ENERGIES... week of November 25, 2001
THIS COULD BE IMPORTANT. Most of the energy released in the burning
of gasoline in our cars is radiated or dispersed into the air in the
form of heat - wasted energy, wasted fuel. Capture some of that heat,
convert it to electricity and put it work propelling the automobile and
overall fuel efficiency goes up. Waste is no longer waste.
Researchers at the Salt Lake City, Utah-based company Eneco have
announced that they have developed a semi-conductor that will capture
waste heat and turn it directly into electricity. The thermionic
technology, in the most recent testing, has been successful at
recovering 17 percent of lost heat and turning it into more usable
electricity. The researchers, working with the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, also claim that they should be able to convert nearly 50
percent of waste heat into electricity in the near future.
Prior to this advance in thermionics, metals needed to be heated to
high temperatures, possibly to point of incandescence (glows, emits
light) to release electrons. The Eneco technology, unlike others already
in use, operates at fairly low temperatures - 400-800 F degrees. The
others require temperatures in the 2000 F degree range. The process is
relatively simple with three layers of semiconductors which transfer
heat and release electrons.
With the ability operate at low temperatures new opportunities could
open up besides recovering waste heat from car engines. News types of
power generation systems could be developed that have virtually no
moving parts and operate silently. (The heat from an open flame could
be converted directly to electricity.) Hot concentrated sunlight could
focus unto the Eneco technology for conversion. And according to the
company, the technology can work in reverse and allow for efficiency
improvements in air conditioners and refrigerators. The technology is
scalable and could be used with any size device.
Certainly much more work needs to be done to perfect the technology.
The research has the interest of the U.S. Department of Defense and has
had some funding from DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project
Agency. Visit Eneco at http://www.eneco-usa.com/ .
FORTY TWO VOLTS. It seems very likely that cars may soon have
42-volt electrical systems instead of the 12 (actually 14) volt systems
they now have. All of the electrical systems manufacturers have added to
cars over the years - power windows, seats and seat heaters, a bevy of
electronics, etc - have put a large burden on the electrical system. It
needs more power. Further, as a way to increase automobile fuel
efficiency, auto component developers are promoting all-electric power
steering, braking and air conditioning systems. These will require the
use of higher-voltage systems.
To make even better use of these higher-voltage systems, UQM
Technologies has developed a 42-volt integrated electric
starter/alternator power assist system and is now testing the system in
three hybrid electric vehicles. The system includes the multi-duty
motor that is mounted directly on the crankshaft of a conventional
engine and an electronic control unit.
In operation the high-torque motor provides quick engine starts.
(Presumably this asset could be used to eliminate fuel-wasting idling
such as at traffic lights.) Under acceleration the motor can kick in for
an extra 20 horsepower (15 kilowatts). While cruising the system will
act as an alternator and keep the battery charged. And while slowing the
system's regenerative braking feature kicks in for battery pack
charging.
UQM will certainly release results such as improvements in fuel
efficiency when tests are completed. Visit UQM at http://www.uqm.com/ .
ELECTRIC AIRPLANE? No, Boeing Aircraft won't build an electrically
powered airliner, but for research purposes the company will build a
fuel cell powered electrically driven light aircraft.
The fuel cell powered aircraft will be used as a platform to test
the feasibility of replacing currently used gas turbine Auxiliary Power
Units (APU) in their commercial aircraft with a fuel cell generator.
APU's provide power for air conditioning, lights, and electronics while
an airliner is on the ground with the main engines off. In flight they
can operate as back-up power. Some APU's that vent from the tail provide
a little additional thrust too. (Look for the APU exhaust next time you
fly.)
The fuel cell powered airplane should provide the opportunity to
check the performance and reliability of the technology in the thin,
cold air of high altitudes. The aircraft, to be built mostly in Europe,
should be flying by 2004. Visit Boeing at http://www.boeing.com/ .
WORLD WIND WATCH. According to news reports, Scanwind has developed
a prototype wind turbine utilizing ABB's Windformer technology. The
company is apparently close to installing two of the 3 megawatt
machines, one in Sweden, the other Norway.
ABB's windformer technology does not have a gearbox and was
developed specifically for offshore and remote onshore applications. The
higher voltage electricity generated with Windformer technology would
allow for power to be transmitted greater distances than other designs.
Not much at the Scanwind website but bookmark http://www.scanwind.com
for further reference.
NEW! NEW! NEW! ... NewsLinks...
--- Built-e Helps Bring Green Construction to Bend, Ore., Public/Private
Partnership Makes Dream of Sustainable Construction a Reality
http://www.built-e.com/ (click About Us, Built-e in the news) (11/27/01)
--- DynaMotive Announces Favorable Technical Opinion by NRCAN on its
Biomass Pyrolysis Technology, Ruling Provides Significant Tax Incentives
for Investment in Canadian Project. http://www.dynamotive.com/
(11/27/01)
--- Electric Fuel's Electric Bus Takes First On-Road Drive in Las Vegas
Public Demo of Company's Zinc-Air, Zero-Emission Bus Is Scheduled Today,
Coinciding with Two-Day Symposium for Transit Operators and Industry
Representatives http://www.electric-fuel.com/ (11/27/01)
--- GM Announces New E85 Flex Fuel Full-Size Pickup, GM now offers the
only full-size pickup in the market that can run on ethanol (E85)
http://media.gm.com/ (click News, Releases) (11/27/01)
--- Propulsion System Of The Future Moves Closer To Series Production
2001: Opel Makes Major Advances in Fuel Cell Development, "HydroGen3"
prototype with more compact propulsion system Fuel cell Zafira
"HydroGen1" sets international records New fuel cell unit with higher
power density http://media.gm.com/ (click News, Releases) (11/27/01)
--- Battery Life Key to Growth of Hybrid Electric Vehicles - But Which
Battery? http://www.advancedautobat.com/ (11/28/01)
--- Rotary Power International, Inc. to Develop A Hydrogen Fueled Rotary
Engine Genset http://www.rotarypowerinternational.com/ (11/28/01)
--- Startech Environmental Offers Performance Guarantee Insurance For
Plasma Converters http://www.startech.net/ (click Press Clips)
(11/28/01)
*** IBC's Offshore Wind Energy Conference promises to be an informative
event focusing upon the laest developments with the wind energy sector.
Visit http:www.ibcenergy.com/windenergy for further details or telephone
+ 44 (0)20 7017 4052. ***
Send ENERGIES to a friend or colleague. Visit Green Energy News on the
Web at http://www.nrglink.com/ . For free ENERGIES subscription contact
[EMAIL PROTECTED] . Copyright Green Energy News Inc. 12/1/01 vol.6
no.35
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