- Long-Term
Electric Power
- No
Danger From Poisonous Carbon Monoxide Fumes
- No
Danger of Fire in Building
- No
Danger of Explosion in Building
- No
Noise Or Vibration in Building
- Safe
Underground Double Wall Fuel Storage
- 10-Year
Warranty
US Patent
6,335,919 B1, Others Pending
Registered Copyright 2008
The
S.C.U.P.P. 2000 is a completely self-contained
underground fiberglass electric power generation plant designed to provide
prime power for critical systems. The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 is composed of a fiberglass
housing, gravity dish, hatch dome at ground level made of Combat Composite
TM,
and a double wall 2000-gallon diesel tank. The SCUPP is sold two models.
Direct power where the generator is able to run continuously for 4-8 months
(SCUPP 2000D). The SCUPP 2000V comes with battery banks, battery chargers, inverter,
and generator. This unit will supply power for 6-12 months. Unlike
conventional electric generating plants, the whole unit is below ground and
designed to work in severe climates and disaster conditions. The hydraulic hatch
is aerodynamically designed to resist flying debris in up to 300-mph winds
from weapons blasts, tornados, and hurricanes. In addition, it can withstand an
earthquake measuring 8.5 on the Richter scale with no damage and can survive
5-psi negative pressure from a nuclear blast or tornado and 20-psi overpressure
from modern weapon detonations.
The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 can accept generators from 10 KW to 150
KW and is shipped completely assembled and can be installed in one day.
Installation requires a hole that is 10 feet deep with a base dimension of 14
ft x 14 ft. The hydrostatic pressure (buoyancy) generated in a water table
reaching the ground surface with an empty fuel tank is 37,877 lbs. The gravity
generated by the submerged earth over the gravity dish, and weight of the 10 KW
generator and fiberglass structure is 48,072 lbs. resulting in a 1.27 safety
factor. This design meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI
A58.1) requirements for buoyancy and the Fire Codes (NFPA 30) for a tank of
this size. This size fuel tank allows approximately 3600 hours of operation at
50% load for a 10 KW generator. The fuel tank is 6 feet below the ground, which
keeps the stored fuel temperature well below the outside air temperature and
usually above freezing temperatures. Fungicides are added to the diesel fuel
each year.
The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 should be installed 2 feet above the
100-year flood plain. A local surveyor can determine this level. The
generator can also be removed by unbolting the hatch. The generator exhaust is connected
to the air plenum under the hatch dome and does not exhaust into the generator
chamber. This keeps the engine compartment cool and clean. A high pressure
centrifugal blower forces 1000-4000 cfm into the generator housing chamber for
combustion and cooling air.
Fuel
Consumption in Gallons/Hr
%Max
Capacity
|
10Kw
|
20Kw
|
60Kw
|
100Kw
|
150Kw
|
200Kw
|
100%
|
1.1
|
2.0
|
5.0
|
7.0
|
10
|
13.2
|
75%
|
0.8
|
1.5
|
3.8
|
5.0
|
7.7
|
9.7
|
50%
|
0.55
|
1.1
|
2.8
|
3.4
|
5.4
|
6.7
|
SCUPP Weight-lbs
|
3900
|
4200
|
5200
|
5700
|
6400
|
6800
|
The 10 KW slow speed diesel generator supplies 40 amps @230 VAC,
single phase, 60 Hz power or 80 amps @ 115 VAC single phase 60 HZ. The SCUPP
2000V has two 90 amp hour battery chargers located at one end of the battery
bank. The battery chargers are designed to use a tapered charge to prevent over
charging. With 180 amp/hr of battery charging, the generator needs to operate
for 12 hours to recharge the battery bank. At the opposite end of the battery
bank is an inverter converting 12 volt DC power to 115/230 volt AC 60 Hz single
phase power. The inverter has a continuous rating of 10,000 watts and a 10
second surge rating of 15,000 watts. The battery bank stores 24,960 at 80%
capacity and with the inverter is able to supply sine wave power to the circuit
breaker of a house or other structure. When the batteries run down to approximately
20% of their capacity, the generator automatically turns on. The deep
cycle lead acid batteries used in this way can be discharged
and recharged for approximately 400 cycles before requiring replacement. The
battery banks are located in pockets molded into the fiberglass floor and
covered by composite floor boards. This keeps the batteries in a non-conductive
housing where they are maintained at a stable low temperature with little
vibration resulting in a very long battery life. In compliance with the Radius
Viral Cocooning Operations, the SCUPP 2000 with a 10 KW slow speed diesel can
supply power for 6 + months based on the following electrical loads:
Appliance
|
Operating hrs/day
|
Watts/hr
|
Daily Load-watts
|
MCAS-120
|
24
|
21
|
504
|
Water pump
|
1
|
1050 (1/2 HP)
|
1050
|
Lighting
|
16
|
13 watt FL bulbs (4)
|
832
|
Refrigerator
|
4 (normal operation)
|
800
|
3200
|
Clothes Washer
|
1
|
1150
|
1150
|
Dishwasher (no drying)
|
1
|
700
|
700
|
TV-color 23 in.
