Since '73, after an Arab-Israeli war known as Yom Kippur war when a coalition led by Egypt attacked Israel at the Forgiveness Day (one of the most important Jewish holidays) which Israeli Defense Forces promptly responded, the Islamic oil traders impose their terror agenda to an apathetical world that prefers to rely on a cheap fossil energy resource instead of investing in the research for cleaner fuels.
It's not so unusual to meet fellow Philippine workers who went to the Arab lands looking for jobs that pay better than in the Philippines, altough working conditions are harder and their Christian beliefs are usually persecuted. It's not so unusual for the Islamic contractors to mandate their overseas non-Muslim workers to avoid eat or drink water at the daylight during Ramadan, a rule that actually should be followed by Muslims only, altough now some clerics allow the Muslim workers to drink water because of the high temperatures there, often beyond the 50°C. When there were only non-Muslim craftsmen dying at the jobsite they really didn't care at all...
A high price is paid for the Arab oil, financing the death of innocent people who would have an opportunity in their own homeland if biofuels were taken more seriously. The only problem is the lack of politic willing to change the povertry status-quo. For the Philippines there is a wide range of possibilities, not just improving the economy but also social and environmental standards.
Instead of spending money with overseas oil that costs the life of Pinoy workers, either vegetable-based or animal fat-based fuels and lubes could improve our energy safety and generate job opportunities and income in our own homeland for our kababayans who wouldn't need to search for a death trap outside our own borders. Also, it's a chance to reduce the starvation: for example, if there were some "sea farms" like the Chilean "haciendas marinas" raising fish that could have its oil (mainly concentrated in the liver of some fish species) processed into lube and heavy fuels (and some of its entrails turned into glue for industrial applications), the carcasses would be a good protein source while some byproducts of the industrial processing could be turned into agricultural fertilizers. It's worth to note that fish usually have a better organic matter-to-protein conversion ratio than poultry or cattle.
Some of the shanty towns and squats around our main cities and municipalities could actually be turned into green belts, replacing the enormous amounts of sheds with some 4-story buildings more widely spaced between, increasing the air flow around and the natural thermal regulation while also leaving space for some small plantations (country-chicken raising can be held alongside, contributing to a biological pest control and increasing the profitability of the operation) that can go from staple foods like yam, sweet potato, cassava, banana and pineapple to oilseeds like castorbean and Jatropha, that can be easily turned into biodiesel and motor oil - the byproducts of its processing can also be turned into organic agricultural fertilizer, therefore another job-creation opportunity to improve both economic and social development.
It can be considered only a daydream by many people, but that's what I honestly think about a better way to deal with energy and food safety.
2012-01-30
I'm back
I had been away from the Philippines for a while, working overseas in fishing vessels, and didn't have too many time to update the blog. At least I've had some time to try fish liver oils as an alternative fuel, with outstanding results as an alternative to get lower particulate matter emissions in 2-stroke marine diesels.
Ako ay naging palayo sa Pilipinas para samantalang, nagsusumikap sa ibayong dagat nasa vessels ng isda, at hindi masyadong maraming oras sa update ang blog. Hindi bababa ko nang may ilang panahon na subukan ang mga langis isda otoy tulad ng kahalili pampaningas, na sa natitirang mga resulta ng bilang kahaliling upang makuha mas mababa particulate bagay emissions 2-stroke pandagat diesels.
2011-07-29
Galit ko sa Toyota Prius
Nothing says better what I think about the Toyota Prius than "I hate the Toyota Prius", either in English or Tagalog. And while somebody can think I'm "just a hater", there are reasons to hate the Prius.
It doesn't exploit the main advantage of the electric drive: reversibility, then no gearbox would be required for the electric motor. Or do we use a gearbox for our home cooling fans? Clearly not...
I don't understand why Toyota, so acclaimed and laureate, could make a hybrid like that. Instead of bolt the internal-combustion engine and the electric motor on the same gearbox, could benefit the handling and the efficiency using either a single motor bolted to a pair of half-shafts on the rear axle, or one in-wheel hub motor on each rear wheel. Even the extra weight from these setups could compensate the improvements over the efficiency on electric drive mode. Also, it would get 4-wheel drive ability, great for our hilly terrain in the Philippines, or even in Japan. Not to consider the notorious advantages to drive it in the rigorous Japanese winter and its snow.
