Click image to see a larger version.

A while back we wanted to make a Brochure for an exciting product offering and this what we came up with.

The goal was bold, simple, graphic and would show why this is such a great product compared to conventional heaters, ventilation and dehumidifiers.

Mostly people would only see the cover so we tried to make a cover they would click on to learn more about the products.

We used Inkscape for the main layout and GIMP for the photo editing and drop shadow.

Here is the completed PDF:

http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/files/SolarVenti_USA.pdf

“A weir is a small overflow-type dam commonly used to raise the level of a river or stream.”

THE CURRENT WEIR:
The water for the water system comes from a very small creek deep in the dense old growth woods on the Oregon Coast. The water is loaded with fir needles and sediment and the flow is weak rather than strong. The current weir is a small dam that raises the water level so we can pre-screen the water before sending the water down the hill through nearly a 1/4 mile of tubing. Even with the existing screen the tubing or screen can become clogged because of all the fir needles and sediment naturally occurring in the area and water.

THE CURRENT SCREEN: Our current screen is an open-ended 6 inch diameter pipe less than 2 feet long that has been drilled with lots of holes and wrapped in a stainless steel screen. The screen is Zip-tied on each end and the Zip-tied ends of the screen are then stuffed into the open ends of the pipe. This design works well for it’s intended purpose but tends to need cleaning about 4 times a year and clogs un-expectedly every now and then. What usually ends up stopping the flow is the weir filling up with sediment and completely choking the filter.

SCREEN DESIGN GOALS: Ideally the next newly designed screen within the weir would be self cleaning or non-existent. Because of the remote location on the side of a small water fall, that might not be possible. Additionally the size, shape and amount of fir needles and the low amount of flow also tend to make designing a self cleaning filter difficult. If a self cleaning design is not possible, the next screen design should prevent clogging and be easy to clean and monitor. Additionally, adding some degree of filtration to remove dirt and sediment would be helpful providing the filters do not clog or need changing more than the screen. The design should also be such that the water flow is not slowly reduced until the screen clogs. Instead, the flow should not be reduced until the entire screen or the entire filter needs to be cleaned.

CLEANING: Cleaning the existing screen is done roughly 4 times a year. As the screen slowly clogs, water flow is slowly reduced until the screen needs to be cleaned again. Cleaning the current screen requires
removing the entire screen and pipe unit from the weir and carefully removing all the fir needles and sediment. Occasionally the pipe and screen unit need to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned or even rebuilt with a new screen. The next screen design should be able to achieve easier cleaning and perhaps only need to be cleaned once a year.

NEW WEIR DESIGN GOALS:
SELF CLEANING
PREVENTS CLOGGING
EASY TO CLEAN
EASY TO MONITOR
ADDITIONAL FILTRATION
DOES NOT REDUCE FLOW
INCREASES POTENTIAL FLOW AND HEAD
NEEDS CLEANING LESS OFTEN

NEW WEIR DESIGN: One idea is to build a small waterfall into the current weir. The waterfall could be a flat, contained area that the water flows over. This would allow the water to flow as a small, wide waterfall into a newly designed screen and filter box. By having the water flow in the form of a small, wide waterfall (rather than a tube) we would prevent clogging. In the diagram there is a 12 inch wide waterfall, that is seen from the side. Another even better design is to use a short run of large pipe coming from the weir to the weir filter. This would allow the Weir Filter to be completely outside of the stream bed. Large rocks can make their way down the stream bed in the rushing waters of winter. Over flow could (and should) pipe back to the stream. Ideally one should only take what water is needed and using a simple shut off like a float valve down below, stop the water from flowing down the pipe. This would leave as much water as possible to flow down the stream bed.

NEW SCREEN DESIGN: VitalBodies design idea was to buy or build a filter box. In water garden design they are often called POND SKIMMERS or WATER FALL FILTERS. This basic design is not self cleaning but is easy to clean, monitor and maintain. The design illustrated meets most all of our requirements. The filter basket would catch things like fir needles and small rocks and could easily lift out and be dumped.

“UV filtration could mean that we no longer have to use Chlorine.”

NEW POTENTIAL: Another design idea that VitalBodies proposed, is to make use of the water that is used for a micro hydro-electric generator. The power could be used to run a UV filter and what is called a UV clarifier. The UV clarifier is an underwater light that could be placed in the cistern to prevent algae and such. UV filtration could mean that we no longer have to use (or could at least use less) Chlorine Bleach to “purify” the water, much of which is used for drinking.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: VitalBodies also pointed out in our consultation that bleach, sadly, is only 6% chlorine, and the other 94% they do not have to state on the label what that is. What ever mystery 94% is, could be almost anything?

MAKING USE OF NEW POTENTIAL: To make use of this potential VitalBodies recommended that they might need to raise the low spot of the water line (tubing) that runs down the hill by moving a small section. In addition, we could have the tubing up by the waterfall be of a larger diameter for some distance, then come back down to the current diameter to increase HEAD. Since the flow of water is nearly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the water has HEAD and FLOW from traveling so far down (nearly 1/4 mile) to the cistern, we could likely create enough power to make cost-efficient energy.

