-
1. Appropriate Technology Solar Powered Refrigerator to Store Vaccines and Save Lives
-
2. New World's Largest Airship 'Stratellite'
-
3. Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga Thinks Nuclear Power Is the Answer
-
4. NREL Says Power Grid Can Handle Large Increase in Renewable Energy
-
5. Students Build an EV in 10 Weeks
Appropriate Technology Solar Powered Refrigerator to Store Vaccines...
frontpage
The distribution of vaccines through the developing world is sometimes limited by a lack of available refrigeration for the storage of the vaccines. In some parts of the world, more than half of the vaccines spoil before they can be administered. Millions of lives and billions of dollars are lost due to a lack of refrigeration. A new solar refrigerator developed by the Appropriate Technology Collaborative can provide lifesaving cold storage for vaccines with an inexpensive system that can be built from locally available materials.
The solar refrigerator is now entered in competition for the NASA Tech Briefs Create The Future Contest. The refrigerator needs no electricity and should require only minimal maintenance since it has no valves or moving parts. With the ATC refrigerator, it is possible to maintain WHO and UNICEF compliant "chain-of-cold" storage of vaccines.
"The ATC Solar Vaccine Refrigerator is a robust, easy to maintain technology that can be made in the country or region where it is to be used. It is made out of simple materials that can be found in most cities: steel, charcoal and ethanol or methanol. The finished product has no moving parts that need maintenance and it doesn't use electricity of any kind. One simply places it in sunlight and it freezes. Period. (Note: If the sun doesn't shine it can run on biofuels)"
Appropriate Technology Collaborative is a non-profit organization headed by former EcoGeek contributing writer John Barrie. ATC works to develop technologies to improve the lives of people in developing countries. But, unlike a host of other such organizations, ATC works to make systems that can be built and maintained by local engineers and local workers. ATC's designs are made available through Creative Commons and published online to make them available in developing countries and so that other NGOs can copy or improve upon their work.
You can vote for the ATC Refrigerator design at the NASA Tech Briefs Create The Future Contest.
via: Sustainable Design Update
New World's Largest Airship 'Stratellite'
frontpage
In a further sign that airships are making a comeback, the first model of what is now the world's largest airship has been recently launched. The Bullet 580 measures 235 feet (more than 71 meters) in length, more than 40 feet longer than the Goodyear blimp (though not nearly as large as airships of the past such as the Hindenburg or the USS Macon).
Compared to heavier-than-air aircraft, airships are relatively slow, lumbering vehicles. But what they lack in speed they can more than make up for in the time they are able to stay aloft. At present, the Bullet 580 can stay aloft for more than 48 hours, and it is expected it will eventually be able to remain in flight for more than a week. The Bullet 580 can fly at faster than lumbering speeds, as well - it can go up to 80 mph (129 kph) and has a cruising speed of 35 to 40 mph (55 to 65 kph).
The ability to stay in the air for long periods of time is useful for both military as well as civilian uses. A high-altitude airship acting as a 'stratellite' fills a gap between conventional aircraft and satellites. The airship is orders of magnitude less expensive to launch than a satellite would be. It is capable of carrying a payload of up to 2000 pounds (905 kg) to an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,100 meters). Applications for such long-duration airships include use for surveilance in defense and security applications, survey of natural resources, agriculture, and forest fires, and telecommunications.
The Bullet 580 is expected to have a price of roughly $8 million.
via: MNN
Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga Thinks Nuclear Power Is the Answer
frontpage
The king of Tonga has told the nation's parliament that he believes the country should pursue nuclear power in order to meet its energy needs. The king is quoted as saying, "nature is dictating that we must look to nuclear energy." A nuclear power station would also aid the country by providing desalinated water. At present, almost the entirety of the nation's electricity comes from diesel generators, and importing diesel fuel is an expensive proposition.
The country also has outlined an energy plan, developed in 2009, which has called for half of its power to come from renewable resources. The king's recommendation was unexpected in the face of these existing plans, and might be a calculated political move intended to draw further support from non-nuclear neighbors Australia and New Zealand.
Contemporary nuclear reactor designs are vastly larger than the relatively modest electricity needs of Tonga. One suggestion the king offered was to use the country as a test-bed for a small experimental reactor. However, wind and solar could almost certainly be deployed less expensively to provide the 20 to 30 megawatts of capacity the country needs. And solar desalination systems are also in development, and could be used to address the country's freshwater problems.
via: BBC News
NREL Says Power Grid Can Handle Large Increase in Renewable Energy
frontpage
One of the major issues facing the growth of renewable energy is figuring out how it will be transmitted and what kind of infrastructure changes will have to be made to accomodate it. NREL has good news for us. It turns out that the existing grid is ready to take on lots more wind and solar energy with little changes necessary.
A new study by NREL found that the nation's power grid is able to handle a large increase in renewable energy, but there will have to be operational and organization changes.
The study looked at the benefits and challenges of having wind and solar energy make up 35 percent of energy capacity by 2017. The study used the WestConnect group of utilites as a testing ground (they cover the mountain and southwest states) and found that it was possible for that group, with existing transmission networks, to achieve a 30 percent wind energy and 5 percent solar energy portfolio.
The study found that expanding coordination of power delivery to a larger geographic area, and doing so more frequently (as wind and solar conditions changed), reduced the need for back-up energy generation (like from natural gas) and new transmission. Also, wind and solar forecasts would become essential for utility operations.
NREL found that if the WestConnect utilities generated 27 percent of their electricity from wind and solar, carbon emissions would be lowered by as much as 45 percent. Fuel and emissions costs would fall by 40 percent.
via NREL
Students Build an EV in 10 Weeks
frontpage
Graduate students at Stanford University designed and built an EV in 10 weeks as their master's thesis. They're calling the vehicle, which can hit 35 mph and has a range of around 20 miles, the WENG, which stands for "Where Everyone Needs to Go."
The WENG's motors are located in its rear wheels, the battery pack is under the floor board and the steering and driving are controlled with a joystick and throttle.
Calling the WENG "stripped down" would be an understatement, but let's start with the positive things we can say about this project. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention how cool it is that five students were able to build a working electric vehicle in 10 weeks. That's quite an amazing feat.
Also, the purpose behind the WENG -- to encourage people to question whether they need a full-size, four-door car for all situations -- is a noble and relevant one. As one of the designers, John Stanfield said: "why are people driving 4,000 to 6,000 pound internal combustion cars to the grocery store?"
But let's face it, the neighborhood EV concept hasn't really taken off and the WENG, with it's bare-bones go cart appearance probably won't attract many buyers. That's right, I said buyers. The students envision a 50-mile-range commercial version and representatives from Light Speed Venture Partners are interested. They think it could sell for just under $10,000.
via WENG Motors
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment