Velomobiles, like the EcoRocket, tend to be warmer on the inside than riding a bicycle. That's because when you pedal a regular cycle the air cools your body as you zoom through it. Velomobiles slip faster through the air because of their smooth outside surface. Only...the air doesn't cool your body.
Also, the EcoRocket outside is going to be made of red cedar wood strips. One day Major Dude asked Captain Utopia, "Don't they make those super hot saunas with red cedar?"
Yes, they do....
So, the Econauts have got four portable fans - Tiny Tornadoes - to help keep them coole inside the EcoRocket. Each one uses a single 'D' cell rechargeable battery.
A Tiny Tornado on Major Dude's conga drum.I put a penny on the drum to see how small
the fan is. Don't stop fans with your tongue, kids!
Major Dude learned that the hard way....
Will they be enough to save the Econauts from heat exhaustion?
Any ideas on how to keep the EcoRocket coole inside?
- Major Dude
6 comments:
How about packing yourselves in ice inside the ecorocket every morning - just fill up from those special freezers at the gas stations.
That's not a bad idea!
Not sure if using those decadent gas station ice machines would work with our whole low GHG emission thing. Those freezers use up an incredible amount of energy - I think....
Does 'dry' ice count? If it's dry, maybe it won't melt?!
- Major Dude
Good point...that's usin' the old eco-noggin'!
I propose a well-designed ventilation system comprising of intake vents at the front and outtake vents along the sides and back, similar to the concept of jet propulsion. Fans could be mounted to the intake vents, which would be powered by the rush of air. For those times when the Ecorocket is at rest, you could wire up auxilary power from a stylish mosaic of very small solar panels mounted to the hood of the Ecorocket in a fab disco-ball pattern.
This may require weeks of experimentation in the wind tunnel to perfect, but could solve the cooling dilemma, and add both wind and solar power sources to your vehicle.
I have no idea, really. But the sketch in my head looks like a totally sweet ride.
Kat,
Yes, venting....
We've explored the venting option. There will be three existing vent locations on the EcoRocket.
1) The entry/exit hatches on top.
2) The two front wheel openings.
3) The four front and back foot openings in the floor of the EcoRocket.
The foot openings are there in case the Econauts need to use their feet to move the EcoRocket backwards. And - in case of braking emergency - the Econauts can put their feet onto the speeding pavement below to help slow the EcoRocket. It's called the 'Fred Flintstone' option.
We plan to direct air up from the foot openings for 'passive' venting.
Another venting design which seems promising are disk-shaped louver vents on the side of the fairing. When the vent is opened, one half of the vent door pulls air in from the aerodynamic fairing and the other half directs it in.
Old-time cars (Volkswagons?) once had these sort of vents as triangular glass window additions. They worked pretty well as far as I was concerned. The thing about vents is that they work well when the vehicle is traveling at speeds faster than the EcoRocket can legally travel.
The speed limit for cycles is 34 or 37 km/h, I think.
Kat, it took me about a week to think of and investigate the vent idea. You're a lot faster than I am! The vent idea is still a possibility, though....
Thanks!
- Major Dude
Kat,
I've been thinking a lot about what you've said.
I'm thinking side venting more and more thanks to you.
Bravo!
- Major Dude
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