|
6
|
300
|
1800
|
Vacuum
|
0.5
|
600
|
300
|
Laptop Computer
|
6
|
100
|
600
|
|
|
|
10,136 watts/day
|
Power for air conditioning can be supplied with basic power
management of other appliances.
Power Storage = 20 - 130 AH batteries @ 80%= 2080 amps = 24,960 watts
Charging = 2 x 90 amp battery chargers= 180 amps/hr = 2,160 watts/hr charging = 11.6
hours to recharge battery bank.
Unlike conventional
electric generating plants, everything is below ground and designed to work in
severe climates and disaster conditions. The Meridian Hatch Dome System is
remotely hydraulically controlled operated and is aerodynamically designed to
resist flying debris in up to 300-mph winds from a tornado or hurricane. The S.C.U.P.P.
2000 is shipped completely assembled and can be installed in one day. The S.C.U.P.P.
2000 can be started remotely by an underground 50 ft control cable. The
generator can be serviced by using the wireless remote transmitter which opens
the hatch dome cover at ground level and climbing down a ladder into the engine
compartment.
Historical Overview
Common gasoline and diesel
generators pose significant health dangers. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the
number one cause of accidental poisoning in the U.S. During the past decade
many people were hospitalized for breathing carbon monoxide as a result of
fuel-powered generators operating either in the basement or in the garage even
with the garage door open. Buildings are not airtight. When the wind blows or
bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans operate, negative pressure is created in the
building drawing in fumes from the generator. Carbon monoxide fumes are
odorless and deadly because they interfere with the human body's ability to
process oxygen. Also during this time period, many people suffered injuries
from fires or explosions as a result of generators operating unsafely.
Power
lines, solar panels, and wind generators are usually the first structures
damaged during high winds, which carry flying debris and are therefore not
dependable during emergency situations. It is this history that created the
need to develop the S.C.U.P.P. 2000. Radius Engineering Inc. has been
engineering and supplying
high tech underground and self-sufficient
products for over 30 years using modern state-of-the-art computer aided
drafting (CAD), computer aided engineering (CAE), and Finite Element Analysis
(FEA).
Disasters
Between 1997 and 2007 presidents of
the United States signed 629 major disaster declarations for territories in the
United States. This has averaged more than 5.2 major disasters each month
affecting millions of people. Since 1990 the number and severity of disasters
has risen, due to global warming. The aftermath of disasters such as
earthquakes, tornadoes, blackouts, fires, and hurricanes have created
tremendous hardships on people who were forced to live without electrical power
for long periods of time.
Without electrical power:
There is no running water because
water pumps require electricity.
There are no operable toilets,
sinks, or showers because there is no running water.
There is no way of using heating
furnaces because they require electricity to fire burners and operate blowers.
Refrigerators and freezers also will not work.
There are no lights to allow
normal living in the nighttime. Common flashlights and camping lights are only
able to operate for a matter of hours.
