Month: December 2018

LNG Engines

LNG Engines

LNG Engines

12/22/18

“How can vehicles be powered by Liquid Nitrogen Gas?”

 

Most cars these days are powered by petroleum. But there exists technology which allows for Natural Gas to be used. This works by holding Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in a very cold (Between -140 and -130 degrees C) isolation chamber, pushing it out through a pressurized nozzle when desired, converting it to a gasified form, feeding it through a tank that changes the temperature and pressure to desired levels and then moving it into an Internal Combustion Engine. These are known as LNG Engines and may serve a transitory role before the mass advent of electric vehicles.

Energy Service Companies

Energy Service Companies

Energy Service Companies

12/21/18

“How can a company provide energy solutions?”

 

Energy is just as dependent on economics as physics. As a result, electricity needs to be generated and distributed through a variety of manners. One of through an Energy Service Company, a commercial or non-profit organization that provides a vast array of energy services whether it be service implementation or retrofitting.

How Urban Densification Will Build Fire Resilience in California

How Urban Densification Will Build Fire Resilience in California

How Urban Densification Will Build Fire Resilience in California

12/20/18

“Why is urban density a good way to protect against wildfires in California?”

 

California is experiencing two major existential problems. First of all, runaway housing prices are placing an economic burden on millions all over the State. Second, Climate Change is exacerbating wildfires to catastrophic levels. But the Golden State has the golden opportunity to kill two birds with one stone by densifying its cities. Not only will this lower housing prices, but it will also limit suburban sprawl flooding people into fire-prone areas. This is How Urban Densification Will Build Fire Resilience in California.

How Energy Storage Can Increase Carbon Emissions

How Energy Storage Can Increase Carbon Emissions

How Energy Storage Can Increase Carbon Emissions

12/08/18

“How can energy storage increase carbon emissions?”

 

Numerous renewable energy proponents around the world are promoting energy storage as the solution to intermittency. However, if not planned out carefully, energy storage can be very unsustainable. This is because energy storage can store any type of energy, clean or not, with a preference for cheaper inputs. This means that cheaper overnight coal might be used for storage and then placed against more expensive natural gas or solar. In addition, energy is lost during storage, so the net efficiency drops as well. This is How Energy Storage Can Increase Carbon Emissions.

 

Image and research credit Hittinger, E. S., & Azevedo, I. M. (2015). Bulk energy storage increases United States electricity system emissions. Environmental science & technology, 49(5), 3203-3210.

Something to think about when you turn on the lights.

Something to think about when you turn on the lights.

Something to think about when you turn on the lights.

12/17/18

“What’s a really trippy fact about when you turn on the lights?”

 

When turning on the lights, it’s easy to think that the electricity just magically appears. But something much more complex is actually happening. Everytime you activate an electrical appliance, electrons need to be generated and sent directly to transmission. This means that all the electricity you receive is brand new! This only happens if there is no storage present on the gird however. Just something to think about when you turn on the lights.

How Heat Transfer is Used to Model Climate Change

How Heat Transfer is Used to Model Climate Change

How Heat Transfer is Used to Model Climate Change

12/16/18

“How is Heat Transfer Used to Model Climate Change?”

 

Heat Transfer is one of the foundational course for a Mechanical Engineer. But internal combustion engines and HVAC are not the only things that the theory can be applied to. Climate Scientists will use many of the same Heat Transfer equations when designing climate models. In this way, Heat Transfer is Used to Model Climate Change.

 

Image credit singularityhub.com

Climate Change Model Verification

Climate Change Model Verification

Climate Change Model Verification

12/15/18

“How can we verify climate change models?”

 

Climate models are extremely useful for helping us predict the impacts of climate change. But how can we verify them? Well, what if we were to map their mathematical functions to historical data and see if they accurately predict temperature rises? If it turns out to be correct, then the model has a good chance of being valid. This Climate Model Verification, often known as hindcasting, gives our methods validity for future policy work.

 

Image credit http://www.skepticalscience.com

Climate Change Modeling

Climate Change Modeling

Climate Change Modeling

12/14/18

“How can we create models for the future climate?”

 

We seem to hear about the predictions of the future climate all the time in the media. Whether it be a warning if we go 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels or the ever-increasing rate of global warming. But how do we actually obtain this information? Well, people from a variety of different academic disciplines come together to make mathematical models that take in a variety of complex terrestrial processes and their interactions with each other and then layer it on to a physical model of the earth to produce a simulation of what will happen. This is known as Climate Change Modeling and is one of the most important tools that humans have to make policy goals.

 

Image credit http://www.gfdl.noaa.go