[282] Annotations on Lift Devices

El articulo previo discutia los stairwells, un invento puramente hindu para almacenar grandes cantidades de agua generadas durante los monzones y asi tener agua en todo el periodo seco.  Es particular de esta zona dadas las pobres condiciones del terreno, que no soporta el dise/no usual de charcas con liners. 

Dije en aquel articulo que lo realmente fascinante es como estas opciones se alimentaban con condiciones de baja tecnologia, que no dependian directamente de un motor electrico.  Bueno, desarrollando un poco mas en esa teoria les incluyo este link de la FAO, que establece estos tipos de equipos llamadas 'lift devices' o aparatos que le dan un cabezal de elevacion al agua.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ah810e/AH810E05.htm

Repasando un poco la teoria, debemos conservar la energia.  La energia termal siempre fluye del lado mas caliente al mas frio, lo concentrado hacia lo diluido, y dado la fuerza de gravedad, lo que esta arriba siempre busca bajar.  Un poco mas teorico, la ecuacion de Bernoulli:

Velocity Head + Elevation Head + Pressure Head + Friction Losses = Work Required

Para no entrar en un curso de mecanica de fluidos solo digamos que para poder llevar el agua de un punto bajo a un punto alto necesitamos suplir trabajo (o energia) para poder llevarlo al punto alto.  Esa energia debe ser suficiente para poder vencer las perdidas causadas por todos los factores de la ecuacion.

Los romanos tenian sistemas basados en pistones para subir el agua de sus acueductos.  A su vez los persas hiceron muchas mejoras en sistemas tan eficientes que aun se usan hoy en dia.  Todos estos sistemas se basaban en aplicar esfuerzo (un hombre operando una palanca para subir la cubeta es la mas facil de ver. una ristra de caballos girando un disco con una polea llena de cubos que suben el agua es algo mas complejo pero el mismo concepto.  alguien aplica el trabajo.)

egun FAO:
Water may be moved by the application of any one (or any combination) of six different mechanical principles, which are largely independent, i.e. by:

1. direct liftthis involves physically lifting water in a container
2. displacementthis involves utilizing the fact that water is (effectively)incompressible and can therefore be "pushed" or displaced
3. creating a velocity headwhen water is propelled to a high speed, the momentum can be used either to create a flow or to create a pressure
4. using the buoyancy of a gasair (or other gas) bubbled through water will lift a proportion of the water
5. gravitywater flows downward under the influence of gravity

Algunos ejemplos del articulo:

Claro esta, la tecnologia ha avanzado mucho pero estos nuevos sistemas requieren bombas:
Ejemplo mas moderno con molinos de viento:
http://www.ironmanwindmill.com/windmill-history.htm

Inventos adicionales como el tornillo de arquimides:

http://www.hp-gramatke.net/history/english/page0600.htm

Algo de Qanats y Acueductos Romanos:
http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/mvigeant/univ270_05/jake_aq/aqueducts.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/roman-aqueducts.html
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Science/aqueducts_iran.htm

Un poco de cisternas.  Un ejemplo fotografiado en Istanbul:
http://seattlestravels.com/underground-cisterns-fish-and-medusa-heads-in-istanbul/

Sobre las preocupaciones del mantenimiento de estos sistemas seguire en otro momento.  Discusiones previas en la Alcantarilla:
http://alcantarillaalquimica.blogspot.com/2011/05/178-introduccion-al-problema-de-los.html
http://alcantarillaalquimica.blogspot.com/2011/03/planificacion-necesaria-tema-3-manejo.html
http://alcantarillaalquimica.blogspot.com/2009/12/necesitamos-empezar-reusar-agua.html

[223] Global Health Media Project - Cholera Erradication Video

Simple y sencillo.  Video simple, grafico y educacional para la educacion y erradicacion del colera.  Usando iphones o cualquier conexion de computadora a nivel mundial. La organizacion Global Health Media Project:
http://globalhealthmedia.org/

The Story of Cholera was produced in collaboration with award-winning animator Yoni Goodman.

We embarked on this project in response to the outbreak of cholera in Haiti and reports that the population needed basic and accurate messages about the disease.
The four-minute animation covers transmission, prevention, signs of cholera, and care in a simple and accessible way. The film follows evidence-based guidelines, consistent with messages already in place in Haiti. Earlier versions have been field-tested, as well as reviewed for accuracy and content.