Driving is extremely dangerous because traffic lights may not be operating. If the roads are
free of fallen debris, and it is possible to drive to a fuel station, there is
no way of getting fuel out of the ground because fuel pumps require
electricity. So it is not always possible to just drive over to the next town
and get the necessary supplies.
The traditional portable generator placed outside the
building is not weatherproof and not designed to resist fallen or flying
debris.
If it survives the disaster, it is not designed to operate for
more than a few hours because the fuel tank is so small. If it operates inside,
it often creates severe problems due to exhaust fumes, heat, vibration, noise,
and overheating.
Rebuilding after disasters has been
severely hampered by lack of electrical power. The buildings where power is
available, are the first to get rebuilt, simply because electrical power is
available making it possible to operate construction tools and equipment.
Fuel Tank
The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 contains a 2000 gallon
fiberglass tank located within the engine housing chamber. There is a 2 inch
space around the tank where any leak in the fuel tank can be contained and
visually noticed without electronic equipment. It is the customer’s
responsibility to monitor the fuel tank for any leaks by visually checking the
space surrounding the fuel tank. The top of the fuel tank is the floor on
which the generator is located and the battery box pockets serve as structural
beams to carry the load of the generator. The fuel volume in the S.C.U.P.P.
2000 fuel tank is determined by a fuel gage mounted by the generator. There is
also a supplied stick gage. The stick gage is inserted into the 2-inch fill cap
in the top of the tank. The depth of the fuel in inches is related to the
available
gallons remaining in the tank.

Example: If the
stick gage indicates that the fuel depth is 30 inches deep, there are
approximately 800 gallons remaining in the tank.
Air Manifolds
Air for combustion and cooling
enters through the
air inlet in the hatch dome and is exhausted through
the
air outlet in the hatch dome.
The mechanical configuration of
the air inlet system will allow rain to be sucked through the air inlet hole
into the hatch dome plenum where the rain will drop prior to entering the air
blower. The air inlet hole is large enough to allow a person’s hand to enter to
clear away any debris. This is particularly important in tornado and hurricane disasters where the driving wind and water result in mud being packed in every
opening.
Fill Fuel Tank
1. Extinguish all cigarettes and turn
off generator.
2. Open the access cover.
3. Remove the 2-inch fill cap on the
top of the fuel tank.
4. If the generator will not be
operating for long enough periods to consume most of the fuel within a year,
add fuel antibacterial liquid for 2000 gallons of fuel. One bottle is provided
with the S.C.U.P.P. 2000. This should be added every year or two.
5. If the S.C.U.P.P. 2000 is installed
in a cold climate, No. 1 diesel should be used or No. 2 diesel with diesel
antifreeze for 2000 gallons of fuel. This can be purchased locally.
6.
Insert the
fuel nozzle into the fill port and refuel, checking visually to see where the
level of fuel is. Do not completely fill the tank to allow for adding fuel
biocides each year.
Generator Housing Hatch Dome and Cover
When the S.C.U.P.P. 2000 is properly
installed, all that can be seen on the ground is the
hatch dome and
hatch cover. The hatch dome contains the air inlet and air
outlet openings. The generator housing and tank are both vented to the hatch
dome.
Operating Capacity
To determine the size generator
required, add up all the running watts of all appliances that are expected to
start
and
run at the same time. Electric motors require 2 to 3 times the name
plate wattages created during the 1- to 2 second starting surge. If the
S.C.U.P.P. is intended for residential use, the governing appliances are
usually the well water pump, refrigerator, and furnace. The battery bank option
eliminates the surge requirement.
Equipment Running
Watts Starting Watts
Air Conditioner –Central 2000-5000 3000-6000
Clothes Washer 1150 3450
Coffee Maker 1750 1750
Dishwasher no heat drying 700 2125
Electric Range 6 element 1500 1500
8
element 2125 2125
Furnace Blower 1/8
HP 300 800
1/6
HP 500 1250
1/4
HP 600 1600
1/3
HP 700 2125
1/2
HP 875 2350
Light Bulb (125W) 125 125
Oven 6000 6000
Radio
50-200 50-200
Refrigerator or freezer 800 3125
Shelter 45 Amp Bat
charger 600 600
Television -color 300 300
Toaster 2 slice 1050 1050
Vacuum Cleaner 600 1800
Water Well Pump 1/3
HP 800 2125
1/2
HP 1050 3200
Air Blower
Ventilation of the generator housing
is necessary to remove heat generated by the engine and any fumes, and supply
combustion air for the engine. The air blower is sized to limit the engine
room temperature to 120
oF at 100% capacity in warm climates. The
230 volt centrifugal blower has an average life of 10,000 hours. It is
activated as soon as the generator starts.
Snow
During very heavy snows, the air
inlet, and air outlet holes may need to be cleared. Once the generator is
operating, it will suck in blowing snow and exhaust it through the air outlet.
Should either become blocked, the generator will overheat and automatically
stop before damage results.
Flood
The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 should be
installed 2 feet above the 100-year flood plain. A local surveyor can
determine this level. The generator can also be easily removed.
Generator Exhaust
The generator exhaust is connected
to the air plenum under the hatch dome with a thermally broken stainless steel
exhaust pipe. Combustion and cooling air exit through the hole around this
exhaust connection keeping it cool.
Automatic Off
The generator is equipped with a
thermal switch, which will turn the generator off when it exceeds its maximum
operating temperature. This may happen as a result of the blowers
malfunctioning, low oil level, or if the air inlet/outlet manifolds becoming
clogged.
Maintenance
Air manifolds - Make sure that the
air manifolds and insect screens are clear from animal nests, bee nests, grass,
snow, mud, etc.
Fuel - Use diesel anti-gel
additive (or No. 1 diesel) and anti-bacterial additive as necessary.
Starting - Start the generator
each month and run for at least 15 minutes.
Check interstitial space of the
double wall tank visually for leaks.
Check oil level.
Check generator air filter.
Replace the fuel filter as
required based on engines owner’s manual.
Check water level of battery.
Conforming Standards
The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 conforms to the
applicable portions of the following partial list of engineering standards.
NFPA 30 Flammable
and Combustible Liquids Code
NFPA 30A Automotive
and Marine Service Station Code
ANSI A58.1 Minimum
Design Loads for Buildings and Structures
ANSI B1 American
National Standards Code for Pressure Piping
ANSI B31.3 Petroleum
Refinery Equipment
ANSI B31.4 Liquid
Petroleum Transportation Piping Systems
ASTM D 256-81 Impact Resistance
ASTM D 396 Specification for
Fuel Oils
ASTM D 790-81 Flexural Strength
ASTM D 543-87 Tests for Resistance
of Plastics to Chemical Reagents
ASTM D 581 Chemical Resistance
ASTM D 2584 Material Composition
ASTM D 4032-1 Tank Material
U.L. 1316 Glass
Fiber Reinforced Plastic Underground Storage Tanks for
Petroleum Products
Security
When the S.C.U.P.P. 2000 is not
being used or during operation, the cover is hydraulically locked from the
inside with no visual exterior lock. The wireless remote pocket transmitter is
used to open or close the hatch.
Shipping
The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 weighs
approximately 4000 pounds and can be shipped by common carrier on a double drop
trailer. The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 will require an excavator to lift off the truck
with a pick height of 14 ft. The customer is responsible for arranging
equipment to off-load the S.C.U.P.P. 2000 at its destination.
Decontamination
The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 can operate in
NBC (nuclear-biological-chemical) warfare environments. The inside of the
S.C.U.P.P. housing and generator will become contaminated only if the generator
is operating in an NBC environment. NBC contaminants do not affect the
generator’s performance unless an extreme amount of dust and fallout clog the
air intake filter.
Decontamination is performed in two
phases.
Phase 1 In the first phase, a spray bottle
with DSM 200 solution supplied with the SCUPP 2000 is sprayed into the air
inlet of the hatch dome and all over the exterior of the hatch dome while the
generator is operating. It will require approximately 1 quart of this solution
for this phase.
