Historical photos from North Norfolk

[sjt01]

Installing the machinery - heat exchanger at the back. Macerator replaced by Vogelsang machine as it has a much bigger stone trap. All four pumps are now gone, replaced by one piston pump, gravity and some gas/air lift.

Shed going over pumps

Installing the Trioliet mixer tub onto the Boerger power feeder. Now replaced by a Shelbourne tub and my own design of auger feeder

Installing the gas holder, inner grey holds the gas, outer green pressurised by air.
Carrier separator on stand behind now replaced by Sepcom

Building the biogas backup boiler in the CHP room from a kit

 

[sjt01]

Original CHP - Perkins by Beaver Power - only ran 2000 hours before needing replacement

Attempting to commisson - this took 4 months - boiler used as a table!

G59 commissioning test

 

[sjt01]

Control room after removing pumps

Hydraulically operated 2 cylinder piston pump as installed

 

[sjt01]

Swapping out Trioliet for Shelbourne

 

[Exfarmer]

I think after this Mr Temple, you are going to have to have an open day for your TFF followers.
keep up the good work!

 

[onthehoof]

We’re you able to do a lot of the installation yourself with your engineering experience

 

[sjt01]

We’re you able to do a lot of the installation yourself with your engineering experience

I did all the hot water system with my own hands, and the team here has done all the modifications since the initial install, apart from changing some corroded stainless on the tank roof which required breathing apparatus.

 

[sjt01]

Replacement CHP - MAN by IET, now coming up to 75,000 hours

G59 test

 

[chaffcutter]

A lot of these installations seem to have had problems, has yours been trouble free?

With your engineering experience I imagine that you have been able to minimise the hassles!

 

[sjt01]

A lot of these installations seem to have had problems, has yours been trouble free?

With your engineering experience I imagine that you have been able to minimise the hassles!

Initially lots of trouble, it was not designed to handle flints, and the alternation between feeding maize and slurry proved a problem. Now a lot more reliable although it still has its moments! If something breaks or needs excessive or expensive maintenance we look for ways to improve.

 

[sjt01]

I think after this Mr Temple, you are going to have to have an open day for your TFF followers.
keep up the good work!

Group visits are always an option. We request a donation to one of the charities we support either locally or in Africa. We can take groups of up to 30

 

[robbie]

@sjt01 toby has told me what a fascinating and interesting place your farm is to work on and from this thread I can see why.

Please keep posting the pictures, this is one of my favourite threads.

 

[sjt01]

My wife started cheesemaking during the 2001 foot & mouth outbreak. We started in an ex-Dairy Crest artic trailer - hygenic inside and easy to plumb drains underneath, no planning required.

As we expanded it got a bit tight for space so converted adjacent cattle shed

I did Farmers Markets for 16 years, all wholesale now

 

[JP1]

I am in awe of everything you've done and had a go at. I feel I should have gone to work for you when I was 18 rather than do my HND tbh

 

[Exfarmer]

Is the CHP unit compression ignition?

 

[sjt01]

Here is a case study about the farm from our CHP supplier

 

[sjt01]

Is the CHP unit compression ignition?

Spark -
Beaver unit - Lumenition 12 v system, Lucas coil, Champion plugs - useless
IET - Altronic control unit, one coil per cylinder, 24 v system, Bosch double iridium plugs, just works!

 

[sjt01]

Back to farming:
Our forager on maize 2013. Machine was previously run by @CrevisbigX before we bought it.

 

[sjt01]

2014 We tried some wholecrop rye, barley and Westerwolds for the digester. It was unhappy with any significant amount fed, so not continued with.

New Krone round baler - really like the belts compared to the chains.

 

[Devon James]

Modified last winter. Replaced the crinkly disks with a rotavator (60" widened to 3 m with old pipe) and just one set of blades behind each leg. Also changed the Kongskilde drill for a Monosem. Photos in due course!

That would be great, thanks