Pedal-Powered (Vacuum) Zeolite Refrigerator

[svaccha]

hello sir I have been allotted pedal powered refrigeration as my final semester project. I have seen the video which you have uploaded in youtube. I have some doubts regarding this project. Is there any way i can contact you so that i can get my doubts clarified regarding type or grade of Zeolite you ordered from sigma aldrich etc.I hope you would help me out as soon as possible. please.......

[IHNy89]

Hi, I am very impressed with your work.

I want to make ice applying your idea. where can I buy this vacuum pump that I can power with a bicycle? Also would natural zeolite work?

[thejaswiniethiraj]

sir , will u please tell me the efficiency of this refrigerator..its urgent sir..i have chosen dis topic for my project...this monday is the last date for the submission of abstract..so kindly reply soon sir

[adnan270890]

i would like to know whether just the vacuum pump and the outside temperature make the water boil?which grade of zeolite should i use?there are various grades of zeolite available.please help coz i hv to do this for b.e. mech project this yr.n monday is my presentation on this.PLZ ITS URGENT...........

[TheNomisrjds]

can i still contact you?

what is your email address??

[MisterInnovation]

I have a few questions about this system, first, where did you get the pump, what model is it and how much does it cost. I have found several belt powered pumps online that cost 2-6k which is way out of my price range. second, what is the purpose of the zealite? all of the other videos dont show zealite. would a shamwow work? THANK YOU!

[reggiefavre]

Neat! I am actually building a refrigeration system using zeolites today. Instead of a bicycle to input manual power I am using the zeolite in a solar panel to harness heat from the sun to do all the work. Should be interesting to see how well it works.

[imthebowhunter]

Why not connect your vacuum pump to a windmill? Have your "refrigerator" underground where it is already cooler , maybe some salt to the water too. Have you tried using other chemicals like ammonia instead of water?

[limchunyan]

hi, I got a question which is how the zeolite generate power to run the refrigerator and it can remain the temperature.?

[Chschafer]

I like it a lot... good concept, any idea on how often you have to do the pedaling process to maintain a temperature low enough to store perishables? I realise atmosphere would be a factor along with insulation, but did you have any experimental results?

[630MillionGods]

can this be done without absorbent( zeolite) ?

[tangnatalaga]

nice idea, hard work is rewarded with cold beer. hahaha

[bruehahaha]

Great Idea! I'm trying to build one here in Tropical Koh Samui. The Zeolite you use does not look like mine. I'm using Zeolite in Rock form. Is this correct? I'm wondering how it will expand when wet if it even does. Does the pump need to have a one way valve on it or is the vacuume kept constant from the pedaling. Can one use a bigger pump and bigger hoses? Does the Zeolite container have to match the water container in volume?

Sawasdee

[Allotmenteer2]

Wow!! I want one of those to cool beers down my allotment.

[stanhbaker]

, "Icy Ball" Consists of two containers, one contains liquid ammonia, the other is partially filled with water, connected with tubing with valve in center.

The ammonia is placed in the fridge, valve opened. Ammonia is absorbed by the water, cooling the refrigerator.

The system is regenerated by removing the system to where the water/ammonia can be heated driving the ammonia to the other side cooled by water. Replace the system with the ammonia in the refrigerator and carry on.

[alex681219]

I see some called icy ball that works with ammonia, no electricity no pumps...how it works? there are some sites with plans to built it but no explanations.

[furionese]

how about flip that motor around to the other side and let bike's rear tyre still be attached to its wheel hence tyre rubber makes direct contact with the mechanical gear and still be able to turn it - no need use "belt" between skinned-rear-wheel and device gear? and no need to change wheel when you want to ride that bike on the road.

[narfzorkpinky]

That is the most ovbious way! and my first reaction... however, rotor pumps are very hard to turn just by friction (which is what you are proposing). You must use a belt if you are to create any torque, otherwise the wheel would slide. Additionally, the belt width and profile fit exactly on the rhim of the wheel, so there is no sliding. In conclusion, it would be too hard to generate torque because there is only 1 point of contact, as opposed to the belt, which contacts the wheel at least 75%

[TheNomisrjds]

@narfzorkpinky how can i email you??