Another problem: the traction battery packs. Not so easy to recycle Nickel metallic hydride, and an expensive proccess. The lifespan of a battery pack is often ignored by its owners and enthusiasts, who forgot the problems of heavy metals contamination on water, from the oceans to the underground water reserves. If it had a more efficient electric drive setup, the batteries could be smaller, then lighter, not sacrificing the range, at least reducing its environmental issue.
Another thing that just makes me mad is the lack of a diesel engine. If the intention is to get an eco-friendly vehicle, the most efficient thermodynamical cycle is still the Diesel cycle. And since it doesn't have an electric ignition there are less wasteful parts to be prone to fail and need replacement. Diesel engine blocks are usually stronger too, and lube oil usually has a longer lifespan. They're also easier to run on alternative liquid fuels, such as biodiesel, vegetable oils or even the nowadays acclaimed ethanol. Gaseous fuels would demand an assisted ignition, either from a spark system or a pilot-injection of a liquid fuel to be compression-ignited, and are also harder (and unsafer) to handle. But if you want to retrofit your Prius to run on a gaseous fuel, you can't do it: due to its "Atkinson-cycle", with the inlet valves timing setted to leave them open longer, intending to reduce the "pumping losses", backfire would be unavoidable, except if a supercharger was fitted to force the air/fuel mix back into the cylinders.
Just to compare:
1.8 Hybrid Synergy Drive: 99HP (134HP U.S.-spec)@5200RPM/142Nm@4000RPM + 82HP/207Nm from electric motor = 181HP/349Nm (216HP U.S.-spec)
1.4 D4-D: 90HP@3800RPM/205Nm@1800-2800RPM - with electric auxiliary drive would reach 172HP/412Nm, but the lesser 9HP wouldn't be noticeable at all...
2.0 D4-D: 127HP@3600RPM/309Nm@2400RPM - would get 209HP/516Nm with the electric setup
2.2 D4-D: 177HP@3600RPM/400Nm@2000-2800RPM - would not need auxiliary electric drive to superate the stock Prius Hybrid Synergy Drive setup, and not carrying the weight of the electric setup. And the 4HP difference would never be noticed, but if the electric setup came along it could reach 259HP and outstanding 607Nm.
To the karaniwan tao, the 1.4L D4-D meets all the needs, and being a Diesel it already goes more efficient than the hybrid setup. And it doesn't carry all that heavy electric driveline...
It doesn't exploit the main advantage of the electric drive: reversibility, then no gearbox would be required for the electric motor. Or do we use a gearbox for our home cooling fans? Clearly not...
I don't understand why Toyota, so acclaimed and laureate, could make a hybrid like that. Instead of bolt the internal-combustion engine and the electric motor on the same gearbox, could benefit the handling and the efficiency using either a single motor bolted to a pair of half-shafts on the rear axle, or one in-wheel hub motor on each rear wheel. Even the extra weight from these setups could compensate the improvements over the efficiency on electric drive mode. Also, it would get 4-wheel drive ability, great for our hilly terrain in the Philippines, or even in Japan. Not to consider the notorious advantages to drive it in the rigorous Japanese winter and its snow.
Another problem: the traction battery packs. Not so easy to recycle Nickel metallic hydride, and an expensive proccess. The lifespan of a battery pack is often ignored by its owners and enthusiasts, who forgot the problems of heavy metals contamination on water, from the oceans to the underground water reserves. If it had a more efficient electric drive setup, the batteries could be smaller, then lighter, not sacrificing the range, at least reducing its environmental issue.
Another thing that just makes me mad is the lack of a diesel engine. If the intention is to get an eco-friendly vehicle, the most efficient thermodynamical cycle is still the Diesel cycle. And since it doesn't have an electric ignition there are less wasteful parts to be prone to fail and need replacement. Diesel engine blocks are usually stronger too, and lube oil usually has a longer lifespan. They're also easier to run on alternative liquid fuels, such as biodiesel, vegetable oils or even the nowadays acclaimed ethanol. Gaseous fuels would demand an assisted ignition, either from a spark system or a pilot-injection of a liquid fuel to be compression-ignited, and are also harder (and unsafer) to handle. But if you want to retrofit your Prius to run on a gaseous fuel, you can't do it: due to its "Atkinson-cycle", with the inlet valves timing setted to leave them open longer, intending to reduce the "pumping losses", backfire would be unavoidable, except if a supercharger was fitted to force the air/fuel mix back into the cylinders.
