Saturday, April 16, 2011

Garden Tour - Alexandra Canal

After my visit to Lor Halus wetland reserve, I have visited another similar place that uses plants to purified our water system - allow me to introduce the newly renovated Alexandra Canal along Prince Charles Crescent.

The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan YewNewly opened by Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew on 19 March 2011, it seeks to clean and purified rainwater collected from the neighborhood before releasing it into Alexandra Canal.

Most of the technical details have already been discussed in the write up on Lor Halus Wetland Reserve page and I shall not bore you further. However, I felt that Alexandra Canal and Lor Halus got very different atmosphere to it. Lor Halus has a wild functional feel to it, while Alexandra Canal is designed for families gathering and morning joggers around a nice neighborhood.

Take a look at both the page to see the difference!

This location will be classified under both Garden and Education categories.

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.

You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page.
Opening by MM Mr Lee Kuan Yew


New Platform over the Alexandra Canal

Part of the new Rock landscapped Garden


Some of the plants used to clean the water system

Similar plants are seen in the Lorong Halus Wetland


A water splashing pool for the family

Friday, April 1, 2011

Factory and educational Tour - Green Energy Derivation from Used Cooking Oil (Alpha Biodiesel)

Looking back at the nuclear incident in Japan, looking for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources is of paramount importance. I have just visited an used cooking oil (UCO) to diesel recycling plant and is very impress with work and perseverance demonstrated by the founders.

The process is relatively simple; however the cost of production is not cheap. The process is as followed:-

1) Collect UCO from restaurant and households

2) Mix in a reacting tank with methanol and potassium hydroxide (KOH) at around 60 degrees Celsius.

3) Allow the glycerol (can be use to make soap) which is more dense to settle down and drain out.

4) Heat the remaining mixture to remove excess methanol

Do It Yourself Guide to Biodiesel: Your Alternative Fuel Solution for Saving Money, Reducing Oil Dependency, and Helping the Planet5) Filter the mixture(sawdust and resin) and the filtrate is allow to cool of again

6) End product - Diesel

No worries if the above seem quite complex. Participants who join the tour will be given a detail explanation on the whole process through video show, factory tour and lab-scale biodiesel making demo.

This location is classified under both factory and educational category.

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.

You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page.
 
By product from the recycling process-glycerin

Cooling tank for the main recycling plant


Filtration column to remove KOH and methanol

Pipe show the condition of diesel

labs testing different type of method of recycling UCO

Micro refinery