A circuit’s operations are dictated by its voltage levels. However, sometimes we may just want to invert the sign. So how can we accomplish this using our engineering mindset? Well, what if we were to attach our circuit to the inverting input of an op-amp, attach the other input to the ground, and fasten another resistor after the first input? That way, the voltage in between the two resistors be grounded, and the voltage at the output of the next resistor would have its sign reversed. Well, this is the fundamentals behind something known as an inverting op-amp and is used in low-noise amplification.
“How can we control voltage levels using an Op-Amp?”
Op-Amps are great for modifying voltage levels in a circuit. But sometimes things happen during the lifespan of an Op-Amp that can affect how it performs. So how can we design these components to self-regulate? Well, what if we were to connect part of the output circuit to the Op-Amp input. Therefore, the voltage levels would be the same as the input, and any change on one side would affect the other. This technique is known as Op-Amp Feedback and is one of the fundamental concepts of modern circuitry.
Op-Amps are vital for signal processing. However, how exactly do they work? Well, it turns out that they work as follows. The circuit will be connected to an input and an output at the left-side. These will allow for their voltage levels to be near equipotential. There will also be a voltage gain associated and a supply voltage. This is the contour of how op-amps work.
Circuit components such as sensors have all sorts of voltages. However, sometimes we want to modify them in some way. So how can we use our engineering mindset to accomplish this? Well, what if we were to simply use an extra component to do this? These are known as Operational Amplifiers and are a vital part of mechatronic systems.
How the Portuguese island of Porto Santo is Using Smart Technology to Become More Sustainable
04/01/18
“How is the Portuguese island of Porto Santo is Using Smart Technology to Become More Sustainable?“
The Portuguese island of Porto Santo has struggled with energy adoption for years. Being a small piece of land under 42 square kilometers an hour, it had to import most of its energy from fossil fuels.
…..Until recently.
Thanks to a series of collaboration between industry and the island authorities, Porto Santo is now making strong headway into using smart and sustainable technologies to combat its energy problems. This includes deployment of Vehicle to Grid Technology, Solar Storage Management Systems, and Charging Control Systems.
“How is small-scale solar a cheaper alternative to large-scale grid distribution?”
Conventional wisdom holds that bigger is better. However, this turns out to not hold true in the arena of solar energy. A recent study has shown that when taking transmission and feedback into account, locally generated building-side distributed solar is more cost-effective than its grid-side alternative! Just goes to show the potential of renewable energy.
“Why are offshore wind companies looking to expand into energy storage?”
The Wind Energy industry is making massive investments into energy storage, and the offshore sector is no exception. In Northern Europe and the Northeastern United States, where the brunt of the offshore market is located, winter time can bring incredibly low temperatures, which make people consume more energy by turning on heaters. By adding battery storage to the offshore wind, this increased demand can be readily satisfied and everyone will be able to stay warm in the winter!
“What were the predecessors of battery storage systems?”
Although battery storage is all the rage nowadays, there is an older predecessor to handle extra demand on the grid. These machines were like power plants, except that they only came on in times of need! They were called peaker plants, and their electricity tends to be more expensive due to their off-cycle nature.
Wind energy has long been one of the reigning champions of renewable energy. However, during peak generation, much of the new power made goes wasted. So how can we use our engineering mindsets to solve this problem? Well, if we take a page from the recent developments in Solar+Storage Systems, and attach battery systems to wind farms? This is known as Wind-Plus-Storage and is one of the hottest topics in renewable energy in 2018.
Isaac's Science Blog 