Just to compare:
1.8 Hybrid Synergy Drive: 99HP (134HP U.S.-spec)@5200RPM/142Nm@4000RPM + 82HP/207Nm from electric motor = 181HP/349Nm (216HP U.S.-spec)
1.4 D4-D: 90HP@3800RPM/205Nm@1800-2800RPM - with electric auxiliary drive would reach 172HP/412Nm, but the lesser 9HP wouldn't be noticeable at all...
2.0 D4-D: 127HP@3600RPM/309Nm@2400RPM - would get 209HP/516Nm with the electric setup
2.2 D4-D: 177HP@3600RPM/400Nm@2000-2800RPM - would not need auxiliary electric drive to superate the stock Prius Hybrid Synergy Drive setup, and not carrying the weight of the electric setup. And the 4HP difference would never be noticed, but if the electric setup came along it could reach 259HP and outstanding 607Nm.
To the karaniwan tao, the 1.4L D4-D meets all the needs, and being a Diesel it already goes more efficient than the hybrid setup. And it doesn't carry all that heavy electric driveline...
2011-07-16
Ako gustong iakma ang isang diesel engine sa isang Ford Escape.Marahil dumalo upang gamitin ang isang mano-manong transmisyon (MTX-75) sa halip ng stock awtomatikong upang iwasan ang mga elektroniko malfunctions.Ay isang Kia J2 isang mahusay na opsyon?
Oo, Kia J2 ay mabuting makina para sa Ford Escape.Makatwirang lakas-upang-bigat ratio, busiksik sukat ginagawang madali upang umangkop.Gusto ko ang panatilihin ng awtomatikong gearbox para kaginhawahan, pero ito hinihingi ng isang naiibang tune para torque converter at adapters sa sensors input ng elektronikong kontrol.
Kia J2 is a good engine for a Ford Escape. Reasonable power-to-weight ratio, compact size makes it easy to fit. I would prefer to retain the automatic gearbox for comfort, but it would demand a different tuning for the torque converter and adaptors to the input sensors of the electronic controls.
2011-07-07
I recently bought a surplus Fiat Fiorino Mk1, driveline is OK but body with a lot of rust, with the same 45hp 1.3D of a Fiat Uno. Was willing to patch its rust holes but now considering to swap its motor into an Aveo. Would it worth the effort?
It's actually not the best option at all but can handle an Aveo reasonably. I'd rather get an Isuzu C180 or a Toyota 2L. But if you're going with Fiat why not to also consider the 1.7D or the 1.7TD?
2011-06-30
What was the worst advice you've ever received?
Once a guy who I used to consider a good friend adviced me to buy a surplus European Ford Courier (99 model-year), that I didn't buy because it had some head gasket failures and was gasoline-powered - if I would buy a piece of junk like that it would at least be an oil burner.After my refuse to buy that, his lolo did it. It later had some major failures and then turned into the most expensive hennery I've seen.
Ako handa retrofit ng makina Nissan TD27 ang sa isang 21-seater Urvan sa aking GMT400 Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD. Binili ko ito sa labi may masama motor. Gusto ng SM465 na mahusay na tugma sa TD27?
Ang SM465 maaaring magbili, pero hindi mo magkakaroon sobrang pagkuha sa hila kakayahang na may TD27 sa loob Tahoe. Pero isang overdrive ng magiging gustong.
The SM465 can deal, but you won't have too much towing ability with the TD27 inside the Tahoe. But an overdrive would be desirable.
Kasalukuyan ko nakatira sa Brisbane at ang aking 97 Ford Longreach van kung saan gusto ko halawin ng diesel makina ito. Aling payo puwede ninyo sa akin?
Paghahanap para sa mid-size trak / ute motor. Ford Courier/Ranger isang opsyon.
Ba ang TD27 magandang makina para retrofit sa Chevy Lumina Ute? Akong bumabalik ang Pilipinas mula Qatar at gustong magdala aking trak sa akin.
Nissan TD27 ay magandang pagpipilian upang kumasya sa Chevy Lumina, pero hindi mo dapat umasa ito maging speed demonyo.
Nissan TD27 is a good option to fit into a Chevy Lumina, but you shouldn't expect it to become a speed devil.
Ako kasalukuyan sarili ng '96 Chevy S10 sa mga makina Vortec 2200 at 5-bilis gearbox. Ako ay gustong ipagpalit kasalukuyang makina para sa diesel. Gusto C240 ay ng OK?
Oo, ang Isuzu C240 ay isang magandang pagpipilian sa S10
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