Lister-CS-Stationar-Engines-Power-Generation

Lister CS (Cold Start) stationary engines, or their Indian clones referred to as Listeroid stationary engines, are one of the most versatile long running stationary engines the world had ever seen. They are more than capable of running on almost any viscous oil including Peanut oil, Canola oil, Vegetable Oil, filtered waste vegetable oil, filtered waste motor oil, diesel oil, crude oil, gearbox oil, sunflower oil and many more. There are a number of enthusiasts out there who are experimenting with running them on a mixture of Fuel Oil and Wood Gas Fumes.
The Lister CS range of engines are Slow RPM (650RPM to 700RPM) 4 stroke single cylinder stationary engines. They are over engineered and have been known to run unattended for in excess of 200,000 hours.
They use the simplest of technology which lends them to less maintenance and breakdowns.
Below is a list of interesting websites that document their progress on Using the Lister CS (Listeroid) stationary engines to provide heating and power for domestic dwellings / Low impact homes.
Using a Lister CS / SOM (Start-O-Matic) Stationary engine to produce both power and heating is commonly referred to as a CHP (Combined Heat Power) CHAP (Combined Heat And Power) or MCHP (Micro Combined Heat And Power)
The Diesel Engine Basics
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which operates using the diesel cycle (named after Dr. Rudolph Diesel). Diesel engines have the highest thermal efficiency[citation needed] compared to any internal or external combustion engine.The defining feature of the diesel engine is the use of compression ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber during the final stage of compression. This is in contrast to a petrol (gasoline) engine or gas engine, which uses the Otto cycle, in which a fuel/air mixture is ignited by a spark plug.
Diesel engines are manufactured in two stroke and four stroke versions. They were originally used as a more efficient replacement for stationary steam engines. Since the 1910s they have been used in submarines and ships. Use in locomotives, large trucks and electric generating plants followed later. In the 1930s, they slowly began to be used in a few automobiles. Since the 1970s, the use of diesel engines in larger on-road and off-road vehicles in the USA increased. As of 2007, about 50 percent of all new car sales in Europe are diesel.
Ken Boak's Lister
Ken is producing electricity and heat from his Lister CS engine setup in Surrey - Kent.
Ken Boak's Lister Video
Here is a short documentary about Ken Boak's generating plant - Interesting & inspiring.
Robert Bodel's Listeroid
Robert Bodel retired to Texas and lives in a sea container. He uses a Listeroid for power.
David Edgington's CS Book
Covers in great detail the venerable Lister diesel produced between 1929 and the 1980s.
Lister CS Owners Group
Lister CS Yahoo Owners Group - Great place for technical know how.
F1 RocketBoy's Genset
Rocket Boy lives in Florida and has built a backup Listeroid Genset for his home
Lister CS CHP Genset
Another of Ken Boak's earlier venture into using a Lister CS for Power & Heating
UtterPower's Listeroid Page
Interesting Information on Listeroid / Lister CS Stationary engines
Lister Engine Forum
A free online forum dedicated to all things Lister, Lister CS, Listeroid, Start-O-Matic
Lister-Petter
The home of the famous Lister CS Stationary engine! R A Lister

Oil-Crisis-The End-The Future-Fossil-Fuel-Crisis

Oil Crisis? The End? The Future?

Well we are now into 2008 on our humble home planet, Earth...

Some may ask why I created ‘Home Brew Power’. Was it to save the planet from self destruction? Was it for monetary gain? Was it to try and educate our children about the planet’s finite supply of fossil fuel? Could it have been to help others reduce their gross overuse of electricity and power in general?

All of the above are just some of the driving forces behind

www.HomeBrewPower.co.uk

Over 2007 I have actively been in discussion groups about the following topics.

1. CHP (Combined Heating & Power) Units using ‘Carbon Neutral’ Fuel Sources i.e. WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil), SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil), Ethanol, Wood, Wood Gas and more.

2. Generating Electricity with a Stirling Engine (Hot Air Engine) with the primary heat sources been either a ‘Wood Stove’ or a ‘Waste Oil Burner / Furnace’

3. The overall efficiencies of Solar PV ‘Solar Photovoltaic’s’ which currently runs commercially at around 14-16%. To put it in an easy to understand format, ‘If a 1000MM x 500MM solar panel facing the sun was receiving 1000W of radiant solar energy then of that we are currently able to harvest approx 140 – 160W in the form of direct current electricity.