Video aqui:


Algo del tema del Colegio de Farmaceuticos.
http://www.cfpr.org/shownews.asp?newsid=606

El brote que tiene en alerta a la República Dominicana no tiene por qué detenerte en tus deseos de darte una escapadita a la isla caribeña para disfrutar de sus playas durante esta temporada veraniega.

Eso sí, hay varias recomendaciones que debes tomar en consideración a la hora de darte el viajecito al vecino país o cualquier otro destino que estimes necesario.

La semana pasada se registró en Puerto Rico el primer caso de cólera. De inmediato sonó la alarma de alerta, pero las autoridades locales fueron enfáticas en que se trató de un “caso importado” a través de un misionero que viajó a la República Dominicana.

La noticia provocó que el Departamento de Salud emitiera una Guía de Protección para evitar el contagio con la infección intestinal, que puede ser utilizada tanto en su viaje a Santo Domingo como hacia otro territorio donde se sienta inseguro sobre las medidas de salubridad existentes.

Hay que recordar que el brote de cólera que hoy azota a la República Dominicana inició en Haití a meses de ser sacudido por un terremoto que dejó a miles de muertos y a otros miles desprovistos de hogar y de seguras medidas de salubridad.

“Las personas pueden continuar visitando la República Dominicana y otras jurisdicciones y, como se ha resaltado en los pasados días, es recomendable... no ingerir agua si la botella no está debidamente sellada, para garantizar que es de una fuente confiable y no está contaminada”, comentó el titular de Salud, Lorenzo González.

Un clip viejo de un artculo de Ghost Map.  El brote de colera de Broad Street, Inglaterra:

http://alcantarillaalquimica.blogspot.com/2010/04/el-mapa-fantasma-alcantarillas-y-la.html

Gracias a cartoon brew por el link:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111219005655/en

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/advertising/the-story-of-cholera-by-yoni-goodman.html

[219] Guanica Restoration Project

I passed by the dry forest yesterday after my weekly Yauco meeting.  Since I was late I could not stay.  However I just had to give more details on the hydraulics of the valley and how bad decisions in the past regarding the maintenance of the Coffee Industry has caused excessive erosion that were not impacting the coral reefs of the Guanica Bay.

The ex was there last weekend.  Guanica is a town with history and the UNESCO certified dry forest, a natural wonder of the world.  So my interest on visiting the valley for photo documenting the trails.  Winter is the season there is a large migration of birds and the forest is in its wettest period of the year.

I wont be able to visit soon, although it is scheduled, so instead I present some scientific studies on the area, in hope that you rediscover this incredible natural wonder.

http://www.cprm.gov.br/pgagem/puerto/Schaffner%20Too%20Much.pdf
First, the bad decisions regarding Laguna Cartagena, in the Valley of Lajas, another must see area on this piece of land I love so much.

Summary:  Eutrophication, reduced volume of water accumulated have caused accumulation of phosphorus and sulfur.  Promoting toxic conditions.  Solution: rehabilitate the area to receive fresh water and accumulate.  Create a peat industry to use the rotting biomass as compost.

Then, a small poster presented on the restoration of the Guanica Bay by adopting the watershed and rehabilitation of the Guanica Lagoon as an effort to reduce nutrient migrations to the Guanica Bay.
http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=15019

By the way, I don't work for CSA or Gregory Morris.  I just love their restoration projects.
http://glmeng-coop.com/pdesc_en.php?36
The firm worked with the planning and design of the restoration of the Guánica Lagoon. GME was contracted to conduct a hydrologic and hydraulic study of the lagoon and, in 1999, they published Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis: “Guánica Lagoon Restoration Impacts on Regulatory Flood Levels” and “Guánica Lagoon Hydrology & Restoration Alternatives” as a result of those studies. In these studies, GME evaluated three alternative scenarios for the restoration of the Guánica Lagoon.

Another study on the Guanica Bay mechanics.  May be a bit too technical but has impressive pictures on the problem areas of the watershed:
https://www.estuaries.org/pdf/2010conference/tuesday16/yatch/session1/rios.pdf

In other shallower issues.  She stayed in Copamarina...
http://www.map-puerto-rico.com/guanica-puerto-rico.html
All through the summertime months highs here in Guanica can get into the 90's with overnight lows in the 60's. Make sure to bring sun cover protection as the sun can be brutal in your skin.

If you are hiking, even though some trails have tall trees and shadow, you should use protection from the sun, have enough water, and watch for the first sights of dehydration.

On UNESCO’s list of Biosphere Reserves the dry forest has 48 rare tree species and is an excellent place for bird watching and hiking. It comprises coastal areas with several mangrove cays as well as subtropical dry forest.

The main reason to visit Guanica, Puerto Rico is the beaches. From the Balneario Caña (cania) Gorda, Ballena beach, Manglillos beach, Tamarindo Beach, Playa Santa beach, and Gilligan's Island (Cayo Caña Gorda), Guanica offers the best in beaches for the family.

At Balneario Caña Gorda the gentle water at this beach washes onto a wide swath of sand fringed with palm trees. It is one of the favorite beaches among locals.

The beach comprises of picnic tables, restrooms, showers, and changing facilities. In Caña Gorda go exploring the many small bays and coves common in the area. These are uninhabited and they invite the imagination to run wild as you discover crannies and nooks.

If a peaceful lifestyle lived on the sandy shores of a beautiful blue sea teaming with all sorts of colorful marine life appeals to you, then you might find that Caña Gorda is the place you'll spend some time in.



I am a rather old fashioned person.  I hate luxury in all its forms so I'd prefer the option of staying in a cozy B&B.
Something like Mary Lee's...
http://www.maryleesbythesea.com/contenta.htm

Or just going birding...
http://www.birdingpr.com/photos.html
http://www.birdingpr.com/endemics.html
http://www.birdingpr.com/endemics/15jui.html
http://www.birdingpr.com/endemics/01llorosa.html

Something from the DNER...
http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/arn/recursosvivientes/costasreservasrefugios/pmzc/publicaciones/folletos/Bosque%20Seco%20Guanica.pdf

Conferencia Hidrologia 08 30 10 - 09 01 10

Proceedings en linea, antes que le pongan firewall. Gracias Acuadoc...:

http://www.awra.org/PR2010/?!

http://www.awra.org/PR2010/doc/PR2010Proceedings.zip

http://aquadoc.typepad.com/waterwired/2010/09/my-awra-presentation-conference-proceedings.html

Random Stuff

Have been very busy these last few weeks. Therefore I have not been able to post anything new, except the ocassional youtube video on Facebook. Here some interesting finds I have stumbled upon the Web:

# 1 - Stray Bullets

http://www.innocenceofnihilism.com/SBFREEREAD.html

Someone posted the first four issues of this polemic comic at the above listed site. A very pessimistic view of life and with issues that criticize many evils of our society. Reminded me of Visual Arts Bookstore in Condado.

# 2 Nineteenth Century China Tradition

http://www.bc.edu/research/chinagateway/culthist/dianshizhai.html

These short stories presented by Chinese Gatewway provide insight to Chinese Culture on the Nineteenth Century with Dianshizhai Pictorials. These images presented a history or a moral (a dated moral analogous to Victorian England morality).

These vignettes reminded me of Rafael's Tufi/no's excellent series of serigraphy's of the Plena in Puerto Rico. Don't know Tufi/no, here are some of his most known works (Note: AutoPlay Music) including Cortaron a Elena.

http://www.prfrogui.com/fortune/galeria_22.html

#3 - Alternate View of the Water Crisis (Non Crisis)

Everyone gives as a fact that the water will not be available within 20 years and compares water to a fossil fuel. Water cannot be unavailable given the large amount of it, and the effect caused by the water cycle, where seawater is recycled by evaporation and rain. The actual problem is of infrastructure or making the water available at hard to reach areas. These areas are reserved for the poor and helpless, that are always exploited in these issues.

I may not agree with all the points of the writer but he hits hard on the real issues behind the water. Corruption and Unaccounted Water Losses (sounds familiar to PRASA?). Reuse and proper treatment of residual water is critical. That is why a good sewer system is required. Puerto Rico has the opportunity to enter into this market if we switch from primary discharge regional wastewater plants and enter the advanced treatment with nutrient removal systems. This will be discussed on further issues of the Alcantarilla.

Here is the original article, check the presentation and the comments made in favor and against the speaker.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/16/is-there-really-a-wa.html

Blogalaxia Tags:

Stray Bullets David Laphan Comic Controversy Art Visual Arts Bookstore Dianshizhai Pictorial China Society 19th Century History Tufino Plena Puerto Rico Cortaron a Elena PRASA Reuso Agua Asit Baiswas Water Scarcity Water Management