Proposed Solar-Wind Powered Greenhouse Ark 2004

11 Pages·2004·0.41 MB·English

New Alchemys Ark:
A Proposed Solar Heated and Wind Powered Greenhouse
and Aquaculture Complex Adapted to Northern Climates*

cescarching the Ack
tu chistes wi be ia
INHKODUCTION

The Ark is intended to provide an slternaiv to 4
igeieant energy cone compa of fd pe
ation in Amer. Greenranc, which pout ah
Str quant ofvpetable aa Mover cepe esp
Silly driag the colder seas, ce ge mont of
fora facls fr hestng wu lime eeglation. Te belp
alleviate his station we propose to develop amd
cvalvae Slowey higly petuctve fod growing
‘conpex hese iy the sal powered bythe wind
‘The complex wil be ndepenene of fl fel hexting
or oni electricity sources

Toad deniande seta be met in dhe coming year
Indigenous, cologia-erived und low ety
‘tates for sng fo ave going to have tobe
veloped, enlog H,T, Odour has agency speed
that energy ehornge In aglcltune cold net
severe food shorages in he noon deans te (0.
Lis bess argument onthe face shat modem gre
Calne early enegy iene eng upto
Di caloies of energy to produce oe lee af foot
dinan Ameria ble, thee 0d pesveng ene
brow es bevy othe panes nie energy
source, Forex bilagcaly-ohened hinse
farmers in Malas with Fow outa eng pot,
<a produce sally 66,00 pounds of pork and
Sot pounds ish 39 sel evel cope
sal hectare Far (2), and the Feembaa peoples
J New Guinea ae able 6 oppor pope dents
Content o ur own, wich an okay wound
sesule wld yncrtes 2) ales of fad or 1
Calo of energy inp 3. he aloe lpr be
teen out mater, high energy agli at the
Blalgleally bared once uct mentioned cn be Fest
srl in favor ofthe later, Our product
‘tind br mane Inputs of ene nao each of
hefner inthe actual sect, and tac aly
that fel become sect ileal derived
‘petems powered by the sum aa te wi le
ome increasingly important 0 exercal (4.

Esch facet of mem apculture highly de
ponent apon fn fac sts energy bee Miogen
FReicesreuire sone 13,000 TRLiton i hee
tmomtfactare and the phosphate Clie uaty com
sume extremely lange amounts energy. only Pring
Srrpused oma per unit evtpot bass hy the marta
ture of aluminur, Ase mast odera far are de-
prmdent pon berbicides, fungicide, petildes and
fichier all devel [em energy tatne i>
seis

1. MT. Oduay, 1973. Eneyy Beology und Boonomis,
oper nar hy Royal Sucich Acwley oF Solenee, 26 9p

2. Ku Vacs 1968 th Glvore i Preheer and Beach
Foods. Chapter bn J.D. Oeington et, Hie Berta Ure of
the Worlds Fowna fer vad yongasiom of he Taste
‘of Bisgy- No. 1.175 pp.

2, Te appt, 19TT The rl of nergy i an Ape
[al Seciey, Scene America, Wl 22603), 16134,

‘The greenhouse culture of foods and flawers sin an

especially precarions position, Resides the energy inputs
husky, dieve are th adiionalinpucs forthe

ion of soils and artificial heating for up ca
6-7 months of the yore, The heating of these structures
is nmajor component of cheic opening coats and the
curity of fuete is of great concern to fiprers using
reeuliouses, Th impending shortage of Cel Sas
{italyst in The New Alchemy insLuute boginnieg cs
esearch into solarheated growing strwccotes ia 1970.

“The resene world-wide acreage of greenhouses
quite cktensive. United State (5,202 acter, Britain
(4.267 acces), Molla! (13,242 acres), aly (12,700
acres) and Japan (26,000 acres) ate significant
reenhouse producers of foods, The encegy requited
osustein Uiese srrichitesismat known, but itis,
believed to he extensive (6). Expansion of greenhouse
peoduecion af foods is held in cheek by fuel seaciies
fd by competition from southerly regions connceted
fo northern markets by highly developed transports
fiom stems, As cansportation costs increase, glas-
house food culture sysceins will come into theit own,
and only if, alternative heat sourers ean be found
for chem.

