment for the Global Village Construction Set – as I am seeing each of the pieces come to life right under my eyes, getting us ever closer to an amazing, integrated ecology of living and working – fueled and fed by the sun, plants, and soil around us. (sorry, we’ll post some videos when our Canon SD750 digital camera arrives in a couple of days).

Theres’s more work to be done on LifeTrac – installing the loader and backhoe, building the rototiller/auger attachment, and mounting the CEB press as a tractor implement. With these pieces the infrastructure for building with the CEB will be complete.

I am completely delighted with LifeTrac because of its adaptability. Next year, we aim to build a flash steam engine for it – and power it by pyrolysis oil from our own trees. 100% local organic tractor power – how sweet indeed. With the CEB, and proposed swingblade sawmill, hay baler, agricultural combine (the top dog of all agricultural machinery), and well-drilling rig attachments – all open source – that will be one versatile, life-size erector set of appropriate modern technology. We hope that this will be no less than a significant contribution to the ecological evolution of humanity, similar to Gandhi’s vision of appropriate production as is also practiced by Tinytech Plants in India.

Yesterday, LifeTrac rolled out of the shop under the power of its own engine. It purred like a cat, turning smoothly over the ground with its articulated steering. Brittany, Jessica, and I celebrated with elderberry champagne. Farm-fresh organic, of course. That was a great moment for the Global Village Construction Set - as I am ...

[3] Comments

Based on a personal gasifier, care of Dr. Yuyi Lin , Mike Koch, et al:

which generates gas from any cellulosic biomass:

we can take the process further to make liquid fuels – such as diesel. Utilizing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, a process proven on a large scale:

(from Wikipedia)

our collaboratory will evaluate the possibilities for optimization for small-scale fuel generation. We mean personal fuel makers – a radical proposition. We are currently writing a grant proposal for this – and will consider a dual license – free to small producers, and royalty-based for companies with gross sales of a million or more dollars. Please view this historical website for progress on the Fischer-Tropsch process to date – and comment on key issues and possibilities.

Based on a personal gasifier, care of Dr. Yuyi Lin , Mike Koch, et al: which generates gas from any cellulosic biomass: we can take the process further to make liquid fuels - such as diesel. Utilizing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, a process proven on a large scale: (from Wikipedia) our collaboratory will evaluate the possibilities for optimization for small-scale ...

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