Running a Diesel Engine on compressed Air?

[chris y]

I dont think an air supply for the engine is a concern.
I'm guessing that if there isnt enough oxygen to run an engine you are probably dead anyway and unable to start it.

I know nothing about biology though so maybe you can live with less oxygen than an engine needs to run.

 

[gaz1]

My old wooden house sits 100m below an old growth forest, should the forest catch alight it will rain embers upon my house most likely setting it allight.

I would have 5000 liters of water in tanks uphill of the pump so that would always be primed. However the pump might be starved of air by the draft from the forest fire? Could I conceivably run or at least suppliment a two cylinder diesel engine using compressed air? How much would I need per hour?

I cannot get the tanks high enough above the house to produce enough head. The power lines run along the forest edge so a lekky pump is not an option.

An old grow forest produces an insane amount of heat and consumes vast amounts of oxygen. Since my house is below the forest thats a big plus, since most of the smoke and heat will go upwards. I would put the engine and pump in a disused concrete tank below ground level.

I already have removed all the shrubs and trees from around my house. I will clear all the grass and cover with gravel 1 meter out from the foundations.

Unless the fire starts directly over the road from me it will burn from one point following the wind and terrain.

Heaps of land below the house but above the house is less steep.

from the info that has been provided by the poster

 

[gaz1]

to be very clear 5000 litres isnt enough water you need gallons of it

50,000+ gallons and you need the water tanks to go with it

if you havent got height go width

but we also need to know the lay of the land and where your house is situated and how far away from the trees they are

you can also multitank on hills, you can also bury them for more water storage

 

[Morrisman]

from the info that has been provided by the poster

It's only embers landing on the roof, from the tree line 100 metres away, that is the worry, not a full on forest fire 1m away from the house. As long as the roof can be kept damp I don't foresee it bursting into flame.

 

[DAPPH]

I place my trust in Mystic Meg.

I will come up with a system where I can call to start it. Fire season is only a few months and my neighbours are farmers so if it dosnt start up they or me could do it.

Unless the fire starts directly over the road from me it will burn from one point following the wind and terrain.

Alas , alack Mystic Meg died a few weeks ago aged 84 IIRC , bet she didn't see that one coming.

Bi- metallic thermal rise sensors can easily be set up to trigger an auto start genny ring circuit , which can have sensors 50 mtrs or more away from the building at ground level and up in the air on metal poles , say when the temp gets above 110 oF or what every you set them at . Just make sure they are wired in parallel not series so any device on the parallel ring wiring can trigger it . Where as wired up in series , if one is open circuit /closed circuit faulty none will operate

 

[Turbo]

I dont think an air supply for the engine is a concern.
I'm guessing that if there isnt enough oxygen to run an engine you are probably dead anyway and unable to start it.

I know nothing about biology though so maybe you can live with less oxygen than an engine needs to run.

Just what I was about to post!