S.C.U.P.P. 225
Self-Contained Underground Power Plant
· Shelter Life Support For 12 Months
· 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 Fuel Storage
· 10-Year Warranty
ãRegistered Copyright 2003
S.C.U.P.P. 225
The S.C.U.P.P. 225 is
a completely self-contained fiberglass electric power generation plant designed
to provide life support for underground shelters and backup power for other
uses. The S.C.U.P.P. 225 is composed of a double wall 225-gallon fuel tank
and generator. Unlike conventional electric generating plants, everything is
all below ground and designed to work in severe climates and disaster
conditions. The hatch dome and generator access cover are aerodynamically
designed to resist flying debris in up to 300-mph winds from a tornado or
hurricane. 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
tornado and 20-psi overpressure from modern weapon detonations. The S.C.U.P.P.
225 is supplied with 225-gallon double wall fuel tank and a 4000 to 10,000-watt
diesel generator. The S.C.U.P.P. 225 is shipped completely assembled and can
be installed in one day.
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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. 225. Radius Engineering Inc. has been
engineering and supplying high tech underground and self-sufficient
products for over 13 years using modern state-of-the-art computer aided
drafting (CAD), computer aided engineering (CAE), and Finite Element Analysis
(FEA).
Disasters
Between 1970 and 1990 presidents of the United States signed 594 major disaster declarations for territories in the United States. This has averaged more than 2.5 major disasters each month affecting millions of
people. During 1989, 338,689 families qualified for disaster assistance. In
1990 more than 117 million families qualified for disaster assistance. Since 1990 the number and severity of disasters has risen, possibly
due to reduction of the ozone layer and El Nino. The aftermath of disasters
such as earthquakes, tornadoes, blackouts, fires, and hurricanes have created
tremendous hardships on these 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. 225 contains a 225-gallon double wall
fiberglass tank. This design allows the S.C.U.P.P. 225 to remain constrained
in the ground in high water table areas without rising due to hydrostatic
pressure (buoyancy). The S.C.U.P.P. 225 with an empty fuel tank develops 7,425
pounds of buoyancy. This buoyancy is resisted by 10,231 lbs of earth weight (@
70 lbs/ft3) covering the gravity dish at the bottom of the unit plus
the weight of the S.C.U.P.P. itself. 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 350-500
hours of continuous operation. The fuel tank is 4 feet below the ground, which
keeps the stored fuel temperature well below the outside air temperature and
usually above freezing temperatures.
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 hatch access-cover
is removed by unlocking two padlocks allowing the access cover to be lifted
up. The generator access cover is recessed to be more aerodynamically clean to
resist flying debris during high winds, hurricanes and tornadoes. 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.
Wiring
In many disaster situations,
fuel stations are either damaged or do not have electrical power to operate the
fuel pumps to get the fuel out of the underground storage tanks. The
self-sufficient person must then supply this power to operate the fuel pumps to
either refuel a vehicle or pump fuel into a transfer tank in a car or pick-up
truck. In this situation, the generator can be removed and taken to other
locations. For this reason the underground cables are not be hard wired to the
generator. The underground cables are connected to the generator by simple
three prong plugs to allow the generator to be removed. NOTE: Generators
that are larger than 4kw are too big and heavy to be easily removed.
Leak Detection
The S.C.U.P.P. 225 is manufactured with a double-wall
tank. The fuel tank is a separate fiberglass tank surrounded by a two-inch
space. It is the customer’s responsibility to monitor the fuel tank for any
leaks by visually by checking the space surrounding the fuel tank.
Fuel Gage
The fuel volume in the S.C.U.P.P. 225 fuel tank is
determined by the supplied stick gage. The stick gage is inserted into the
2-inch pipe coupling at the top of the tank next to the manual transfer pump.
The depth of the fuel in inches is related to the gallons remaining in the
tank.
|
Gallons
|
Depth In.
|
|
225
|
20
|
|
214
|
19
|
|
202
|
18
|
|
189
|
17
|
|
177
|
16
|
|
165
|
15
|
|
153
|
14
|
|
140
|
13
|
|
128
|
12
|
|
116
|
11
|
|
104
|
10
|
|
92
|
9
|
|
79
|
8
|
|
67
|
7
|
|
55
|
6
|
|
43
|
5
|
|
31
|
4
|
|
20
|
3
|
|
11
|
2
|
|
4
|
1
|
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 225 gallons of fuel. One bottle is provided
with the S.C.U.P.P. 225. This should be added every year or two.
5.
If the S.C.U.P.P. 225 is
installed in a cold climate, No. 1 diesel should be used or No. 2 diesel with
diesel antifreeze for 225 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.