4. Micro Co-Generation, on a domestic scale, grid-tied wind turbines producing mains electricity that in times of excess can be fed back into the national grid system automatically, crediting the consumer with a reduction in their electricity bill. Currently in the UK we are allowed to Grid-Tie up to 6KW (constantly) back into the national grid as domestic customers.

5. Learning how to live on a much reduced amount of fossil fuels for heating and power. It really has been an eye opener to see how much the average human consumes on a daily basis. We as a race are hopelessly dependent on fossil fuels; the things most take for granted consume huge amounts of power. For example taking a shower (Electric Shower), making a cup of tea (Electric Kettle) Central Heating (Gas / Oil Fired Combi Boiler) Watching TV for hours on end and leaving electrical appliances on standby 24/7.

The topics above have, for as long as I can remember, been extremely important to me but they are now making it into the mainstream public eyes via the TV, Radio & Internet. Right now the government are dressing up the ‘Green Schemes’ ‘Carbon Reduction Schemes’ creating yet another cash generating revenue for them.

Soon I imagine the hype will calm down and we will be back to the important issue of ‘Life After Fossil Fuels’

www.Homebrewpower.co.uk is currently decanting to a brand new Website Format, the existing Blog based website has served well for the previous 2 years but it is time to bring some new dimensions to our community

Micropower-Combined-Heat-And-Power-CHAP-CHP

CHP,Micro CHP,Stirling Engine,Reciprocating Engine

Micro-CHP

These systems are usually fueled on gas, although some can burn a range of other fuels, and produce electrical power and thermal energy from the single fuel source. The two major types of engines used in microCHP systems are:

Reciprocating engines

The electrical output of this type of micro-combined heat and power (microCHP) units typically start at about 5 kW offering around 10-12kW of thermal output. Significant development work has been underway and currently continues, particularly in the USA, but here in the UK Baxi Technologies UK are leading the market.

Stirling engines

These are external combustion engines with a sealed system using an inert working fluid, usually helium or hydrogen. They range in size from ½ kW upwards and are now available on the market with the leading brands being Microgen and Whisper Tech

OFF-GRID-POWER-IN-OUR-FUTURE?

It’s hard to believe that in a hundred years our homes will still get their electricity through wires strung between crooked, dried-out wooden poles. Sure, some wires are buried underground, but through much of the world, including the much of the supposedly advanced and sophisticated United States, the crooked old pole carries the juice. How crude.
It’s also hard to imagine power companies voluntarily burying their power lines purely for the sake of aesthetics.

Instead it seems possible that in 100 years (or hopefully less so this author can see it happen) we’ll be generating our own power - perhaps with solar on the roof, some kind of generation equipment in the basement or storage room, or in windy areas from a small wind turbine atop a pole nearby.

If solar is to be the norm (in sunny spots, of course) there’s some indication that home builders are beginning to catch on to the notion of solar power options for new homes. (This publication has published a number of stories over the years as examples.)
Now Centex Homes is taking the next logical step in solar self-generation options: include a battery back-up system as part of the solar package.

For 89 homes in The Quarry, a new development north of Naples, Florida, Centex will offer 2.1 kilowatt solar systems supplied by Sharp Solar. Included with the solar system will be a bank of eight, 100-amp/hour batteries housed in the garage to provide emergency power for critical appliances and a few outlets. The solar system will augment power from the grid and keep the batteries charged.

The solar with back-up systems seem a good match for the Sunshine State that has had its share of power outages due to hurricanes and other powerful storms. Predictions of a rise in the number of tropical storms, at least for the next decade or two, will likely be a selling point for the backed-up solar systems.

For areas with insufficient sunlight home combined heat and power generation equipment could be the norm in hundred years, or sooner.
Disenco Energy of the UK has announced it has reached important milestones leading to full commercialization, such as the completion of field trials for its home, micro combined heat and power plant (m-CHP). The company expects to begin a product roll out in the second quarter of 2008.

Operating at over 90 percent efficiency, the m-CHP will be able to provide 15 kilowatts of thermal energy (about 50,000 Btu’s) for heat and hot water and generate 3 kilowatts of electricity. The m-CHP uses a Stirling engine generator and would be a direct replacement for a home’s boiler.

Running on piped-in natural gas the unit would create some independence from the power grid, but still remain connected to the gas supply network.
Whereas heat is supplied only when the generator is running (or conversely electricity is generated only when heat is needed) a back-up battery system and heavily insulated hot water storage tank seem eventual options for more complete energy independence.