NOTE: Electric UV (Ultra Violet) water purification can happen with or without hydro.

CONCLUSIONS:

Creating a new design for the weir and screen seems possible and affordable.

The new design could be allowing more water to flow down the stream bed by making simple changes to how the valves are set up like using a float valve.

As Eco Consultants,  VitalBodies promoted generating sustainable power with the system of tubing already in place or create even more power with some small modifications.

The system could easily reduce the amount of maintenance needed.

A more consistent flow of water could be achieved.

SIDE NOTES: VitalBodies used Inkscape an Open Source Vector Graphics program to create the illustrations.

VitalBodies finished the creation of the VitalBodies.com/zen-cart/ Shopping Cart.

This cart is based upon a Zen-Cart.

VitalBodies wanted an Open Source Shopping Cart solution and Zen-Cart seemed perfect.

(Click image to see a larger clearer version)

The entire VitalBodies web site is W3C Valid Table-less XHTML Strict and Valid CSS and zen-cart was the closest to table-less we could find. At the time VitalBodies started using the cart, table-less was the direction that the Zen-Cart team was heading.

VitalBodies wants to thank the Zen-Cart team for their great cart!

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VitalBodies.com/zen-cart/

Visit VitalBodies.com/zen-cart/

VitalBodies recently finished the creation re-creation of the MelitaMarshall.com Web Site.

This site is based upon a template, VitalBodies created for the Oregon House web site.

Melita wanted wanted the site to tie into her existing business Oregon House and the Oregon House web site but be able to change in style as needed.

VitalBodies created the template to be W3C Valid Table-less XHTML Strict and Valid CSS.

(Click image to see a larger clearer version)

The entire web site W3C Valid Table-less XHTML Strict and Valid CSS.

The web sites original tabled design was done by Paradigm-Graphics some years back.

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MelitaMarshall.com:

“I bring wisdom from my own spiritual journey as well as experience in business entrepreneurship and training in holistic healing into the vessel of our healing sessions. My goal is to help you gain insight into what is limiting you, and coach you to find the courage to reconnect with your source and your core.“

Visit MelitaMarshall.com

- VitalBodies For Vintage Yum -

Copyright 2006 VitalBodies.com

Image was shot and edited to give a vintage look for selling or auctioning vintage clothing.

Intended to look like a film Photograph.

VitalBodies Vintage – Like You’ve Never Seen It Before…

Copyright 2006 VitalBodies.com

Image was shot and edited to give a vintage look for selling or auctioning vintage clothing.

Made to look like a film negative.

This is a chart from a series of illustrations about building web sites.

(Click Image To See A Larger Graphic)

Done in Vector Graphics converted to JPG.

Copyright 2006 VitalBodies.com

What Is Involved – Pages In A Small Site?

This particular Vector chart was designed to illustrate to customers (that are new to web building) some of what is involved in web site creation. The chart gives a graphic idea of the pages in a small site…

VitalBodies recently finished the re-creation of an Oregon House Web Page. From this template, all the other pages on the Oregon House web site can be updated.

VitalBodies created the template to be W3C Valid Table-less XHTML Strict and Valid CSS.

(Click image to see a larger clearer version)

The OregonHouse Events page (shown above) and a few other pages were brought up to W3C Valid CSS XHTML Strict table-less designs as part of an ongoing project of keeping the web site up to date.

The web sites design was originally done by Paradigm-Graphics some years back.

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OREGON HOUSE:

“Oregon House, a peaceful Oregon coast retreat center for individuals and groups. At our unique central Oregon coast resort we invite you to relax, reflect and recharge. At Oregon House you experience a different world, close to nature’s beauty and the transformational energy of the ocean.”

- Oregon House is located in Yachats Oregon -

Visit OregonHouse.com

Portfolio: Mandala Arts Valid Table-less XHTML Strict CSS

VitalBodies recently finished the re-creation of a Mandala Arts design.

VitalBodies took Mandala Arts existing home page design and made it Table-less W3C Valid XHTML Strict and CSS.

(Click image to see a larger clearer version)

Earlier last year VitalBodies solar powered the MandalaArts.com web site.

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MandalaArts.com is the home of

Stickers, Body Art Tattoos, Magnets, Flag Stings, Streamers and Wall Hangings.

- Original Art By Bryon Allen -

Visit MandalaArts.com

You’ll like VitalBodies

Enjoy

VitalBodies

VINTAGE – ANTIQUE

AND JUST PLAIN OLD

VitalBodies! Make exciting purchases! See amazing things you have never seen before. Find the most wonderful things you could ever imagine!

You’ll shop better at VitalBodies

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Copyright 2007 VitalBodies.com

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This artwork was originally designed for the VitalBodies Shopping Cart.

Done as a vector art drawing and exported to JPG.

Intended to be in the old vintage phraseology which is so different than what is current…

The style of this artwork is meant to have that old magazine advertisement look and feel.