New construction material

I wan to log this because, others may otherwise claim first reporting privilege. My FIL has suggested that buidings can be constructed using GI metal sheets and thermacol. The idea ia as follows:

1. Layer 1- GI sheet of appropriate thickness
2. Layers 2-4- thermacol sheets of appropriate thickness
3. Layer 5 - Undulating GI sheet of specified thickness.


The above sheets of uniform dimensions are held together by nuts and bolts. The thermacol sheets are prevented from compression by using a sleeve between the GI sheets.

This is the basic building block - much like a Lego building block. These can be screwed onto to a framework of MS iron pipes or poles. The same building block can be used for the walls, floor and the roof.

Appropriate finishing can be done for the floors - concrete/tiles/linoleum, roof and walls (wall paper/paint).

The GI sheets give the structure strength and the thermacol sheets give insulation to temperature.

I will soon upload a picture of the block and also the cost per unit / per unit construction area.

Ocean Wave Energy

Synopsis:

Ocean wave is an ever available, inexhaustible source of energy. This energy is tapped in more than one fashion. One more method is described here. This is by means of a bobbing float, basically a shallow one.

Theory:

The float bobs up and down, let us assume, two feet at a time. The float should be shallow and more of a flat bottomed one. A flat bottomed shallow float will move up and down with the swing of the waves with ease, with minimum interference by its own inertia.

It should be of such design and fabrication that its average self-weight per unit area of (we shall take) one square foot equals at least weight of one cubic foot of water. The wave frequency, let us assume again for purpose of explanation, is one every twenty seconds. In this hypothetical wave frequency, the theoretical power generation with, say, an acre spread of float will be something like 0.75 MW.

When the float bobs up, the wave energy is made to turn a shaft, which in turn turns an alternator. When the wave drops back, the float drops too, thus turning the shaft in continuity and in the same direction as the surge did. This is equivalent to 20 second wave frequency becoming a ten second one.

This up and down power motion can be made to turn the shaft in the same direction by suitable free-wheeling arrangement. A pair of free-wheeling devices mounted on the horizontal shaft will so function that the upward motion and therefore the energy of the wave will engage one free-wheel on load, while the second free-wheel will be really free-wheeling with the rise. When the wave falls back, the free-wheels will do the reverse operation but in the same direction of shaft rotation in continuity.

Description of the device:

The float carries more than one vertical mast. The mast is not a single piece one. It has to be in split parts, more like the two limbs of tuning fork, one limb on each side of the horizontal shaft. Each limb will carry detachable toothed strip mounted on the inner face of the limb. The teeth will mesh with the toothed free-wheels on one-to-one basis. (Model studies are required to be made to ascertain impact, if any, caused by the eccentricity of thrust made by the free-wheel movement under load). This impact will be on the masts and through them on the float itself. If there is any significant impact, it can be overcome by means of a series of small idle spur wheels fixed to the limb, which will mesh with the main spur wheel on the shaft.

The horizontal shaft carrying the free-wheels should be anchored at its power generation end on the shore. The free end of the shaft jutting into the sea should be suitably fixed to a mast rising from the sea bed, independent of the float. This mast or masts are fixed to rise from the sea bed through suitable holes in the float to facilitate smooth yet ridged enough up and down free slide. These fixtures have to be strong enough to kill or still the lateral thrust caused by the waves on the float.

The height of the fixing mast and the split masts in particular along with the toothed strips should be of such dimensions that diurnal and seasonal variations of wave levels are taken care of adequately.

Please refer to the accompanying sketch for a clear understanding of the subject matter.

Plant Life Under Increased Gravitational Environment

Introduction
On our planet Earth, every living thing functions under the same gravitational force (represented by letter g).

Proposition
Suppose a seed, say a groundnut seed is planted, watered under an increased gravitational force, say 5xg, and it sprouts, grows, flowers, sets seed and dies. How would it have performed under the increased gravitational force? What would be the effect of the increased g on the progeny (that grow from the seeds) in its growth under normal g conditions? Will a groundnut become a spacenut?

Apparatus
The apparatus required is a very simple one - on a metal base plate, a predesigned gearbox to vary the rotation speed of a vertical shaft may be fixed. The vertical shaft carries a horizontal bar, making a T with the vertical shaft (diagram to be provided) providing 2 arms. At the end of each arm is hung a freely swinging carrier to house a pot containing the requisite manure and soil to support plant growth. The seed of the chosen plant is planted at the commencement of the experiment. Ensure that the pots on each of the arms is balanced to ensure smooth rotation. A one metre long arm (from the axis to the point where the seed is planted) will give a centrifugal force equivalent to 4xg when the vertical shaft revolves at a speed of (Xrpm). The arms can carry suitable sliding catches so that the pot crriers can be fixed at suitable positions on the arm to match predetermined g levels. This is in addition to the manipulations that is available with the gearbox for varying the gearbox speed. The gearbox will have a provision to connect to a drive from a motor, preferably a DC motor. An impoortant precaution is the provision for suitable UPS to take care of any power supply interruptions.

At the centre of the arms (horizontal bar) fix a funnel, that has tubes running to the pots, with the ends (of the tubes) buried at a suitable depth for feeding water to the plants. The funnel will be reveolving on its own axis, so there wont be any problem of watering the plant with nutrient mixed wter throughout the plant's life.

The constant high g environment should be continued right from germination till the period the seeds are harvested.

The real experiment begins once the harvested seeds are planted and grown at normal g.

Some past results
About 2 decades ago the impact of high g (1000rpm) on dry seeds was tested: the g was so high that the seeds were powdered. Ha ha :D

Some suggestions on the study material
The devising of the the bove apparatus involves much mechanical skill; as an alternative can one think of an easier laboratory organism, where the effects of high g on the growth can be measured by simpler means in a shorter period of time? Some alternate study organisms are E. coli (bacterium), Spirulina (Cyanobacteria), Dictyostelium discoideum (Slime mould), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast - eukaryote), Arabidopsis thaliana (plant) C elegans (nematode) and D. melanogaster (animal).

Any takers for experimentation?

Super Conductor In A Layman's Approach

A super conductor is said to be basically a conductor, which facilitates least (absolutely least) resisted flow of electrons. The level of super-conductance depends, therefore, on the degree of absence of resistance. This resistance absence is made possible in conducting materials when their constituent molecules become so aligned, shall we say in a regimented fashion such that electrons flow is totally unhindered. We may call this alignment a super-slignment.

No conductor has, in its natural status, at ambient temperature, this superalignment of its constituent molecules (atoms) to provide this least resistance to the free flow of electrons.

Let us take the case of iron. A magnetic iron loses its magnetism when heated up. What happens when moletn iron solidifies under a very strong external magnetic field? At the threshhold of solidification under such a magnetic field, would there be a desirable change of molecules orientation into a regimented orientation uniformly to facilitate the most free flow of electrons to make it a near super conductor if not a super conductor at ambient temperature.(It looks somewhat fictional though) This has to be investigated in practice.
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