[ithoughtthatwasyou]

amazing.will you be putting up any more videos with more detailed info?

[narfzorkpinky]

No more videos.. but you can email me and I can help you and answer your questions =)

[jhwtech]

Clear as Crystal is a natural pond cleanser made of a unique form of Laumontite,

Could I use this as it's very cheap?

If not, where would you recommend buying the Zeolite, and what type is best to use for refrigeration.

Thanks

[narfzorkpinky]

hi jhwtech,

you can buy zeolite from sigma aldrich, they come in pellets. you can also google for zeolite, usually comes in 10+ pound bags. I am not sure about the microstructure of Clear as Crystal. You may want to try it for your specific system... I simply don't know if it would work.

[jhwtech]

I think the fastest cheapest way zeolite can be regenerated would be to place in a solar oven as they reach very high temperatures very quickly and cot $0.00

[narfzorkpinky]

solar ovens cost ~$400 unless you have really fast legs to run out of a store =)

They are very effective and can reach up to 300 Celsius... but that is with the right geometry and materials.

[pwhayez]

can silica gel be used instead of zeolite? will it absorb more vapor?

[narfzorkpinky]

silica gel is a type of zeolite, so theoretically, yes. I havent studied all of them, but I can assure you that not all zeolites will work. microstructure has to be <1um and it must be 100% dry if you want it to be an effective desicant.

[pwhayez]

Does the zeolite container get vacuum pumped first?

[narfzorkpinky]

The zeolite must be completely dry before it can be used. I used a 3-way valve between the pump, zeolite and water-boiling box. With the valve closed, bring the water to a boil by purging the vapor, then open the valve and the vapor rapidly moves towards the zeolite, where it gets absorbed. Water will have to compensate the reduced pressure by further evaporation, which lowers the water temperature. Since the system is not ideal, one must continue to pedal to drive the thermodynamic reaction

[250ansh]

@narfzorkpinky nice presentation but what is the alternative of zeolite ..

[pwhayez]

oh yeah... one more question... how much zeolite (cat litter) does one need per liter of water?

[pwhayez]

Thanks for the interesting presentation and concept. Questions: do you really NEED to keep pedaling for 10 more minutes after the water has already started boiling, or is that just to reduce (drastically?) the amount of zeolite needed? And why 10 minutes? Does that get the water down to a particular important temperature? Thanks.

[narfzorkpinky]

Sorry for the (long) delay. It has been a long time since I logged on, but i feel I owe you an answer.

It is necessary to keep pedaling for 10min because for our particular system (desicant used, geometry, volume that is purged), it was necessary to drive the thermodynamic reaction further passed the boiling equilibrium point. I used 600 grams of zeolite for the system. For an ideal system, the reaction will sustain once you have reached the boiling point, but not for this one!

[robocots]

zeolite rocks!

[narfzorkpinky]

Yes, the zeolite must be "regenerated." Depending on the type of zeolite that you use (i.e. cat litter, molecular sieves, etc), the regenerating temperature must be adjusted to drive the water away from it and completely dry it, which again, can range from as low as 30 degrees Celsius all the way up to 200 degrees Celsius. The more water a desiccant absorbs (such as molecular sieves), the higher the regenerating temperature must be, but the advantage is that the enthalpy. Continued...

[narfzorkpinky]

...of vaporization of water will remain constant for longer, and the reaction will be driven for longer (water will boil for 24 as opposed to 5 hrs -- using cat litter). The zeolite container can be opened so that the zeolite can regenerated, or some new one can be put it. Our next step in the project is to adapt the bicycle with a similar setup that many of the other entries use. A small generator with a battery that can power a hot plate that can be used to dry the zeolite (work in progress).

[dslunsford1]

Is the zeolite used up after it absorbs it's fill of water vapor?

[s0ftballqueen1]

cool machine...