Month: January 2019

Carbon Offsetting

Carbon Offsetting

Carbon Offsetting

01/22/19

“How can you offset your carbon emissions without changing your own operations?”

 

Some things are extraordinarily difficult to decarbonize. Whether it be air travel or going 100% renewable when the grid itself is based 100% off carbon-emitting resources. But a workaround can be found through Carbon Offsetting. This involves making a purchase of renewable energy or planting a tree that offsets the amount of carbon used. This can be useful for designing policies around technologies whose emissions-free alternatives are still too nascent for commercial use.

 

Image credit coedenfach.files.wordpress.com

Phasor Measurement Units

Phasor Measurement Units

Phasor Measurement Units

01/21/19

“How can we use sensors to synchronize the grid?”

 

The electric grid is one of the modern technological wonders of the world. However, its dynamism means that it often goes out of sync. To solve this, utilities can place Phasor Measurement Units onto the grid that can estimate the magnitude and phase angle of current or voltage. 

Image credit us.flukecal.com

Why Dry Climate Snow is Different From Humid Climate Snow

Why Dry Climate Snow is Different From Humid Climate Snow

Why Dry Climate Snow is Different From Humid Climate Snow

01/20/19

“Why is dry climate snow different than humid climate snow?”

 

An area’s climate affects everything, and the snow is no different. In humid climates, which tend to be closer to a body of water and lower in elevation, snow tends to be imbued with water, making it extra wet and messy. However, in dry climates, the ice crystals lack this problem and therefore are more tightly bound. This is Why Dry Climate Snow is Different From Humid Climate Snow.

A Simple Reason Why Humanity Needs to be Less Wasteful to Curb Climate Catastrophe

A Simple Reason Why Humanity Needs to be Less Wasteful to Curb Climate Catastrophe

A Simple Reason Why Humanity Needs to be Less Wasteful to Curb Climate Catastrophe

01/18/19

“What is one tough thing humanity needs to adopt to fight climate change?”

 

Right now humanity is on track to shoot past a rise of 2-degree centigrade from pre-industrialization by 2030. And one of the primary reasons behind this is because human energy consumption and population has been rising over the years. Much of the global focus to fight this has been increasing technological energy efficiency. But according to the equation I = PAT, if population and affluence rise then it would offset more efficient technology. If humanity does not want to quickly decrease its population then it must change its culture of affluence. This is A Simple Reason Why Humanity Needs to be Less Wasteful to Curb Climate Catastrophe.

I = PAT

I = PAT

I = PAT

01/17/19

“How can we represent environmental impact based on resource consumption?”

 

Every society has an environmental impact. But since each society has different levels of resource consumption and utilization, each one is different. So how can we quantify this? Well, we can measure impact based on the average of the amount used multiplied by its energy efficiency and the total population. This is known as the I = PAT equation where I is the Environmental Impact P is the Total Population A is the Level of Affluence (how many resources are used) and T is the Technological Efficiency.

 

Superconductors in the Transmission Grid

Superconductors in the Transmission Grid

Superconductors in the Transmission Grid

01/16/19

“How can superconductors be beneficial for the transmission grid?”

 

Losses by electrical resistance are one of the largest contributors to inefficiency in the power grid system. However, if the normal wiring materials were replaced by superconductive materials which lack any resistance, then this issue would dissipate away.

Image credit http://www.meidensha.com

The US Interconnections

The US Interconnections

The US Interconnections

01/15/19

“How is the US power grid divided up?”

 

The United States is a large country. Spanning between two major oceans, it is truly a wonder to behold. But this might be too large for a single interconnection. Instead, the US is divided up into multiple separate interconnections, which together make up The US Interconnections. It is mainly divided between the Western and Eastern Interconnections, with the Texas Interconnection being a small subset.

 

Image link https://www.eia.gov

CPU Coolers

CPU Coolers

CPU Coolers

01/14/19

“How does your CPU keep cool?”

 

A computer’s CPU is the central communicator for all processes. However, it’s so process intensive that it ends up heating up very quickly. To solve this, engineers have devised intricate temperature cooling systems. They work by applying thermal paste to the CPU, which is then in contact with small pipes with coolant flowing through them. These pipes are u-shaped with the CPU located under the center. When the fluid comes in it absorbs the heat from the thermal paste and evaporates. This vapor then rises through the other end with plates attached to facilitate heat transfer and condensates to form fluid again. These CPU Coolers are responsible for keeping our computers smooth and operational.

Image credit https://static.techspot.com