"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Tag: Electrical Engineering
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.
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
How Community Choice Aggregators Can Offer Cleaner Energy at Lower Rates
02/12/19
“How can community-sourced energy be cheaper and greener?”
There is a revolution brewing in the renewable energy world. While in the past residents and businesses were tied to one electric utility based on their geographic area, organizations known as Community Choice Aggregators are starting to sprout up and challenge this. Community choice aggregators or CCAs are non-profit organizations that procure power generation and deliver it to customers through a utility’s transmission lines. Since these do not operate for investors and only need to pay for energy and staff, they can give their customers better rates than traditional electricity service and focus on particular resources. To illustrate, just look at the CCA San Jose Clean Energy. Even though their energy portfolio is 45% Renewable Energy/80% carbon-free, they sell energy at rates 1% lower than the standard San Francisco Bay Area PG&E service which is 33% Renewable Energy/78% carbon-free. This is How Community Choice Aggregators Can Offer Cleaner Energy at Lower Rates!
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How Wave Energy Can Help Island Nations
02/11/19
“Why is wave energy really helpful for island nations?”
Island nations are strapped when it comes to energy resources. Their small land area limits the potential for distributed energy resources and centralized power plants pose a large resilience risk and monetary expense. However, there might be one form of power that can be a game changer. Since islands are surrounded by water, the can harvest the kinetic energy from the waves crashing onto their beaches. Complimenting this with other renewables, island nations can achieve true self-sufficiency. This is How Wave Energy Can Help Island Nations.
Ultracapacitors for EVs
02/08/19
“What is one possible way to speed up EV recharge times?”
In order to achieve deep-decarbonization of transportation, the global vehicle fleet needs to become much more electrified. However, the long recharge times associated with electric vehicles are a roadblock for this to happen. One way to solve this would be to implement Ultracapacitors for EVs. Ultracapacitors have quick recharge times, low weight, and low degradation, making them a formidable option. The downside is that manny ultracapacitors lack the storage capacity found in traditional solid-state batteries. But if this problem gets solved, then expect a paradigm shift in the EV industry!
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2018 KIA Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Works
02/03/19
“How does a 2018 KIA Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle work?”
The workings of a 2018 Kia Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle is relatively straightforward. The system has both a battery and an ICE. During initial acceleration or low-speed operation the car is entirely powered by its battery. When it needs to accelerate uphill or quickly both the ICE and the battery will work together. During cruise control it will be entirely contingent on the ICE engine, and in deceleration regenerative braking will recharge the battery. Because the Kia is a plug-in hybrid, it has a large rechargeable battery which is capable of going 60 km without stopping!
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Bulk Power Systems
02/02/19
“What is the outer layer of the grid?”
The electrical grid consists of multiple layers. The outermost infrastructure consisting of generation, transmission, and control infrastructure excluding localized distribution is known as the Bulk Power System. In the United States, the bulk power system is regulated by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
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
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
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