Fuel Ghoul

Making Better Batteries: The Evolution of Energy Storage Systems

In the last decade, cordless tools have expanded in voltage and application to become primary work tools on residential and commercial job sites. It's all because of the batteries.

Batteries are the backbone of the solar revolution. Fuel Ghoul notes that here in Toronto Canada, there are quite a few different service companies claiming to be 100% sustainable and new batteries with improved power storage technology are the keys to their success.

EcoDeckBuilder uses ‘solar powered’ cordless drills and chop saws to cut and join lumber (that has been ecologically sourced), and Ecocut Lawns offers ‘zero emissions grass-cutting using Greenworks lawn gardening power tools with lithium batteries.

Raymi Toronto reports that Ecocut Lawns used to haul around all their commercial lawn care equipment in a high tech solar powered trailer on which there was a solar panel that would recharge their batteries in between jobs, but they learned after reviewing the data that simply by hauling this thing around, (when all their gear would otherwise fit comfortably in the back of a pickup truck), they were costing themselves more in terms of fossil fuel consumption, than their apparatus saved them in solar power.

Here's a picture of a solar trailer my buddy made from scratch to charge his lawn care appliances,

Pictures of the grasscutting rig are up on Greener People thread. This is one more service industry that has been affected by the introduction of lightweight, durable, rechargeable Lithium ion battery technology.

A Brief Discourse on Batteries

In engineering, the term ‘battery’ refers to a device for making electrically charged atoms (ions) travel from one point to another through a power system. When electrical charges move, they create an electric current and it is this flow of ions that ‘powers’ things connected to the battery. Batteries are based on ionic chemistry. The chemistry of how elements and molecules take up / lose valence electrons to become charged / uncharged ions, and how ions are central to molecules and elements being able to dissolve into polar liquids (electrolytes), like acids, bases, and salts dissolved in water. 

To physically make a battery you need two electrodes between which the ions will travel and in the middle of the cell, you need a substance for them to travel through, which is called an electrolyte. One electrode, called the anode is negatively charged. The other pole that’s positively charged is called the cathode. When the battery is discharging—i.e., when it’s connected to a device that draws power from it—positively charged ions shuttle from the anode to the cathode creating a current.

Photo source --- Popular science graphics on GM Volt battery (2008)

If you are looking at rechargeable batteries, just imagine plugging the device into a wall socket and pumping electricity back into the cells forces the ions in the electrolyte to shuffle back to the anode, where their potential energy is stored until needed again.

Almost everything in battery design comes down to the materials of which the device has been constructed. What is the anode made of? What is the cathode made of? And what is the chemical composition of the electrolytic medium in between? This chemistry determines how many ions the battery can store, and how fast it can pump them out as raw DC (direct current) power.

The First Batteries Were Made of Lead and Acid

The lead–acid battery was invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté and is the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Lead-acid batteries use Pb lead for the electrodes, and sulfuric acid H2SO4 is the electrolytic medium. Despite having a relatively low energy-to-weight ratio, and a low energy-to-volume ratio, its ability to supply high surge currents means that the cells have a decent power-to-weight ratio.

These features along with their low cost makes lead acid batteries attractive for use in motor vehicles which require a robust charge to start the internal combustion automobile engine. The modern starter motor needs a sustained 12-volt charge. The lead acid battery is not a very practical choice for portable equipment. I couldn’t imagine running a weed whacker or a cordless drill with a lead acid battery attached, as it would be heavy and dangerous.

Nickel Cadmium Batteries Versus Lithium batteries

The first Ni–Cd battery was created by Waldemar Jungner in Sweden in 1899, and like so many other electrical pioneers he had a patent dispute with the Edison Corp in the early 1900s which many people now believe Edison won only because he had greater financial resources to devote to the case.

The nickel–cadmium battery, NiCd battery or NiCad battery is a type of rechargeable battery using nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium as electrodes. The abbreviation Ni-Cd is derived from the chemical symbols of nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd), and interesting note - the abbreviation 'NiCad' is actually a registered trademark of SAFT Corporation which I believe is a direct descendant of the company that Jungner founded one hundred years ago.

Lithium Ion batteries were created at about the same time but it wasnt until the 1970s that breakthroughs made by Exxon funded labs made them feasible. Lithium ion has various formulas There are hundreds of formulas of lithium ion, each with various features and benefits.

Last decade, lithium-ion batteries gave transistor legs. Without the newly conceived lithium ion batteries developed by Exxon we would not have smartphones, tablets or laptops. 

Lithium ion batteries do not necessarily bring more power to the job.  Battery chemistry does not influence power - this calculation is determined by the voltage of the battery and the efficient design of the motor, transmission and mechanism at work. Increasing both or either voltage or efficiency increases power. An 18V lithium ion battery has the same potential to deliver power as an 18V NiCd battery because they are the same voltage. However, the ergonomic advantage of lithium ion batteries allows manufacturers to make higher voltage tools-and, thus, increase power-without increasing weight.

Lithium ion does not mean more run time The run time (or number of holes drilled on a single battery charge) is determined by three factors: 1. Battery voltage 2. Battery capacity (amp-hour) 3. Efficiency of tool design Increasing voltage, amp-hour or tool efficiency improves run time. NiCd and NiMH batteries range in capacity from 1.3Ah to 3.0Ah. In comparison, lithium ion batteries range from 1.1Ah to 3.0Ah.  The lithium ion battery is smaller in size and lighter in weight than a nickel cadmium (NiCd) or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. In addition, lithium ion has virtually no self-discharge. This allows a lithium ion battery to be stored for months without losing charge.

Remember, amp-hour is only one factor in run time, just as the size of the gas tank is only one factor in how far a vehicle can drive on a tank of gas. The best measure of run time on a cordless drill would be how many actual holes are drilled on a single charge, or how many boards were cut on a single battery. But even using these true metrics, the applications per battery charge factor in voltage, capacity and the efficiency of the tool and operator. 

Its also worth noting that there currently is no industry standard for measuring the amount of recharges a user can get from the battery.

Bluechem Engine System Cleaners, Chemically Advanced Automotive Engine Cleaning Solutions

Bluechem Group is an automotive lubricants manufacturer based in Europe. They make and sell over four thousand different chemical products, in just about every country, all over the world.

In recent years, this corporation has been developing a lot of products for well-known automakers that contacted them because of their increasingly high tech demands. After comprehensive testing in their labs, Bluechem research scientists modify the right effectiveness and compatibility to the vehicle maker's specific parts. The CTP GmbH uses state-of-the-art lab facilities in Germany to do research on fuel cleaners using gas chromatography, material testing, emission measurement and oil or water analysis. The short distances between production, laboratory and technical decision-makers enable more effective work and research processes.

In 2006 the CTP GmbH was nominated for the Innovation Award of Thuringia for the joint project with the Fraunhofer Institute "Method and apparatus for removal of deposits in internal combustion engines"  won a second prize. 

On their website, Bluechem describes themselves as a medium-sized enterprise that's aware of their social responsibility.  They write, "...we manufacture in Germany, fulfill our tax obligation and re-invest our company profits into research and development as well as into the expansion of our company sites. By supporting national and international charity projects we would like to make a contribution to make the world a better place."

Bluechem Canada is the exclusive dealer portal for Bluechem brand products in this nation. They have a unique challenge today here in North America to try and build presence in this crowded marketplace that's already full of legacy brands, dominated by big box retailers and existing automotive dealerships relationships.

Oil System Cleaners Extend Automotive Engine Life

Europeans better understand that simply changing the oil in your automobile is not a complete cleanse. It's a fact that a few hundred milliliters of used oil and sludge may remain in your engine after a traditional oil change. This sludge often has the worst and heaviest contaminants that could lead to mechanical breakdowns, premature engine failure, and costly repairs.

On Saturday, Fuel Ghoul traveled to North York Ontario to watch Ryan Wilford perform a product demonstration for Bluechem Oil System Cleaner.

Ryan tested a four cylinder direct injection engine, before and after adding the Bluechem oil system cleaner product. I added more details and photos from the demonstration to this product review thread on Smart Canucks.

Independent auto mechanic Chris Ko gave up his Saturday and his 2010 Honda Civic to Ryan Wilford for a few hours to run his compression tests - these were done before and after adding the Bleuchem product.

