Amish Air Conditioner

[palani]

I saw a store full of these today.

http://amishamerica.com/images/amish-ceiling-fan.jpg

It is run on low volume low pressure compressed air. The clear line is water going to the sponge. The water evaporates and keeps the room cool. It is interesting to watch it run. Just an air piston.

There were no electric lights in this store. They were gas. There was a refrigerated room and I don't doubt it was ammonia. The scale at the cash register was electric and I believe the cash register was too. These were the only things electric I could spot.

[hoarder]

Did they have a horse-drawn air compressor?

[ximmy]

steampunk tech.

[midnight rambler]

That will work well only where the humidity is relatively low. Out in the desert southwest swamp coolers (evaporative coolers) blow every bit as cold as air conditioning.

[Ponce]

The belt attached to the fan? what makes it work if there is no electricity?

V

[hoarder]

The belt attached to the fan? what makes it work if there is no electricity?

VIt's pneumatic. Since the Amish aren't allowed to have electric motors, they contain horse farts in a chamber and ignite it to create pneumatic pressure, which in turn works a piston which cranks the large pulley.

[Ponce]

Of course, stupid of me for asking..... be sure you don't get to close to he chamber, it might explode.

V

[brosil]

Actually, they use waterwheels, horse treadmills and wind powered compressors. Some are allowed solar panels for lighting. Clever folks, really.

[Glass]

I've never heard of a wind powered compressor before although logic says if work can be done then it can be put to most uses.

A quick search found me this forum discussion on using one for generating heat: http://www.thebackshed.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5481

And the site actually looks like it might be worth a dig around. Air powered engines with square section pistons made from wood? Who ever heard of such things?

Instant cold or hot air from vortex tubes; http://www.airtx.com/vortex-tubes/
(I feel a memory someone might have posted about these here before)

[palani]

Instant cold or hot air from vortex tubes;
Used those years ago for electrical panels in a machine shop. Quite cheap to install. When you figure the cost of producing compressed air they turn out to be one of the more expensive options.

Compressed air is pretty expensive to produce.

[Ponce]

Thanks Glass....... took a peek at that shed place and I love it.....will be there perusing the site for the next two weeks.

V