Author: Isaac Gendler

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

The Circular Economy

The Circular Economy

The Circular Economy

01/13/19

“How do we need to rethink our approach to consumption?”

 

Widespread industrialization has lead economically developed societies to think of products of having a finite linear lifespan. However, with the advent of climate change, this needs to change drastically. Instead, manufactured products will need to be recycled and reutilized in a Circular Economy. This will ensure maximum resource utilization and minimize carbon emissions.

 

Image Credit http://www.wrap.org.uk

Mass Wasting

Mass Wasting

Mass Wasting

01/12/19

“How does rock and soil move downhill?”

 

In the universe, the only constant thing is change, and Geology is no exception. Soils, rock, and debris at the top of a mountain will move downhill overtime due to gravity. This process is known as Mass Wasting and is one of the contributing factors to mudslides.

ACSR Cables

ACSR Cables

ACSR Cables

01/09/18

“How can we make a sturdy conductive cable?”

 

Transmission lines need large amounts of cables to travel long distances. However, this means that they will also need to be sturdy and rigid while being lightweight. This can be solved by placing a steel holder wire surrounded by aluminum wires in a setup known as ACSR Cables (Aluminium-conductor steel-reinforced cable). ACR cables are widely utilized in India, forming the bulk of power transmission cables.

 

Image credit 4.imimg.com

Sandbags

Sandbags

Sandbags

01/08/19

“How can we use sand for protection?”

 

Sand is a marvelous material. It’s inexpensive, sturdy, and plentiful. So why don’t we just put it in an easy to use container for engineering purposes? This is the idea behind Sandbags which can be applied from flood control to military defense.  

Clay

Clay

Clay

01/07/18

“What is Clay?”

 

Many children around the world play with clay when they are young. But what exactly are they? Well, when natural rock or soil material is highly grounded, it can combine with a large amount of other elements overtime to make Clay. Clay’s flexibility and strength when hardened have made it useful in building materials and early writing utensils.