As detailed in Arob12 Canada Blog, Chris got a free oil change and 300ml of Oil System Cleaner in exchange for his time and trouble, but considering he helped Ryan remove the spark plugs and disconnect the engine's electrical system, twice, this wasn't really much of a bargain. 

After dissembling the engine (twice), Chris and Ryan executed the compression tests using an analog Moto-meter test device. I wrote up the whole story of Ryan Wilford's product demo on Digital Journal, Bluechem brings engine Oil System Cleaner to Canada.

The two compression tests showed the powerful cleaning agent in the used motor oil has a 'healing' effect on the engine.

Before the additive, the number two and number four cylinders were doing one full bar less work, and after the product was added all cylinders can been seen doing almost one full bar more work! This reduces the discrepancies between cylinder strengths that can lead to engine shake and that peculiar wobble which is so common in older model cars and trucks.  

Clean Automotive Fuel Systems Improve Fuel Flow

When a driver depresses the gas pedal in a modern automobile, they expect a peppy response; the pedal controls how much fuel and oxygen the engine receives and when depressed the driver expects immediate vehicular acceleration. But over time, carbon deposits can form in critical areas inside the fuel system, resulting in reduced fuel economy, and loss of power.

Periodic fuel system cleaning can help maintain optimal engine performance. The spray from the fuel injectors needs to be wide and fine for the spark to ignite it. Think of the way you want the nozzle of an aerosol spray can or hairspray to come out of the can — an even, fine mist. If the tiny nozzles on the fuel injectors get clogged, you get a gloppy stream instead. Engine performance is affected by everything from carbon deposits and corrosion to heat and friction.

There's advanced chemistry automotive engine cleaning products available to consumers that are not manufactured by major oil companies, or automakers, and as such they struggle for market share in a big box dominated auto parts aftermarket retail world.

Bluechem was recently included in a popular Hubpage that showcased five of the most advanced fuel system cleaners on the market here in Canada, and was this page and Bluechem Fuel System Cleaners in particular was discussed in detail on Canadian Content forums last month.

Bluechem-Canada Ryan Wilford - Fuel System Cleaner

Direct injection fuel delivery systems are two decades old design innovations that are now almost universally embraced by automakers because of how injectors maximize engine performance, reduce fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions.

Direct injection fuel deliver systems insert liquid and oxygen directly into the combustion chamber at a very high pressure, low volume and for very short period of time. A computer controls the intricacies and enables the engine to make significantly more power with reduced fuel consumption and less carbon emissions.

But a major downside is that direct injection engines are prone to carbon accumulation on the injectors that can significantly impact performance and fuel economy and nobody tells consumers. That story is only starting to come out now..

The January 1015 AutoGuide has a story, Is Carbon a Problem with Direct Injection Engines? in which the author Gregg Cole writes, “We’ve heard rumblings that blackened buildup on the backsides of intake valves is a major problem and something that could be disastrous for motorists in the coming years.”

This idea that Europeans know fuel system cleaners better than Canadians was hotly contested on Red Flag Deals in Feb 2015.

Bluechem Fuel System Cleaner also removes carbon, gum, varnish, and other operationally caused contamination from the entire fuel system. It provides clean and powerful combustion reducing emissions. It binds water and moisture in the fuel system creating a stable combustible emulsion.. It lubricates and protects the entire fuel system. It wont harm senors opr impair the functionality of fuel filters.

You Don't Need To Be A Mechanic To Use Bluechem Fuel System Cleaner

Every 300ml bottle comes with a tiny red plastic funnel spout. With this in mind you might believe this handy Fuel System Cleaner dispenser is specially designed for home enthusiasts.

Bluechem Fuel System Cleaner Instructions: Use every 30,000kms service and oil change. Add to the fuel system. 300 ml (1 can) treats up to 80 litres (21 gallons) of gasoline.

The result is more power to the automobile, reduced emissions, and improved gas mileage. Chris Ko reported an immediate improvement in engine handling and performance.

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Modern Chemistry in Action: Spray Foam Insulation

Last week Fuel Ghoul rode along with a mobile spray foam insulation crew and got his eyes and ears filled with good information on how they insulate the exterior walls of upscale houses in Toronto.

Below are pictures and stories of the men and machines of AirSeal Toronto, spray foam insulation mobile appication crew. Here's the Support Tech opening the back door of the truck first thing in the morning. I followed and watched as he started the fifty kilowat diesel generator at the front of the trailer, and then powered up the compressors and pumps and switched on the heaters in the onboard Graco H-40 REACTOR, a two component proportioner that heats the liquids to the necessary temperatures to make perfect foam insulation.

Airseal uses the BASF Walltite Eco system which bills itself as 'the insulation that pays you back'.

 

Walltite Eco is a medium density polyurethane foam insulation system designed to improve the energy efficiency of residential, commerical and industrial buildings. Its composition includes some recycled plastic material, and a 'zero ozone depleting blowing agent' which makes it an environmentally friendlier green option than most other insulation alternatives.

Walltite ECO™ is a made by combining two component liquids, Elastospray 8000A Isocyanate and  Walltite Eco v.3 F Resin. These two liquids are heated under high pressure and mix as they leave the nozzel of the applicator's spray gun. The chemical reaction occurs in midair; the two hot liquids combine and expand rapidly to make a rigid foam.  As Walltite ECO™ is born, it goes from liquid to foam in seconds, expanding twenty to thirty times its original volume. It is completely dry within seconds, and is fully cured in twenty four hours.

Below is the onboard Graco H40 REACTOR temperature display panel, a two component proportioner which ensures the ingredients of the foam will be delivered at the right temperature and will be in the correct amounts to combine properly as far as fifty feet away from the truck, which is the length of the heated hose. Temperatures of A and B component are set to 115 degrees Farenheit.   

The barrels contain the two chemicals, isocyanate and resin which react to make foam.

They are heated under pressure and spring to life and literally take shape in mid air. By the time the material hits the wall, the reaction has occurred.

Here is the crew starting in the basement of a new home in Forest Hill. They start at the bpttom of the building doing the exterior wall 'headers' and work up and in as they go. The team takes over the jobsite for a few hours each day; they often work lunches and late into the evening to be there when the other contractors are absent.  These guys are very careful not to expose any other tradespeople to the noxious gasses often created during the spray foam application process (I had to wear a breathing mask, visor and cover-alls as I followed the applicator around the basement).

Spray Foam Tech Rolls Saran Wrap Around his Hazmat Helmeted Head

To the left, the prime applicator technician applys Saran wrap directly over his hazmat suit and visor. He wraps his whole head four or five times and will peel away layers as he works.  I chuckled as I watched him roll the Saran Warp around hs whole head. This is because the spray foam material will stick to his visor and make it impossible for him to see anything after about twenty minutes of spraying. He peels the wrap away as he goes. He will peel away the layers and eventually he'll need to reapply more which is far easier than trying to clean the plexiglass visor on his breather mask.

Read this Bizcovering business magazine article, What is it like to be a Spray Foam Insulation Guy? and you'll get a pretty good understanding of what these guys do all day long.

The foam adheres to virtually any surface, providing a gap-free, airtight envelope of low permeability even in extreme hot or cold weather, and Walltite Eco is specially composed so it does not support fungus or mold growth.

Its a fact that sunlight, which contains ultraviolet light degrades polyurethane foam, and so it must be covered and protected from direct exposure. In some situations this job falls to the support tech.

The support tech is the truck minder; he keeps an eye on fluid levels and temperatures and pressure. He changes tanks when liquids run low. He also watches the diesel generator in the truck, and helps the applicator move and adjust the long length of heated hose on site. This skilled and charismatic truck driver also keeps an eye on the property during the course of the day. Part of his duties include being a watchdog to keep everyone else away from the house when the spray foam work is being created and applied to walls inside.

Spray foam technicians are well trained by government sponsored health and safety reps, and BASF, and other chemical manufacturers product application training teams. All the same, spray foam insulation businesses and the process itself has been called into question lately, specifically by a recent CBC marketplace documentary news story showing how spray foam can go very wrong by examining the unlivable homes of justifiably some unhappy customers. But these are isolated cases, and even the highest-performing system will not work if it is not installed correctly. Only certified, approved applicators who have undergone rigorous training can install WALLTITE® Eco for example.

The Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association (CUFCA) with headquarters in Winnipeg Manitoba, estimates that spray foam insulation is installed in between 300,000 and 400,000 homes across Canada every year, and the numbers grows 30 to 40 percent larger each year. 

How much does spray foam cost?
The initial expense of insulating your building with Walltite ECO™ spray foam insulation is higher than using fiberglass at around $3 dollars per square foot, but it will actually add value to your building and save money on heating in the winter. Here in Canada, the initial costs can often be offset by the ability to downsize the heating and cooling systems and by taking advantage of government subsidies and green initiative building programs.

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Kitewing vs Kite Man; History of Men With Kites

Kitewing is a hand-held, lightweight wing that can provide propulsion to a man or woman harnessing the wind while wearing skates, or rollerblades or on a bicycle wheel cart called a dirtsurfer that is sometimes used to traverse sandy beaches and desert spaces.

Once known as the Skimbat, skiing or skating with a Kitewing is a popular method of harnessing wind for pure enjoyment

My friends just joined togther and bought a Kitewing from a dealer in Oshawa, and we're going to get another to race them. We're looking for a place to race my kitewing in the GTA and asking about for other local Kitewing owners on Toronto Forums. 

History of Kitewing

England 1893 ~ Captain B.F.S. Baden-Powell designed a stack of six large hexagonal kites for use in the Boer War in South Africa to lift soldiers into the air to observe the enemy. Captain Baden-Powell also did a series of tests using kites to carry messages from one ship to another.

United States 1915 ~ Samuel Perkins researched man-carrying kites for observational uses by the U.S. Army during World War I. He used kites that were nine to twelve feet high in trains of three to six. Perkins work never passed the trial stage.

But modern materials, and advanced aerodynamic engineering make this work today

Kitewing is safe and easy to use. It is simple in design and construction, yet it seems as though every detail has been carefully considered, tested,and refined. From set up to transport, to the way that the wind flows over the wing- all aspects have been carefully thought out. 

For example, the wing folds and travels easily in a lightweight ski bag. Owners can take it with them on ski trips to expand their downhill or frozen lake  options. Windy or icy conditions can wreck a mountain ski vacation, but with a kitewing, a wind blown lake or field becomes a playground. The best videos are of people using the toy at home, after work, or having races with buddies on a local field, cottage lake, or golf course.

Here is the Kitewing Instagram group which is a good place start to think about the history of this propulsion system / extreme sport.

Jean Paul Richter said “The test of an enjoyment is the remembrance which it leaves behind” .

Erik Hopman is one of the foremost Kitewing pioneres

Kite Man is a comic book character, a supervillain in publications from DC Comics.

Kite Man first appeared in Batman vol. 1 #133 (August 1960), and was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang.

Kite Man is featured in Batman: The Brave and the Bold voiced by Jeffrey Combs. As a boy, he was obsessed with Benjamin Franklin and attempted to recreate his famous kite-flying electrical experiment. However, he failed to take adequate safety precautions, wore metal braces, and stood in a bucket of water. The subsequent electrical shock psychologically traumatized him and forced him into a life of kite-centric crime. In "Terror on Dinosaur Island," a flashback depicts him as the leader of a group of thieves equipped with high-tech glider kites that allows them to commit crimes.

In "Long Arm of the Law," Kite Man steals a sample of Plastic Man in order to complete a theta beam gun that will enable anyone to copy Plastic Man's powers, or petrify someone with elastic powers. He also obtains a sidekick named Rubberneck and gains stretching powers from theta beam exposure, and fights Batman and Plastic Man. However, he and Rubberneck are defeated when they are entangled together and the theta beam gun turns them to stone.

Kitewing is my superhero character. DIY crime fighter who patrols the streets and punishes thugs  

I went on Red Flag Deals and asked for kite wing like gadgets and propulsions systems a man or woman could buy that would tranform them into crime fighting superheroes

To the left is a snapshot of an extreme sport called power paragliding which looks quite controllable - this may soon be safe and efficient way to travel across rough country where there are no roads.