Category: Engineering

How Grid Defects Can Increase Climate Change Resilience

How Grid Defects Can Increase Climate Change Resilience

How Grid Defects Can Increase Climate Change Resilience

02/22/19

“How can grid defection increase infrastructure resiliency to climate change?”

 

Grid-islanded systems are typically thought of as expensive alternatives to their grid-depended counterparts. But with the advent of ever-increasing storms and floods induced by climate change, their constant reliability will make them a more reliable alternative. Since they can provide power in the case of natural disasters, they can provide extra resilience to communities such as Puerto Rico who experienced a grid shutdown from Hurricane Maria.

How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience

How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience

How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience

02/21/19

“How could trimming trees help prevent blackouts?”

 

Grid failure happens all the time. But one of the most common causes actually stems from something very simple, trees! Tree foliage produces an area that is sensitive to burning and is also liable to falling down, crushing distribution. By taking away some of this foliage, some of this resiliency liability. This is How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience.

 

High-level Radioactive Waste

High-level Radioactive Waste

High-level Radioactive Waste

02/20/19

“What is the byproduct of nuclear energy?”

 

Nuclear energy is one of the promising power sources for the decarbonized future. However, like everything in this world it comes with serious consequences. The spent Uranium fuel rods will still give off enough radiation to kill a person for a quarter of a million years, meaning that this High-level Radioactive Waste must be contained somewhere.

 

Image credit http://www.world-nuclear.org

How Engineering Simulations Can Save Companies a lot of Money

How Engineering Simulations Can Save Companies a lot of Money

How Engineering Simulations Can Save Companies a lot of Money

02/19/19

“How can engineering simulations save companies a lot of money?”

 

Before the ascent of computers, most engineering modeling had to be done with physical experiments. These were arduous, costly, and prone to failure. But with the invention of simulation, companies can now simulate their designs’ performance without having to actually build it. This is How Engineering Simulation Can Save Companies a lot of Money.

Methanol Fuel

Methanol Fuel

Methanol Fuel

02/18/19

“What is a more optimal fuel than gasoline?”

 

While gasoline is the most widespread vehicle fuel in the world, recent advances in science and technology have created competitors. One in particular comes in the form of Methanol Fuel. Methanol fuel is synthesized from carbon dioxide and hydrogen burns cleaner and is cheaper to produce sustainably than ethanol. Since it does not produce a thick cloud of smoke upon use, it is often used in racing applications. Although methanol is less toxic than petroleum, there exist very few methanol refueling stations, it is commonly found in a mixture with other fuels.

Image credit https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov

Why HVDC Can Hurt Fire Resilience

Why HVDC Can Hurt Fire Resilience

Why HVDC Can Hurt Fire Resilience

02/17/19

“Why are the most serious drawbacks to HVDC lines?”

 

HVDC lines are one of the hottest topics in the renewable energy world nowadays. Their ability to transmit a large volume of electricity across great distances with minuscule losses can make them a vital part of easing the duck curve. However, their high voltage also means that if they get sapped, they have a much higher potential to produce a fire. This will have great implications for the regionalization of California, where increased connectivity to other states could bring grid stability but exacerbate the potential for chaos.

Four-wheel Drive

Four-wheel Drive

Four-wheel Drive

02/15/19

“What happens when power is provided to all four wheels of a car at the same time?”

 

Different driving conditions will need different modes. When a vehicle is off-road in a low-traction environment, the wheels will need to receive a large amount of power. This can be solved using a Four-wheel Drive in which all wheels of a car are powered evenly and simultaneously. Although four drives are great for off-road conditions, the immense power can wear out tires on a normal road.

 

Image credit https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com

Renewable Energy in Brownfields

Renewable Energy in Brownfields

Renewable Energy in Brownfields

02/14/19

“How can renewable energy be used in unusable land?”

 

Brownfields, or areas where pollution has made habitation unfit for humans, are often thought as unusable. However, since renewable energy is often immune to a lot of the toxins present in these areas, they have no problem being installed there. As a result Renewable Energy in Brownfields can open up a lot of sustainability potential in blighted areas.

Image credit thumbor.forbes.com

 

Cellulosic Ethanol

Cellulosic Ethanol

Cellulosic Ethanol

02/13/19

“How can we make potentially more sustainable fuels from plants?”

 

Fuel is the most common energy storage method in the world. Whether it is used in consumer vehicles, aircraft, or submarines, fuel seems to be present. However, the common petroleum or natural-gas derived fuel is quite disastrous for the environment, being one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas generation. So how can we make a cleaner substitute? Well, what if we were to instead make fuel from the stringy-fiber of a plant? This is known as Cellulosic Ethanol and has the potential to be a paradigm shift since it would not compete with existing food crops and does not emit greenhouse gasses. However, if land usage is implemented into the lifecycle analysis, then Cellulosic Ethanol is more destructive due to its intense water and land usage.

 

Image credit wi-images.condecdn.net