energy, power, transportation, and the future
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Energy, Power, Transportation, and the Future. Solar Energy. Small portion of energy Two main types Photovoltaic cells Convert solar radiation into DC using semiconductors Active solar collectors Convert solar energy into usable light, heat, - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Energy, Power, Transportation, and the Future
Solar Energy
Small portion of energy Two main types
Photovoltaic cells Convert solar radiation into DC using semiconductors
Active solar collectors Convert solar energy into usable light, heat, cause air-movement for ventilation or cooling using fans and pumps to increase usable heat in a
system Cost and efficiency Solar Lighting
Collectors -> Fiber optic cables Satellites on the moon -> microwaves -> recievers
Wind Energy
Largest growing in the past 10 yearsWind Farms – collection of turbines used to
create electricityDevelopment
Low wind speeds Creating more electricity = lower cost of each watt
Ocean Energy
TidesWavesTemperature DifferencesDevelopment
Asia and Europe
Bioenergy / Biomass
Most widely used renewable energy sourceSupplies 3% of US energy demandsGenerates energy by releasing energy
stored in organic materialsUsed for
Transportation fuel, electricity generation, industrial heat, and chemical production
Development Biorefineries
Convert organic materials to fuels, chemicals, and other products
Fossil Fuels
Main source of current energyDevelopment
Designing a future zero-emission coal power plant FutureGen Plant
Will create electricity and hydrogen gas from coal
Saving Energy
Air Leaks in a HomeInfiltration – cold air forcing its way into a
home through cracks and other penetrations reduced by sealing cracks with caulk, foam, etc
Saving Energy
Heat Loss Through Walls – InsulationConduction – the transfer of heat from a
molecule to molecule, straight through a material of group of materials
R-Value – a materials ability to resist heat flow by conduction
Efficiency
Nanotechnology – smaller, more powerful, less energy consumption Super computer processors
Computer Control – energy will be distributed as needed to certain areas eliminating waste Electricity grids
Batteries
Paper Batteries Ultrathin dry batteries
Contain zero chemicals Can be printed on paper
Future use• Powering Cell Phones and Laptops
Fuel Cells
Function Hydrogen atoms through a catalyst. The catalyst frees the electrons from the hydrogen. The remainder of the hydrogen atom passes through a
membrane on the positive side of the cell. The electrons pass through an electrical circuit to the
positive side creating electricity Never lose power so long as they have hydrogen Supplying hydrogen is the hard part
Propulsion Technology
Land Transportation Hybrid Vehicles – electric and gasoline engines
Space Travel Solar Sails – large sails that operate on the principle
that light exerts a small force on the object it touches. The more light collected the greater the “push”
Future of Land Transportation
Safety will be continually improved in land transportation vehicles Crashworthiness – the ability to handle and provide
safety during an accidentIntelligent Vehicle Initiative
Vehicle warning systems Enhance the vision of the drivers More stable vehicles
Future of Land Transportation
Infrastructure – roadways, bridges, ramps, and other structures that make up the highway and roadway system
Smart Road – future highway infrastructure that will communicate with vehicles and help to control the speed, braking, and steering of the vehicles
Future of Water Transportation
Water transportation currently carries 95% of freight which is going to triple in the next 20 years Canals Locks Computer technology
Docking Loading and unloading
Future of Air Transportation
Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) Goal to reduce overcrowding by better utilizing
smaller regional and rural airports Use of air taxi’s
Mach 1 Breaking the sound barriers creates a noise heard on
land.
Future of Space Transportation
Space Tourism Vehicles under testing Space plane – an airplane/space shuttle that will be
reusable and more cost efficient than space shuttles Suborbital flight – 62 miles above the earth Space elevator – cablelike structure with cars
attached, extending from earth to space