Menu

Blog

Archive for the ‘energy’ category: Page 141

Apr 29, 2022

A Problem That Could Plague Rapid Transport Like Bullet Trains & Hyperloop

Posted by in categories: energy, mapping, transportation

If you look at Amtrak’s route map, you’ll notice that the service isn’t really geared toward serving rural areas and smaller cities. Sure, they do stop at some smaller cities along existing rail routes, but those aren’t the point as much as a place to get fuel and let people get onto connecting services. On top of that issue, Amtrak largely uses the same tracks as freight trains, and the freight lines have been placed according to freight needs and not the needs of potential passengers. In one particularly weird case, it completely skips the Phoenix metro area, with the nearest station in Maricopa.

But I’m getting off topic a bit with that last one. The main point to gather from the map is that it’s designed mostly to connect larger cities with other large cities. Going from New York to Los Angeles isn’t a big deal. Going from El Paso to Albuquerque, well, even Amtrak tells you on the map that you’re getting on a Greyhound. Public transit really isn’t a priority in the United States, though. So maybe this isn’t a fair comparison. Let’s look at some maps in other countries for a minute:

Apr 29, 2022

NRL Conducts Successful Terrestrial Microwave Power Beaming Demonstration

Posted by in categories: energy, military

A microwave dish transmitter is pointed toward a rectifying antenna in part of the Safe and Continuous Power Beaming – Microwave (SCOPE-M) demonstration at Army Blossom Point Research Field, Maryland, Sept. 21, 2021. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory developed the rectifying antenna, “rectenna”, to convert an x-band microwave beam to 1 kilowatts of DC power at a range of 1 kilometer.

Photo Information

Apr 28, 2022

Zero-index metamaterials offer new insights into the foundations of quantum mechanics

Posted by in categories: energy, quantum physics

In physics, as in life, it’s always good to look at things from different perspectives.

Since the beginning of quantum physics, how moves and interacts with matter around it has mostly been described and understood mathematically through the lens of its energy. In 1900, Max Planck used energy to explain how light is emitted by heated objects, a seminal study in the foundation of quantum mechanics. In 1905, Albert Einstein used energy when he introduced the concept of photon.

But light has another equally important quality, known as momentum. And as it turns out, when you take momentum away, light starts behaving in really interesting ways.

Apr 27, 2022

MIT wants to use a rock-vaporizing drill to cut 12 miles into Earth’s crust

Posted by in category: energy

MIT spinoff Quaise Energy is building a drill that vaporizes rock — so that we can tap into the energy miles below our feet.

Geothermal energy: Earth’s core is as hot as the surface of the sun, but we don’t have to go too far below the surface to start feeling the heat — in the Mponeng gold mine in South Africa, which has a depth of 2.5 miles, rock temperatures can reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Continue reading “MIT wants to use a rock-vaporizing drill to cut 12 miles into Earth’s crust” »

Apr 27, 2022

Solar 3.0: This New Technology Could Change Everything

Posted by in categories: energy, sustainability

Perovskite solar cells might revolutionize how humans generate energy from sunlight.
https://brilliant.org/ElectricFuture.
First 200 people get 20% off annual premium subscription.

In this video we’ll explore the world’s fastest improving new solar technology, and provide an exclusive peek inside the lab of a team working on this breakthrough material.

Continue reading “Solar 3.0: This New Technology Could Change Everything” »

Apr 25, 2022

Northern Virginia Highway Plans Would Fuel a Massive Increase in Driving

Posted by in categories: energy, transportation

North Virginia will make multi-billion dollar decisions this year on the region’s transportation future—decisions that are only going to induce more driving.

Apr 25, 2022

Hackers say cracking power grid tech was easiest challenge yet

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, energy

During an industrial control systems hacking challenge, a Dutch team won $40,000 for cracking tech used to control the power grid.

Apr 25, 2022

Clean energy met a record-breaking 38 percent of global power demand in 2021

Posted by in categories: energy, sustainability

Apr 25, 2022

High-flying kites could power your home with wind energy

Posted by in categories: energy, sustainability

Kitekraft discusses airborne wind turbines as well as the sustainability of kite-powered systems that are lightweight and have a lower carbon impact.

Apr 25, 2022

HyPoint extends hydrogen flight range with new ultra-light fuel tanks

Posted by in categories: energy, transportation

BHL Cryotanks have demonstrated a 75% mass reduction compared to existing state-of-the-art aerospace cryotanks (metal or composite), enabling hydrogen aircraft and eVTOL makers to store as much as 10 times more liquid hydrogen fuel without adding mass. As a result, aircraft can travel longer distances without refueling.

GTL has fabricated and tested multiple BHL Cryotanks at a range of scales and has been demonstrated to be leak-tight even after repeated cryo-thermal pressure cycles. This technology has achieved TRL 5+ and is compatible with a variety of cryogenic propellants, including liquid oxygen, liquid methane, and liquid hydrogen.

The BHL Cryotank pictured here measures 2.4 meters long with a 1.2-meter diameter and weighs 12 kilograms (roughly 26 pounds). With the addition of a skirt and vacuum dewar shell, the total system weight is 67 kilograms. This particular tank system can hold over 150 kilograms of liquid hydrogen, giving it a hydrogen storage ratio of at least 50% (the weight of stored hydrogen fuel relative to total system weight), which is as much as 10 times greater than current state-of-the-art fuel tanks. HyPoint estimated that an aircraft equipped with GTL dewar tank technology could achieve as much as four times the range of a conventional aircraft using aviation fuel, cutting aircraft operating costs by an estimated 50% on a dollar-per-passenger-mile basis.