‘We propore to constmict and esearch a grccfhouse-
pond complex for the growing of vegetables and for
the intensive culturing uf fishes which will be heated
ly che sun and powered by eleetticty from the wind
(Figure 1}. The prototype will quire no outside
<snuvees af heat, or chemieal Fertilizers, fungicides,
pesticides or soil sterlization, 11 will he a self
{egolaring food ecusystem eequicng the sun, waste
saterials and labor to suxtan ie pro@ctvity The
hear srarapeelimate regulation campascat of the
system wil hea 13,500 gallon aguacalture pond,
Solar heat will he eapped! directly ky the covered pond
‘us by pumping the pond water theough 2 300 square
foot aolar heater. The adjacent greenhouse will be
Stunted below the fost line and wil derive its heat
From diseet sunlighe and from the warmed pow
‘water passing through pipes int
sthwetire, Many of the compan

nts have alt

4. LT dun, 1971 Eovicotent Pree and Sacer.
Je Vite, $56
JIE Tadd, 1971-A Mose Propel Balle af ene Kes
‘Alchemy lute Nas, 26 9
Ju1h Todd, 1971 Restaation and Reopoiaerion in
Coste Kies. The ume ofthc Rew Algoma (1), 3247
J:H8 To9d8, 1974. The Dileruoa Beyoul Temorro. The
‘Jounal of the New Alchensete

5. Battcotel tse, Hurd, A. Bll M3 Foster,

UN, Dla, 0-0, holes and Re. Ween 1973, Food
radeon nd Me Energy Grin, Sens, Vol, 182C411),
ae,

4. Das &. Dultynpe 1978, Conuolled Pavronaent Ac
‘tas: A Glue Rete of Carenboute Fond Proton,
eonoafe Weseardh Serie US: Deqaerment of Ag
‘altace, Forcgs Agora Reenomic Report Nu 89. le
1505.
developed st New Alchemy (7). We intend to coms
Dine these vasious components into an integrated faod
production aystem for the year-round raising of a
Siversy of foods. Solarheated greenhouse and
aquaculture greenhouse complexes like the Ark, if
proven successful and adapced widely, could help
Alleviate possible furure meat and vegetable shortages
inthe more northerly parce af the country, particular.
ly daring the winter months or during etss periods
when taasportacn is diaced

ORIGINS OF THE ARK CONCEP

Structures that ealunce the growth of eultivared
plants by extending the Iengtt of die growing season
have been in ue for several centucies, fr practical
purposes beginning, with the aeuilablity of ghias
Windows At the beginning of the 18th cenivey
‘eld frames anid buildings with large south-facing
windows weve in general uae in England, These were
susually unheated due to lack uf aulvzecy eempert
fuces and generally mill cfimace. The cechnolagy of
rowing structures was broughre trom Kurope to
the eastern U.$. around the mid-1800's, where
subscaially lower wore temperanares resulted
nwa lines af further development, the heated
las greenhouse and the unhested pitgreenhouse.
Wich the discovery and availability of heating foe,
the former structure rapidly gained favor and is
recognized as taduy's comentionul preenbiowse,

“The unheated pityreenfious, thowgh evolved for
urtheen climate winters, hay been gouceally
Forgotten (8)

2. NiO MeTarney, of 1975. The Backyard Heh Fn Wok
ing Manual for 1973 Woda Pry, Ena ee ae
18049. 34 Pe
Jom Tad and WO. Metarney. 1972, the Backyard Fh
Fara. Onpae Gacdesan cd Yat Sbgare,an 72
S.0rMebamsey To, odd, 19PH Salon one A
aang Geide ro Eachgand Ri Faring, sonal oF
‘io New Ahern (2.

#8 Ris: Laytor and F,¥. Crepe, 1989. Winer Hlowees
Deveopnis of toe Creenbowac, 318, Carls Sebo"
Soom New York, 281

it-greenbouses are unlveated strvctutes having
4 glass face towards the south, an inselited fare
towards the north, and whose growing vtea x elaw
te ley af the sil. These conditions cewt in ca
lure uf Ue suas Keat to keep the growing area above
freezing chtoughour the winter, The Fst pit
greenhouse in the U, 5, sae built about 1850 in
‘Waltham, Massachusetts, Since thea, itgreenouses
have been vee! sporavlically ia the earn U.S. as
farnorch as Vermont, where it is possible vo raise
longascason veyetablesin Uie sucter and salad
segetables all winter with no supplemental heat (9)
Experience with pitgreenhouses ilicares thar
all amounts of axiary heat, nich asthe Meat
logs Ubrough a basemene wall into the pit, are suff
cient to improve the operation and stability oft
‘stom (10), Several solaheated house designs
inconporate sich technology that ean be adapted
1 this purpose specifically the Thomasem and MIT
solar house designs (LD). In these syscems, the sun's
heat is captured during the swnny pare of the day By
‘water flowing erough a cellect2# and the heat is
store ws hat water foe later use, This technology is
Slcecly applicibte to the greenhouse/aquaculeure

9. Ky Kem, 1972. The Dumertale mene Ohapee 9
The ir Cresnbons. Stems Rov, Oahu, Caloris
Stott Soe

19, Wid Tapani 969. Chace 2. Th Erno i, 1733

11, BL Anderon, 1973. Ser nwa at Seler Design
Shain Thode, Meputient of Aaetetut 1

Nes ARP
RS
complex, waece a large body of water is available
for bat storage. Water from the fish pond ean be
sed to abvorb Uicec solar energy and excess heat
from the greenhouse. "Thi heat can-he eleseed ite
the greenhouse at night t0 maintain growing ten
peratures
[New AAlcheray lnstieute has investigated solar heating

‘of growing strutures and the moderating elTeets of
laege ponds of ware in seyeeal experimental structures
In 1971 a transparent domo-grecahouse was built and
cud to grow clad vegerables duting the winter using
ausillay heac fram a wood stove, 1 ts used again in
the winter of 1972, hi time heute! only by daytime
sunlight and heat radiaring fowm the eareh; hacdy vege
tables could he maintained thruvghuurtehe winger. In
1972 two dome-grocahowses were Win whic Com
tained aguecufrute ponds; these ponuls were muinuined

imately 80 degrees F. from May 15 ra Sept
by passive solar heating and elective
venting, Tue abiliey ofthe ponds to maderare the in
rceaal climate of the greenbouse wae dramatically

(ate fall, shen outside frosts and cold maps
had Lele effect om the aie eemperuture inside the
‘greenhouse, Tus combining aquacultare with growing
lance egal! way For meeting the temperate
scaly required in a greenhouse struct.

DESIGN AND OPERATION OF THE ARK
(Oar expesiences which led up to dhe Ark concept

atc chronicled in "Walton Two, Coniplest Guide to

Ruckyar Fish Furcaing” ithe squaculeure section of

this Jourta, Caricululy pertinent isthe desertion

of te Miniueore Ack, which incorporates int is design

for suiinve shite

PEFLECTIVE PANELS

many of the concepes we wish to explore ia the larger
sysom,

PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

‘The peapored solarheated geecnhons/aquaculrure

ex i§ designed to demumnarrare a facility capable
‘of producing mearsid vegetables year Found, ex

‘solar and wind encegy as os power bas. es

jor componcnts are ilustaced in Figure 1, 2,3
nd and are desctibed below, general dimensiones
of the structure are piven ia Figure 5.

A pitgreenhoute growing steaetuee comparable
in size to a conventional small caonmervial green.
house. Pastially sunlen, it offers anatteactive visual
profile sutable fur wiespoead aesthetic and land:
scaping acceptances funelivnally, 1 ylzes the carchs
heating and fosufation quails to si in climate earl

fi An insulated 15,54 gallon aquteuteste panel
with transparent coven, capable of peovidling Fresh hig
‘quality meat protein on a year-rournl basis with ware
and cool reason fish crops: The pow wtlzes a sab-
‘and hielogical filter for continuous water Ps
and nutrient eyeling

Til A solar heat collector to heat che aquaculture
pond daring sunoy periods. The solar water heater
Will be af the Thomason design (12) and is pump will
bbe powered by cloericity from a wind generator. The
folie collector will be controled surnmatically and
will wet seconsaily 36a wiad seseen for the other
ewetores,

42. 4 b.Ahganeson and J Le thomacon, 1972, Soli Mave

Face Edun Seca Company

ee to 2ngle
is. A wind geneeatar ro produce cleeticcy for
wore pumping ceculation anc lighting. AC the presenc,
commercial windmills da nor praduce cnough cleer-

ny in average wind ateas of the northeastern Unined
States to meet our needs, and thei costs are exorhinant,
bring far beyond the utilities on a Kilowatt hour hass.
‘Oucplan, though, isto reste an electricity system for
the Arle which imeperiiene of Fass fvels, nuclear
power plans and public utes, Towards this end, we

developmental sages 210 koe wind

riven power plant designed ro produce substantial
smaunts af electricity 3¢ sverige win! epee's 13),
H sucecstul, out electricity costs within Fe yents
ruiy be competitive with the sites,

is possible that the Ark may requize tv si
anills ce function uptivally. L's, ap ineapeasive
‘water pumping mil similar to the one used to power
tbe Miniateze Ark, ill circulate water Unrogl the
system during windy periods, nd the new electricity
proshocing mill with buttery stonage during spells
‘widhout wind

13, Mil hl, 1974. A Wind Union Bower Plat for
Hourhald Use. A Kescatch Proposal fom The New
‘Alchey shut pp Net foe dsabudon,

= oosign and operating fea related (0 solar
energy calleerion, conservation aul isteution are
denied in Figuees 1, 7, Sand 4. Reflective sutlaces
(as well se the rouf angles) of the greenhouse act
Aircet a maxinnuay asvoune of lighe into che greenhouse
and onto the solr ealleerar, Reflective surfaces wit
the greene snd aa the north wall result in
25-35 increate of light on the planc canopy (14).
Reflective nigh coser panels ean be positioned 10
cect dytime igh entering the greenhouse ana
‘atious plant areas, and nhe same panels wet a6 nocture
hal heat retainers at night, reducing heat eadtation
fron the reructure by 15-20% (15). The aquaculture
[pond is insulated from the ground and covered with a
double mentGrane skin, and all lis swtiaces of the
igeenhouse and solar collector we donb glazed.
Finally, all glass surfaces will be ucatod wir 2 mas
terial 1 prevent droplet condensation and thas

U4, JiMaghnaodsR. Abad and YA, Laan 1973
[A Sovly of Solar Ferg Passi fh Pardecovers
cations resented nthe Ineaationa Slot
lenrpySoctery, U8, Section Anal Mcting, Cleve
lund, Ohio, October 4, 1973

15, RD sighed

Heat
COLLECTION aND

oIsTRIBUTION

Soler Healing yee
Plant-Ald Warming Gycle

Circulation Fortuizntina Cycle

Ft
Allow up 20 50% more light penetration than untreaced
lazing (16)
‘The groenhouze/ayvaculture complex is operated
in ony of three modes depending on outside conditions,
Daring daylighe hours hea 3 stored inthe aqauculture
pond by ciecation Uhvough the solar heater. During
ight hours and very cald, cloudy wineer days, heat
transferred from the aquaculture pou ¢o the sail beds
in the greenhouse; warm pond wuter ie pasted chrongh
pipes in the grcenhousesuil. Heat loss Hom ehe soil
cts to heat the aie around the growing plants, Finally,
luring periods when heating iv noe requited, water
‘ean be eirculuted theowgh ube biological flee for
eration und pucifleacion,

BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS,
Aquacaliare Components

‘The New Alchemy Instivure has pioncered the com
expt of algacbased, tropical aquatic food ecosystems

46, Roseman, £973. Coating a Coneol Solr ight,
Heats Crndenatnn ia Solr Sil, Ceeeohoosee
ind Otter Srucure,etciaionl Sole Eneng”
Sociery. U5, Seoune Au ering, 1973, Fine
ined on prnnd comaunioaton with Roman cut
‘ering erperimenta ls out,

for norther mates and developed “bacyar” fh
flrs eh prodoee high quality, oun fes
tated on Surana fod chin 17) (See a0
Staton te “tht Journ apes sare dso Kaen
Se Bete ish ac nate to ica and ae ely
dite for nee clare, Since thy ze pimaly
‘Sys teder te sont af ttn ih ott say
inv ail construction conte ofthe nytt and 3
tral amuce of lor fo mnsin se pond nd op
Ihe Ua In ove fox tlpreular 0 woo pnd
temporstuc of appronimatay 30 degess Care
tcvery. At ler temperaaes ower dog ot ake
Face Ic way or acenpuing to sant
Tempero thas romped aro researh ac eat
pons

he Gest year the 13,500 gallon pond, which
in also the heat storage component of the whale com-
plex, wil be sec wp at ich culture system and will,

12. the quality an tne ofthe Tap nwa ele
‘Sota is nec Ihe food editor of the ie Yank
Finer dsc wt eh g he beng farmed
Tih eed naptlencet. Sees FuerRased Pts A
‘Thiam of che Eoviogt wn he senaalist Hy ob.
Hes NY Tus Trurtay Sepember 6, 1973

DIMENSIONS
OF
COMPONENTS

_

ya
incorporate tb best of the ideas that have heen
veloped wnt of wor previous findings. They at
1. Riologicat Filtration

A biological filer will excompays the whole
bottom of the pond and will eliminate uwdr-retand=
ing etaboltees, especially axamonia. A peeforated
fiber glass false hortom will support x "layer of
crushed clam, oyster an high magnesium dolomite.
‘These materinls will huffer the system and act a
subsaate for the bacteria which break daw te sh
substances co compounds readily urlizahle by the
signe for chit gross. The primary task of the hae=
teria wil he a alter the ammonia to nitrates and
pitvices which promote algae growth without inhi:
ing fish growth,

The water for te heat collection and disuibution
systems vill be drawn out troin uewer the filter, ehereby
ensuring a continuous Aw of warer chrough the Elter
and high fuation efficieney

2, Feritisation

‘The pond will be fertilized with compost, rich
soil, zoek minerals ane manures im order to sscain
oprional algae predwetion in the ponds fr the fich 2
feed upon. This past seawon a breskehrough was accom
plished: ehrough the mixing of small amounts of the
above compavads inte the pans, algae production was
not che limiding factor i the small aguaculeare systems,
Je would sppeur Out we have overcome Ore neo main,
suming blocks to intensive pond voltages sainely the
‘oprimization of algae production and the breakdown
of growl inhibiting waste prodtict, The wiste-algne
cycle weme to have come i
blanced relationship.

3. Production of Filipia ~ Summer Cyele

Prodluction figures are hard to esate fo the
15,500 gallon aquaculture pond. in our small 3,000
allan solachexted ponds we have produced 2 pound
‘of fish per G0 gallons of water in 10 weeks without
he critical population contol, or opsimal Fieation
Projecting this production figute ont tbe proposed
system would result in beowcen $40 and 675 poonds
of edible size ah heing produced duving the d+?
month tilapia seasan, Initially 300 gh Will he
stocked into the system and they will be replaced
‘with 500 young at -week intervals, a
degrees C. are maietained in che pond, There are a
umber of ceasons to believe that chese praduction
fatimates may be far too conservative. Firstly, our
Prior experience has been sed upom culeuresysterns
in whieh the sueface area of the Filtetion units was
nat maximized ae ia the peesent system, Seconily,
the populations were too dense hy 2 factor of fire,
as predators were noc introduced. Thislly, the shone
calculations da nat rake into azcount the Faer that
the production potential por unit volume increases
‘with increasing pond size, Finally, ltger ponds have
smote seble thermal and chenteal envizonanents which
‘would inprove Fish gravith

ca productive and,

Utinately we believe the system will be able
to presce sever times the pouraage of
bbeon indicated in this praposil. Intensive Fi
in Germany and Japan already has produced much
higher yields, bur these syseoms are dependent upon
large amounts of additfonal food and energy inputs
2.28).
|4, Cool Season Fish Culture

During the time of year (November chrough Appl)
when the water temperatures ithin the wlaricated
aquaculture pond drop below 25 eyes C. che capi
wwll be replaced with « polyculture pond ineluding a
amber of native fishes ual white amr oe Chinese
grace carp (Ceenopharyugidam itetash and hybrid
eras carp (Carassive auratus} in onder to produce a
winter crop.

‘the potential productivity of dhe 290! season poly:
culture erop is nkmawn, After an optinal ccasystem
has heen eazefully worked out yields may come clove
10 approximating the summex cycle.

It is hoped chat when the aquaculture component
of che solar heaced aquaculeure/greenhousestrucuure
is more completely worked out, the fishes ia eumpar-
Able systeme wil pay for inital eosts and maintenanee,
particularly if coats axe spread over a LOsyear pered.
tthe groealowse camypanent would then be able to

‘ome beyond expenses for its owners

GREEXUIOUSE
‘The greenhouse willbe estatthed as an intensive
Food producing structure and vegetables and salad greens
‘will be cultured on the growing beds 2« shown in Figure
2, The crops will vary from location to location withio,
the greenhouse, depending on dicic ight are! spacial re-
‘qviremence and the time of year. Duticg Cie fall and
arly Winter asonths, a diversity of oem, peus aad root
‘crops will be grown, while during the late winter, spring
tnd suramet anonths heet-loving cops sels as peppers,
melons, eggplants and beans will predominate, TO
well be grown year round. Accurate recucis of Ue yes
and thei mate yalue will be kept

GREENHOUSE. MANAGEMENT
1. Fertilization
Inially the bess willbe filled with compose and
sich soll, Afterwards, the vole source of ferdtzacion
‘wil come fram the nuieaLalen pond watce wsed

1a, J, Bardach, WO MeLatney and JH, Ryther, 1972,
‘qoaciives Toe Farming and aban of Feb
‘watt an Mate Organams. Joka Bile. 8 pp
Tete pice dacumson of case cute af
ayn. 29-74, The text the defile one of Uke
fuer fo Boy war penal wcten by New
‘Ahomy'+ 0. Baka.
tw izigate the plants, Out experiescons liking agua
sultwve and the culuvee af teveestvial food crops have
demonstrated dhe vile of iteyeating the eve. In
experimental plocs comparing aquaewtoure waver wich
tap water we huve obtained a large inowase in yields
of eraps such us lettuce using aquacolovee warer (19),
Interconnecting the aquaculluee wnd plane craps in
the ralarheated structuce will luce irigation and
clinainate feel

2. Best Control
ests, eepecinlly shitefcs, caw hecome a major
probdein in greeulionves, They see wsually controlled
‘ies conle pesticides, We have had some experience
‘winh hiolagieal controls im greenhouses, wilizing
roads, elamanders and trce frogs, which prevented
serie outbreaks af insect pests in an HB-foor diameter
dame growing structure. The surmer, more sable
‘limace in che proposed structure wil enable ws ro use
sal] Tarde, especially Anes srolinensis, a control
insece pests, Lizards have previously been wsed ro
Cuvhat peste va ainiacure tropical rain forest housed

19, W.O.meLamey, 1974 Prgaion of Gusden Vepeabes
snus Weal Heb Pond Water The Journal uf the New
Niche 2}

‘sidhin groenhouse (20). Pest control stimals were fed
{ suppleneatary dec of Guillce grown on a small
mound af rotting fue eo sesin them during peviods
‘when ne plant pees were present.

3. Disco ard Humidity Control
Ronrtinely, reenbiouses sce sprayed with Fungiciles

to Keer down discasce whl can be very cama
under conditions of intensive cultre and igh humidity
‘Bur strategy will be to grow dscase-resitant varieties of
planés where patible and talimit disease by eeducing the
reladive hunting within ehe greenhinse, This will be
fecumplished in several ways: First, the beds have been
designed tne deeper than ncemat and chs ill permit.
Teas Iequent watering of the erops. Seconaly, the pond
seetion inside the greenhouse will be covered parc af

20, Oye of (Fada) ware doctoral sonora he out.
nding estlogne Mestan Bat He velo i
Tote Aan Aron, Michigan "top rain fre”
verde samy and ndennand She doar and ee
‘Slsuanipe of plant water, a ania Tee
nets, bid nd monkey win lacie eo
‘tet He developed a exober Causa eas
Cn prultor prey eeaonn i cloned mete, Untorcanare
igen ater publed I ideas have Been an
‘lito Goo and we hope to exten the