Phase 2 In the second phase, a person
wearing a simple paper suit, gas mask, and rubber gloves does the following:
1. Open the hatch cover and turn the
generator off.
2. Wait about one hour until the
generator cools down.
3. A second quart of the DSM solution
is then directly sprayed onto all areas inside the S.C.U.P.P. housing and
generator.
4. Remove the air blower cover and
spray all parts of the air blower.
5. Replace the air blower cover.
6. Remove the air filter and spray with
DSM solution. Squeeze out all the moisture in the sponge air filter.
7. After a few minutes the generator
can be turned on and the hatch cover closed.
8. The generator should operate with
the access cover in place for 15 to 30 minutes to dry all surfaces.
Warranty
RADIUS ENGINEERING INC. Guarantees that the fiberglass parts
of the S.C.U.P.P. 2000 will not leak, corrode, or structurally fail for a
period of 10 years provided that 1) the S.C.U.P.P. 2000 is not modified 2) the S.C.U.P.P.
2000 is properly inspected, off-loaded, and installed. 3) the S.C.U.P.P. 2000
is properly operated and maintained.
This warranty does not apply to the engine or generator.
These items are covered by individual manufacturers. RADIUS ENGINEERING INC.
reserves the right to change any specification without notice.
Our liability under this warranty shall be limited to, at
our option, repair of the S.C.U.P.P. 2000, or delivery of a replacement unit to
the point of original delivery, or refund of the original purchase price. We
shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential damages, labor, or
installation costs.
Installation Procedures
1.
Check For Damage (Inspect the S.C.U.P.P. 2000 for
damage, which may have occurred during shipping. Report any indication of
damage immediately to the shipper and Radius Engineering.
2.
Excavation- (a) Stake out the corners of the
hole and ditch to be excavated. The S.C.U.P.P. must be at least 20 feet away
from any building. (b) Confirm the absence of power lines, gas lines, telephone
lines, water pipes, sewer pipes, etc. (c) Excavate a hole that is 14 feet wide
by 14 feet long and 10 feet deep. This hole usually requires approximately one
hour to dig depending on the size of the excavator. (d) For the power lines
from the generator, excavate a ditch that is 12 inches deep and as narrow as
possible from the hole to the underground shelter and building.
3.
Pea Stone Bed- (a) Build a bed of pea stone that
is 6 inches deep on the floor of the excavated hole. (b) Check the height from
the pea stone bed to the surface of the ground. The height should be 117
inches. The installation will require approximately 10 yards of pea stone
including the pea stone bed.
4.
Off Loading Into Hole- (a) Attach a chain
sling that is at least 8 feet long through the lifting ears on the SCUPP unit. DO
NOT LIFT S.C.U.P.P. 2000 WITH FUEL IN THE TANK. (b) Lower the S.C.U.P.P. 2000
into the hole and set on gravel bed.
5.
Leveling- (a) Place a level across on the
generator floor. (b) Shovel stone under the base of the tank until it is stable
and level. (c) Check to make sure that the hatch dome is at or above the
surrounding ground level.
6.
Backfill Base-Continue to shovel stone under the
base of the tank in 6-inch lifts or increments all around the tank. It is very
important that there be no gaps or voids under the base of the S.C.U.P.P. 2000.
Continue backfilling to the top of the fuel tank.
7.
Backfill- (a) Continue to backfill the S.C.U.P.P.
2000 with pea stone in 6-inch increments evenly around the entire S.C.U.P.P.
2000 to within 6 inches of ground level. (b) Use the surrounding soil to
backfill the last 6 inches and taper out so water drains away from the
generator-housing ring.
8.
Power Cable Connection- The S.C.U.P.P. 2000 comes with two
through hull pipe couplings through which one underground electrical cable is
connected to the shelter and one is connected to a house or other equipment.
Employ a licensed electrician to connect the power cable to the building main
electrical line using a transfer switch (not supplied). This usually requires
approximately two hours.