Energy, Power, Transportation, and the Future

Solar Energy

Small portion of energy Two main types

Photovoltaic cells Convert solar radiation into DC using semiconductors

Active solar collectors Convert solar energy into usable light, heat, cause air-movement for ventilation or cooling using fans and pumps to increase usable heat in a

system Cost and efficiency Solar Lighting

Collectors -> Fiber optic cables Satellites on the moon -> microwaves -> recievers

Wind Energy

Largest growing in the past 10 yearsWind Farms – collection of turbines used to

create electricityDevelopment

Low wind speeds Creating more electricity = lower cost of each watt

Ocean Energy

TidesWavesTemperature DifferencesDevelopment

Asia and Europe

Bioenergy / Biomass

Most widely used renewable energy sourceSupplies 3% of US energy demandsGenerates energy by releasing energy

stored in organic materialsUsed for

Transportation fuel, electricity generation, industrial heat, and chemical production

Development Biorefineries

Convert organic materials to fuels, chemicals, and other products

Fossil Fuels

Main source of current energyDevelopment

Designing a future zero-emission coal power plant FutureGen Plant

Will create electricity and hydrogen gas from coal

Saving Energy

Air Leaks in a HomeInfiltration – cold air forcing its way into a

home through cracks and other penetrations reduced by sealing cracks with caulk, foam, etc

Saving Energy

Heat Loss Through Walls – InsulationConduction – the transfer of heat from a

molecule to molecule, straight through a material of group of materials

R-Value – a materials ability to resist heat flow by conduction

Efficiency

Nanotechnology – smaller, more powerful, less energy consumption Super computer processors

Computer Control – energy will be distributed as needed to certain areas eliminating waste Electricity grids

Batteries

Paper Batteries Ultrathin dry batteries

Contain zero chemicals Can be printed on paper

Future use• Powering Cell Phones and Laptops

Fuel Cells

Function Hydrogen atoms through a catalyst. The catalyst frees the electrons from the hydrogen. The remainder of the hydrogen atom passes through a

membrane on the positive side of the cell. The electrons pass through an electrical circuit to the

positive side creating electricity Never lose power so long as they have hydrogen Supplying hydrogen is the hard part

Propulsion Technology

Land Transportation Hybrid Vehicles – electric and gasoline engines

Space Travel Solar Sails – large sails that operate on the principle

that light exerts a small force on the object it touches. The more light collected the greater the “push”

Future of Land Transportation

Safety will be continually improved in land transportation vehicles Crashworthiness – the ability to handle and provide

safety during an accidentIntelligent Vehicle Initiative

Vehicle warning systems Enhance the vision of the drivers More stable vehicles

Future of Land Transportation

Infrastructure – roadways, bridges, ramps, and other structures that make up the highway and roadway system

Smart Road – future highway infrastructure that will communicate with vehicles and help to control the speed, braking, and steering of the vehicles

Future of Water Transportation

Water transportation currently carries 95% of freight which is going to triple in the next 20 years Canals Locks Computer technology

Docking Loading and unloading

Future of Air Transportation

Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) Goal to reduce overcrowding by better utilizing

smaller regional and rural airports Use of air taxi’s

Mach 1 Breaking the sound barriers creates a noise heard on

land.

Future of Space Transportation

Space Tourism Vehicles under testing Space plane – an airplane/space shuttle that will be

reusable and more cost efficient than space shuttles Suborbital flight – 62 miles above the earth Space elevator – cablelike structure with cars

attached, extending from earth to space