In many countries around the world, falling water is a significant power source. The only requirement being a mountain and regular rainfalls. Some investments are required upfront but during their lifespan the produced electricity is cheap. Norway has a century long history of taming it's waterfalls which has given the population and industry vast amounts of inexpensive electricity. However, with the systems operating and the world in need of more energy, is there anything we can do to increase the efficiency - if only a small bit?
Two properties of many mountainous areas spring to mind - they are windy and cold. The coldness might not be too useful except as a condenser in a thermal engine. The wind, however, could be set to work. I imagine a rough wind turbine connected to the inlet of the hydropower pipelines. Instead of generating power directly they would provide additional speed or pressure to the water in the pipes. With the infrastructure already in place - the wind turbines shouldn't add significant complexity. It would end up being a hybrid hydropower facility.
From my understanding of the physics at hand, pipe loss is an significant energy waster. As the water is moving, the friction at the pipe walls are absorbing some of the joules originally available. A system that can increase the pressure, and reduce the speed might contribute to reduce this drag and increase efficiency - by more than the amount provided directly. Note: For this to be verified - we need to ask someone who actually knows fluid flow physics!
When it comes to rough wind collector systems, I have an idea that might get posted later.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Internet is Public Transport's Rescue
Today's public transport system are usually rather static. Routes and schedules needs to be predictable and they are at best derived from traffic statistics. Very little flexibility is provided for groups of commuters and no influence can be made by individuals - unless they involve media in clever ways.
In Norway, and probably other countries, online services are emerging. It's become possible to search for routes and schedules based on peoples' exact traveling needs and delays can be notified on bus stops or even mobile phones. This development is interesting and most likely providing great value for commuters. However, it's still only a one-way system.
The next logical step, in my opinion, is to allow online users to build and adapt the transport offer themselves. This could be done by providing a specialized auctioning system where transporters and customers meet. Travelers enters their commutes into a map and automated, geographically enabled, services match up the information with other travelers. Suggested routes are then built specifically for these users' needs and travel times/costs will be available for customer and company evaluation.
For this to work economically, a small difference is needed from ordinary auctions. Auctions are normally used to find the consumer with the highest demand, without knowing the attendees' actual financial status and motives. For the transports auctions, however, it might be necessary for attendees to guarantee their demand with a (credit card) deposit. They can say "I want to go from A to B between time a to b and it must cost no more than X large sea shells, of which I guarantee to pay". This way the transporter will know that they have a deal when they have found enough participants for the route to become economically sound. The cost could be lower if desirable or a counter bid can be made, to the customer, if the desired cost isn't feasible.
Such a system will in my opinion be competitive both on a price and flexibility with personal cars and taxis. It's also environmentally beneficial if people can leave their energy inefficient cars at home and go with others. Less empty buses will also been seen in the streets during out of peak hours. A number of problems arises of course when travelers can't make their subscription route and when delays arise. However, since the system is online and knows your traveling need, it's possible that replacement routes could be suggested or altered - so that the unfortunate customer gets to work in time.
I have a lot more details available in this document (unfortunately in Norwegian) or by request.
In Norway, and probably other countries, online services are emerging. It's become possible to search for routes and schedules based on peoples' exact traveling needs and delays can be notified on bus stops or even mobile phones. This development is interesting and most likely providing great value for commuters. However, it's still only a one-way system.
The next logical step, in my opinion, is to allow online users to build and adapt the transport offer themselves. This could be done by providing a specialized auctioning system where transporters and customers meet. Travelers enters their commutes into a map and automated, geographically enabled, services match up the information with other travelers. Suggested routes are then built specifically for these users' needs and travel times/costs will be available for customer and company evaluation.
For this to work economically, a small difference is needed from ordinary auctions. Auctions are normally used to find the consumer with the highest demand, without knowing the attendees' actual financial status and motives. For the transports auctions, however, it might be necessary for attendees to guarantee their demand with a (credit card) deposit. They can say "I want to go from A to B between time a to b and it must cost no more than X large sea shells, of which I guarantee to pay". This way the transporter will know that they have a deal when they have found enough participants for the route to become economically sound. The cost could be lower if desirable or a counter bid can be made, to the customer, if the desired cost isn't feasible.
Such a system will in my opinion be competitive both on a price and flexibility with personal cars and taxis. It's also environmentally beneficial if people can leave their energy inefficient cars at home and go with others. Less empty buses will also been seen in the streets during out of peak hours. A number of problems arises of course when travelers can't make their subscription route and when delays arise. However, since the system is online and knows your traveling need, it's possible that replacement routes could be suggested or altered - so that the unfortunate customer gets to work in time.
I have a lot more details available in this document (unfortunately in Norwegian) or by request.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Joys of Free Piston Engines
Free piston engines are combustion engines where the output is electrical, not mechanical energy. The system work by using induction to harvest the moving piston's power.
Technology Review has an article that explains the concept better than I can:
High-Efficiency Generators for Hybrid Vehicles
The article sites a number of advantages such as:
In addition it could probably be added that the electrical energy system allows an optimal combustion process by carefully adjusting the current in the induction cylinder. This again allows the system to operate efficiently in different load conditions. A mechanical system have a quite fixed acceleration cycle for the piston, whereas the free piston (as it's name suggest) can accelerate and move freely throughout it's faces. Another great feature is that multiple pistons can be arranged much more flexible than in a conventional engine. As they will always be run under ideal conditions, the number of cylinders can probably be reduced, but if more is desired they don't have to stand in a row. They could also be "programmed" to fire simultaniously, in opposite directions - to counter vibrations.
This is interesting in a number of eras. Most notably for hybrid vehicles. However the concept of "electric drive" seems to be gaining popularity among engineers and can be seen in ship design as well as in the (far) future of air transport. I'm not sure how well the free piston compares with a gas turbine on power and weight but it's interesting anyway.
Another usage for the concept could be as suspension in cars. High end cars today typically employ some means of adjusting the shock absorber's physical characteristics. This must be much simpler to do with a an electrical system. The piston would be replaced with the rod from the wheel and the cylinder would be mounted on the car. If the car happens to be a hybrid vehicle as well, it could possibly utilize the some of the moving electrons when traveling on bumpy roads...
Technology Review has an article that explains the concept better than I can:
High-Efficiency Generators for Hybrid Vehicles
The article sites a number of advantages such as:
- Dynamic compression control
- Flexi fuel
- Low friction
In addition it could probably be added that the electrical energy system allows an optimal combustion process by carefully adjusting the current in the induction cylinder. This again allows the system to operate efficiently in different load conditions. A mechanical system have a quite fixed acceleration cycle for the piston, whereas the free piston (as it's name suggest) can accelerate and move freely throughout it's faces. Another great feature is that multiple pistons can be arranged much more flexible than in a conventional engine. As they will always be run under ideal conditions, the number of cylinders can probably be reduced, but if more is desired they don't have to stand in a row. They could also be "programmed" to fire simultaniously, in opposite directions - to counter vibrations.
This is interesting in a number of eras. Most notably for hybrid vehicles. However the concept of "electric drive" seems to be gaining popularity among engineers and can be seen in ship design as well as in the (far) future of air transport. I'm not sure how well the free piston compares with a gas turbine on power and weight but it's interesting anyway.
Another usage for the concept could be as suspension in cars. High end cars today typically employ some means of adjusting the shock absorber's physical characteristics. This must be much simpler to do with a an electrical system. The piston would be replaced with the rod from the wheel and the cylinder would be mounted on the car. If the car happens to be a hybrid vehicle as well, it could possibly utilize the some of the moving electrons when traveling on bumpy roads...
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