Fuel Transfer
To transfer
fuel from the 225-gallon fuel tank to the generator tank, a small stainless
steel hand pump is used. The pump supplies 16 ounces of fuel per stroke
through a rubber fill house, which is inserted into the tank opening on the
generator.
Generator
Housing Hatch Dome and Cover
When the S.C.U.P.P. 225 is properly installed, all
that can be seen on the ground is the hatch dome and access 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
Clothes
Washer 1150 3450
Coffee
Maker 1750 1750
Dishwasher
no heat drying 700 2225
Electric
Range 6 element 1500 1500
8 element 2225 2225
Furnace
Blower 1/8 HP 300 800
1/6
HP 500 2250
1/4
HP 600 1600
1/3
HP 700 2225
1/2
HP 875 2350
Light
Bulb (225W) 225 225
Oven 6000 6000
P10
Batt Charger (45 amp) 600 600
P6/SP6
Batt Charger (30 amp) 400 400
Radio
50-225 50-225
Refrigerator
or freezer 800 3225
Television
-color 300 300
Toaster
2 slice 1050 1050
Vacuum
Cleaner 600 1800
Water
Well Pump 1/3 HP 800 2225
1/2
HP 1050 3225
Air Blower
Cooling and combustion air is supplied by a 115-volt
high-pressure centrifugal blower producing 500 cfm at operating static
pressure. The blower has an average life of 10,000 hours. It is activated as
soon as the generator starts and the generator circuit breaker in turned on.
Operating Cost
The cost of operating the S.C.U.P.P. 225 is affected
by many factors such as fuel price, fuel consumption, maintenance schedule, and
cost of overhauling the generator and engine at the end of its service life.
The S.C.U.P.P. housing itself being fiberglass has no maintenance cost and a
service life of more than 200 years. The service life of the 3600 rpm diesels is
approximately 10,000 hours and the 1800 rpm industrial diesels approximately
40,000 hours. The operating cost per kilowatt hour ($/KWh) is based on fuel
price in dollars per gallon and a maintenance/overhaul factor of $0.15/hr.
Battery Bank (optional)
If the S.C.U.P.P. 225 is
intended to be used for primary power, the Battery Bank option is recommended.
The S.C.U.P.P. 225 can be wired to have a dedicated function of just charging
the battery bank. The battery bank contains twenty 12-volt deep cycle
batteries and one 2500-watt inverter each providing a one-minute surge of 6000
watts. This option will extend the S.C.U.P.P. operating duration on a single
fuel tank approximately three-fold.
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. 225 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 and does not exhaust into the generator chamber. This
keeps the engine compartment cool and clean.
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 a 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. 225 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 B31.4 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. 225 is not being used or during
operation, the cover is secured by two padlocks. These padlocks are not only
part of the security system but also act as a mechanical lock to prevent the
access cover from being sucked off during the negative pressure of a tornado or
a nuclear blast. Stainless steel washers are used under the lock to keep the
cover tight against the hatch dome.
Shipping
The S.C.U.P.P. 225 weighs approximately 700 pounds
and can be shipped by common carrier on a common pallet. The S.C.U.P.P. 225 is
strapped to a pallet and will require a fork truck with 4-foot fork tines to
move. The customer is responsible for arranging equipment to off-load the
S.C.U.P.P. 225 at its destination.
Decontamination
The S.C.U.P.P. 225 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 10% chlorine and water in simply
sprayed into the air inlet of the hatch dome and all over the exterior of the
hatch dome and access cover 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.
Remove the generator access cover
and turn the generator off.
2.
Wait 30 to 60 minutes until the
generator cools down.
3.
A second quart of the chlorine
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 chlorine 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 dome access cover should be secured back in
place.
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. 225 will not leak, corrode, or structurally
fail for a period of 10 years provided that 1) the S.C.U.P.P. 225 is not
modified 2) the S.C.U.P.P. 225 is properly inspected, off-loaded, and
installed. 3) the S.C.U.P.P. 225 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. 225, 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 Inpsect the S.C.U.P.P. 225 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 10 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 9 feet wide by 9 feet long
and 6 feet deep. This hole usually requires approximately 1 hr 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 66 inches. The
installation will require approximately 10 yards of pea stone including the pea
stone bed.
4.
Off Loading Into Hole- (a) Attach a lifting sling with
open hooks near the air inlet and outlet holes in the hatch dome. DO NOT LIFT THE
S.C.U.P.P. 225 WITH FUEL IN THE TANK. (b) Lower the S.C.U.P.P. 225 into the
hole and set on gravel bed.
5.
Leveling- (a) Place a level across the hatch dome with the
access cover off. (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. 225. Continue
backfilling to the top of the fuel tank.
7.
Backfill- (a) Continue to backfill the S.C.U.P.P. 225 with
pea stone in 6-inch increments evenly around the entire S.C.U.P.P. 225 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. 225 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.
