"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Tag: Mechanical Engineering
Why Cold Waves are Bad for Traditional Energy Generation
03/03/19
“Why does traditional energy generation suffer from cold waves?”
When the weather becomes extremely cold, such as the American Midwestern polar vortex, energy generation in traditional generation facilities becomes much less efficient. This stands in stark contrast to wind turbines, which are much more resilient to colder weather. This is Why Cold Waves are Bad for Traditional Energy Generation.
What Type of Glass do Airplanes Use for Windows?
03/02/19
“Why are airplane windows so strong and lightweight?”
I don’t know about you, but looking out of the window is one of my favorite things to do while traveling. I get to see a whole variety of landscapes from a new perspective, whether it be the city I live in looking like a model replica or the vast open countryside. But this also gets me thinking about how the engineers have to design the glass. The glass that we use for our window buildings is quite fragile, one thrown object can completely shatter it! This is completely unsuitable for air travel, where the plane can be traveling at high speeds in high-pressure differences. If a single person breaks their plane window, the entire crew can be killed!
For this reason, aircraft windows are made of plexiglass. This allows them to be lightweight while strong and transparent. This glass is also slightly layered, with a little whole in the middle portion to get rid of condensation. This is exactly What Type of Glass do Airplanes Use for Windows.
Quantum Dots for Solar Panels
02/25/19
“Why are quantum dots for solar panels so useful?”
Quantum dots are bringing a revolution into the world of semiconductors. And since semiconductors are the backbones of solar panels, things will be greatly changed for them as well. The extra emissivity offered by quantum dots means that two and possibly three electrons can be generated for every photon received, vastly increasing its potential! Quantum dot solar panels can achieve as much as 65% efficiency, nearly double of the theoretical limit of normal panels. This is why Quantum Dots for Solar Panels are so exciting.
Image link https://upload.wikimedia.org
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 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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