Visit Sharp Solar at http://www.solar.sharpusa.com

Centex Homes at http://www.centexhomes.com

Disenco at http://www.disenco.com

Micro-Generation-Grants-Available-In-The-UK-From-Tuesday-29th-May-2007

Grants for people who want to install micro-wind turbines and solar panels on their homes will be available again from 9am on Tuesday 29 May.

The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) has already allocated £6.8m in to householders and, following the addition of an extra £6m in the Budget, applications are set to open for the remaining £11.9m.

Since it launched in April 2006 the LCBP has directly funded 2175 installations on homes. This includes 242 mini-turbines, 313 Solar PV projects and 1467 solar thermal heating systems.

Announcing the re-launch of the scheme Mr Darling said:
"The microgeneration industry has tremendous potential in the low carbon economy. Products are already available on the high street and are starting to become recognisable on our skylines. This grant scheme is designed to maximise carbon savings, demonstrate potential and help the sector become more commercially competitive in the long term.

"It is part of a wider government programme worth £86m that will also award grants for larger scale installations on schools and other public buildings."

The grant scheme was put on hold in March while the application process was streamlined to make sure it benefits the sector in the long term.

Key changes to the application criteria include the removal of the monthly cap and a new requirement to have planning permission before applying.

The Government is currently consulting on removing the need for planning permission for the majority of microgeneration installations but it must be in place for LCBP grant applicants in the meantime.

The changes are designed to overcome delays in the take-up of grants. Only half of the £6.8m already allocated by March had been spent because of supply chain issues, planning consents not in place, delays in building schedules and applicants not ready to proceed. The DTI will continue to monitor these areas.

More detail on the new application process is available at http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/

Homebrewpower.co.uk has recently undergone extensive redesign.
I hope the new layouts are much easier to navigate.
Please note the navigation links to the far right hand side of the website.
The Picture Album is now fully functional with ALL my work and progress so far, take a look and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

If you have surfed in on www.homebrewpower.co.uk then feel free to bookmark the website. The concept of homebrewpower is to provide you with an up to date portal rich in projects, files, info & pictures all related to creating sustainable, eco, green, carbon neutral heating & power in your backyard!

Main topics covered are as follows:

Micro CHP / CHAP creation & installation
Green power generation
Eco power generation
Energy saving practices, tips, hints & projects
IMAG Generators 1PH & 3PH
Alternative energy
Green Energy
Latest Eco projects and builds from around the world
Eco building products
Solar Panels Photovoltiacs
Solar heating


Enjoy & Have a good look around.

Andy Mahoney
Homebrewpower

Mahoney-Electrical-Ruskington

The birth of Mahoney Electrical

My very own Electrical Contracting company aimed at Off Grid Eco Friendly electrical installtions and alterations.

As you may know I am a JIB approved Electrician by trade but am branching out full time into my hobby and passion.

If you are looking for any sized project undertaken then give me a try!

Web: www.mahoneyelectrical.co.uk

Mail: andy@mahoneyelectrical.co.uk

Mob: +44 (0) 7504 50 50 89

Andy Mahoney

CHPA-Combined-Heat-And-Power-Association-Website

Above is the UK's very own Combined Heat & Power Association website www.chpa.co.uk

The site has some really interesting links and reports contained within it. Well worth a couple of hours browsing to familiarise yourself with the pending crisis of fossil consumption.

Enjoy, a site well worth remembering.

Domestic-MCHP-Micro-CHP-Sterling-Engine

This is a simple schematic of what I am going to try and acheive but where you have 100% Gas coming into the setup I would like to have 80% WVO and 20% Wood Burning with some option to run on gas of no other choice is available.

I think over the next 3 or 4 years Micro CHP units are going to become the norm for domestic houses.

Watch this space....

Whispergen-Micro-CHP-Sterling-Engine-DC

Season’s Greetings!

My eyes lit up this evening when I found out that Whispertec have made a DC version of the micro CHP Stirling engine Micro CHP unit! It runs on Diesel!!!!!!!!

http://www.whispergen.com/main/dcwhispergen/

Veg oil at the ready!

Andy Mahoney
http://www.homebrewpower.co.uk/

Give me one of them please ;-)

Lister-CS-Problems-Solved

Got the engine up and running after some minor problems which could have been major! Turns out it was the mountings that where not tightened down and not the big end shells!

All up and running and just in time for the cold northern wind that has just started up today! House is cosy and warm and the inverter battery bank is charging for this evenings usage.