Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >, "Pete C." >
> wrote:
>
> > > > I figure that's a decade worth of project
> > >
> > > Consider putting the fan unit underground.
> > > I read a website once on underground AC units to increase efficiency.
> > > I moved mine into full shade and it's helped a bit. Supposedly putting
> > > the condenser underground helps too.
> >
> > Geothermal (ground source) heat pumps are quite efficient. The ground
> > down 6' or so is a nice stable temperature and is a great thermal mass
> > to extract heat from or dump heat to.
>
> It's an interesting concept I've only skimmed the surface of.
> More study is needed.

It's the same basic idea as the earlier air source heat pumps, moving
heat from indoors to out for cooling and from outdoors to indoors for
heating. The difference is instead of trying to move that heat to/from
outdoor air which wildly varies in temperature, the heat is moved
to/from coils that are buried in the ground where the temperatures are
stable and the thermal mass is so great that the heat you add or remove
has little effect on the soil temp. Just makes for a more efficient
system.

>
> >
> > An absorption chiller is a bit different item, as it generates cooling
> > from a heat input. The most common example of an absorption chiller is
> > an RV refrigerator which can run on propane, they are also found in
> > large industrial applications. Not many mid sized applications around,
> > but no reason they can't be done, and they can be powered from any heat
> > source.
>
> Solar is free. ;-) Therein lies the beauty except for cloudy days and
> hot nights? Would you use storage batteries? (I may have missed that
> part if you mentioned it).

That was the idea, charge a battery bank for the evening hours. If the
absorption chiller is big enough, you can "ice bank" and use excess
capacity to freeze a tank of water during the day while you have the
solar energy, to provide cooling at night. Some big buildings also use
ice banking, just doing the ice generation at night when electric rates
are lower.

>
> >
> > >
> > > Our local caverns here are generally 72 degrees. So is the water coming
> > > out of the aquifer.
> >
> > I know, I've been swimming through one of those caves in the New
> > Braunfels area. Quite comfortable in a wetsuit.
>
> No cave diving for moi thanks. I'm too chicken to do that.
> There are a few deep places in the San Marcos worthy of using tanks and
> regulators tho'. Especially right now with the rivers so high.

Not cave diving. Air space varies from about 6" to 10' and water depth
from about 0" to about 20'.

>
> Gods. I've not used my stuff in years. For safety's sake, I'd be best
> off doing a couple of pool dives to re-familiarize myself with my
> equipment.

Yep, good idea to take a refresher class.

>
> > > I've been working on a rune staff now for over 20 years.
> > > Most of it is done. I just need to add the inlay (some day) and the trim.
> > >
> > > It's made from an Aspen sapling that sprouted off the root system from a
> > > mature tree that I harvested in Colorado.
> >
> > Good to have long term projects.
>
> Gives ya something to live for. <G>
> Been working on a hook rug too for at least that long.
>
> So many crafts, so little time.

So many tools I don't have yet, need projects to justify them

> --
> Peace, Om
>
> Remove _ to validate e-mails.
>
> "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson