Hi all, some more model railway fun.
Woomera rocket pad and testing range is the largest in the world at 188 km square.It is operated by the Royal Australian Air Force.
Postal address : PO Box 1, Where The F***, South Australia.
The RAAF recently tendered for a new remote control searchlight for use on the range, to be transported by rail with accompanying generator and control vehicle.
Keen to be part of this, I designed a new light to be carried in a well wagon.
South Australia has an adventurous aspiration of achieving a 50/50 renewable energy target which has so far only caused massive blackouts across the state on a couple of occasions.
These are preventable if no air conditioning is used until the ambient temperature is above 40 degrees C and all lights and refrigerators are turned off at 10 pm.
With this in mind I proposed a small auto tracking solar array as the power source.The associated battery ( size dictated by the support wagon) was able to supply the light for 19 minutes.
This was considered a little short of requirements. During sunlight the light worked admirably, but as the RAAF pointed out, they had no immediate use for a daytime searchlight.
A compact high speed wind generator was rejected on the basis of uncertainty of wind and the short battery life.
The associated dental drill whine was noted and the risk of operator decapitation.
My next proposal was a small diesel generator. This produced not only electricity but massive outrage to do with evil polluting exhaust, noise and large dark spots on the South Australian desert.
Undaunted, I designed and presented a small high efficiency coal fired steam turbine generator.
I was unprepared for the vitriol expressed regarding coal ( the instrument of Satan), increase in air pollution by .0001% added to Australia's deplorable .05% of world pollution, and a waste of coal reserves.
My plea that we have the largest reserves of high quality coking coal in the world fell on deaf ears.
My next design was a high pressure natural gas fired steam turbine generator, based on very low emissions and Australia having vast natural gas reserves.
Unfortunately apparently all our natural gas is exported leaving a dire shortage for domestic use. This design was shelved for consideration though.
As Australia sits on large uranium ( yellow cake) deposits, I bravely designed and presented a miniature nuclear powered high speed turbine generator.
The depleted fuel was so small it could be stored in a lead thimble under the bed.
I was dismayed to receive an immediate noisy visit from the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, largely to do with building a nuclear device in my train room.
The fatwa imposed by the Greens also came as a nasty shock.
A wave motion machine was not feasible in the desert.
The breakthrough came when I realised the vast amounts of hot air generated in Parliament in Canberra could be stored in pressurised canisters and used in a Stirling type engine driving a generator.
This met with instant approval as the fuel source is guaranteed and produces no observable effects.
A modified Kof11 designated KSBE ( Kleinlok Solar Batterie Elektrische) provided the motive power.
Sorry but the loco is Brawa.
Cheers,
Howard.
