SMARTHUB

Conceptual Framework

SMARTHUB or Synergistic Modular Adaptable Replicable Technological High Utility Building is a concept I have been working on for about 8 months. The purpose of the SMARTHUB is to create an efficient, sustainable adaptable workplace that is designed (at this point) as the nerve center of the GVCS. To get an accurate picture of what all this concept entails, and the best way to do that is through the acronym.

Synergistic- the SMARTHUB, in an effort to conserve energy is designed where each feature in it serves multiple purposes. For example, in the center of the building is a suspended water column that acts both as a heat sink for multiple applications, such as water cooling servers/workstations via a fanless solution, a heat exchanger for the series cryocooler, stable climate control that is required for sensitive laboratory operations, as well as being a beautiful aquaponics bay.Additionally, the SMARTHUB will be able to process all inputs from biomass/waste to atmospheric gas, and process it into usable materials/energy via a very complex chemical engineering protocol yet to be developed. Additionally, the entire structure is a Faraday cage for protection of sensitive electronics and instruments.

Modular- While the SMARTHUB itself will be a large building 36' x 28' initially, each of the modules are built to be easily transportable via truck, train, or ship, as all the modules are 8' x 12'. 4' x 12', or 6' x 12'. With a small assortment of integrated anchor points these modules can be interconnected in a short amount of time.

Adaptable- this building system can also be integrated into small housing units, large scale hydroponic gardens, Wireless towers, and eventually an essential part in a grassroots superconducting electricity infrastructure that has potential to build an expansive smartgrid.

Replicable- With fastidious examination of the surrounding environment to determine what natural resources are available, I think this work to be duplicable. The media may be different, but with existing building material techniques used in the protocols that will be developed by this project should remain applicable.

Technological- Due to the inherent safety issues of chemical engineering, the SMARTHUB will be equipped with wide array of redundancies and robust sensor technologies. Using arduinobased sensor technology and real time data logging and automated remediation measures with human back up, risk should be minimal. Additionally, it serves as the roots of the technological tree of the entire community, by providing a safe data storage need, and the IT backbone for the entire community.

High Utility Building- this is where the Earth meets sustainable development. It encompasses biology, chemistry, IT, design prototyping, and potentially much, much more. From a more humanistic perspective, it inspires the feelings of being one with nature, while amplifying productivity by design. It allows natural light to be pervasive, while still providing protection from the harsh elements. I feel it is a radical step in the right direction for industry 2.0.

Features

Drafting of a revision to the initial concept so that it may properly suit the needs of OSE is still underway, but here is a list of technologies that need to be discussed, augmented, and finalized.

Serial Sterling cryocoolers- this infrastructure will allow for storage of an array of cryogenic gases. Each step along the process uses the output of the previous step to be used to draw heat away from the cryocooler to produce the next cryogenic liquid. The steps I have identified thus far are as follows:

1. All gas from various inputs (Atmosphere, Biogas,and Hydrolysis mostly) is drawn into the system, filtered through various techniques (magnetic, biochar, water, hepa,, etc) to trap aerosol impurities.
2. The water vapor is removed mostly by passing a condensation coil through an ammonia-cooled refrigerator at .5 degrees C. The ammonia condenser coils will be cooled by the water in the suspended water column to remove excess heat, while the input gas condenses out the vast majority of water vapor, which is reserved for the next step. The remaining water.vapor is removed via a hydrophilic-packed column.
3. In the first stage Stirling cryocooler, the hot head is cooled via the .5 degree C H2O integrated into the blades of the hot head modeled after an aftermarket radiative cpu cooler. End result is NH3 produced from mostly from urine decomposition. Further design work is needed here, as well as all subsequent sterling cryocoolers for appropriate filter technology. Possible technique is found here.[1]
4. GC-MS analysis of the flue gas content from biomass pyrolysis/burning, anaerobic biogas collectors, and anaerobic/aerobic decomposition of heated regolith needs to be done to identify all recapturable gases that can be used in a high-efficiency web of controlled chemical synthesis/storage mechanisms to develop engineered materials in an almost closed chemistry cycle. Given that a point of diminishing returns will be reached, a determination of that point needs to be discussed.
5. As the loop approaches closure, the sophistication, and thus the cost, of the cryocoolers will need to be increased in isolation of molecule by selective membrane technology or other purification techniques. Obviously multiple working prototypes will be developed along this path, as has been done with other parts of the GVCS. The list of gases I have identified thus far are NH3,CO2, H2S, C2H4, CH4, F2, CL2, NO, NO2, N2O4, N2O, CO, O2, O3, R-CN's, and various High-order hydrocarbons.

More here later.