Daily Archives: March 6, 2017

Forbes

What Is Digital Twin Technology - And Why Is It So Important? Forbes While the concept of a digital twin has been around since 2002, it's only thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT) that it has become cost-effective to implement. And, it is so imperative to business today, it was named one of Gartner's Top 10 Strategic ...

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What Is Digital Twin Technology - And Why Is It So Important? - Forbes

March 6, 2017 Schematic sketch of the thermionic energy convertor prototype with a graphene collector. Credit: Elsevier

Satellite-powering technology that was abandoned decades ago has been reinvented to potentially work with traditional power stations to help them convert heat to electricity more efficiently, meaning we would need less fossil fuel to burn for power. A new study in Nano Energy presents a prototype energy converter, which uses graphene instead of metal, making it almost seven times more efficient.

The researchers behind the study, led by Prof. Roger Howe at Stanford University, say new materials could reignite the field of thermionic energy conversion, improving the way we produce electricity and reducing the impact the process has on the environment.

Energy is one of the most challenging problems society faces today, with an estimated 1.2 billion people having no access to electricity. Thermal energy is one of the most abundant, cheap and widely used energy sources in the world, but it is harvested using old technology: more than 80 percent of the electricity generated in the US comes from mechanical heat engines and turbines based on the 19th century technology that can only be used in large power stations.

Alternatively, the thermionic energy convertor (TEC) can convert heat to electricity more efficiently without the need for big, expensive equipment through the phenomenon of thermionic emission. TECs were first developed in the 1950s for use in space programs, but scientists had not managed to make TECs efficient enough to apply to industrial electricity production. Now, with modern materials and approaches, it is possible to improve their efficiency significantly.

The TEC is composed of two electrodes, namely the emitter and collector, separated by a small vacuum gap. The researchers tested a prototype TEC made using a single sheet of carbon atoms - graphene - instead of tungsten as the collector material. They found the new material improved the efficiency of the TEC, making it 6.7 times more efficient at converting heat into electricity at 1000?C

"TEC technology is very exciting. With improvement in the efficiency, we expect to see an enormous market for it," commented lead author Dr. Hongyuan Yuan from Stanford University. "TECs could not only help make power stations more efficient, and therefore have a lower environmental impact, but they could be also applied in distributed systems like solar cells. In the future, we envisage it being possible to generate 1-2 kW of electricity from water boilers, which could partially power your house."

Existing TEC technology faces two obstacles: a high loss of energy at the anode surface, which leads to reduced output voltage, and high electrical barriers against electrons moving in the gap between the collector and the emitter, which results in reduced output current. For the first time, the new prototype tackles both of these problems simultaneously. The findings of the study reveal an electronic efficiency in energy conversion of 9.8 percent - by far the highest efficiency at 1000?C.

The technology is not yet ready for use in power stations or people's homes - the prototype works in a vacuum chamber but not in a normal setting. The researchers are now working on a vacuum packaged TEC to test the reliability and efficiency of the technology in real applications.

"This prototype is just the first step - there is a lot more to do," said Dr. Yuan. "But our results so far are promising and reflect a happy marriage between modern materials science and an old-fashioned energy technology, which provides a route for re-sparking the field of thermionic energy conversion."

Explore further: Researchers report new thermoelectric material with high power factors

More information: Hongyuan Yuan et al, Back-gated graphene anode for more efficient thermionic energy converters, Nano Energy (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.12.027

Journal reference: Nano Energy

Provided by: Elsevier

With energy conservation expected to play a growing role in managing global demand, materials and methods that make better use of existing sources of energy have become increasingly important.

Solar cells convert light into electricity. While the sun is one source of light, the burning of natural resources like oil and natural gas can also be harnessed.

Anton Pischagin, a graduate student of the Faculty of Radiophysics advised by Professor Andrey Kokhanenko, is developing nanostructures based on silicon for converting solar energy into electricity. These materials will allow ...

Picture a device that can produce electricity using nothing but the ambient heat around it. Thanks to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science today, this scenario is a step closer a team ...

When scientists Daniel Riley and Jared Schwede left Stanford University last year to join Cyclotron Road, a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) program for entrepreneurial researchers, their vision was to ...

(Phys.org) Scientists working at the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) have improved an innovative solar-energy device to be about 100 times more efficient than its previous design in converting ...

Satellite-powering technology that was abandoned decades ago has been reinvented to potentially work with traditional power stations to help them convert heat to electricity more efficiently, meaning we would need less fossil ...

Sometimes understanding how a problem arises in the first place is key to finding its solution. For a team of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, taking this approach led them ...

Michael Siminovitch, director of the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis, wasn't looking for enlightenment when he wandered into a Buddhist temple in Thailand a few years ago. He was touring Thailand as a distinguished ...

Three-dimensional printing makes all conceivable varieties of layered, three-dimensional objects possible, a benefit appreciated by industry and private users alike. However, once an object is printed, any freedom of design ...

Although data scientists can gain great insights from large data setsand can ultimately use these insights to tackle major challengesaccomplishing this is much easier said than done. Many such efforts are stymied from ...

Global carmakers, stung by emissions scandals, are racing to hunt down every gram of harmful CO2 spewed out on the roads as tougher pollution rules kick in.

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Space energy technology restored to make power stations more efficient - Phys.Org

President Trump's clean coal agenda could get some much-needed clarity as federal advisers take a hard look at advanced technologies to make coal plants more competitive and climate-friendly, as Trump's plan to repeal regulations will only go so far toward restoring the industry.

Some of the experts slated to lead the discussion at this year's spring meeting of the National Coal Council, a federal advisory committee, are skeptical about how much Trump can actually do over the next four years to help the coal industry beyond removing regulations.

Eliminating regulations is only a short-term remedy for what ails the coal industry. Removing Obama-era climate regulations would stop some of the planned coal plant retirements while allowing for the construction of newer, more efficient coal plants, which are considered a variant of clean coal technology.

Top consultants say the Trump agenda needs to be paired with a longer-term strategy that looks at more advanced technology such as carbon capture and storage, or CCS, which strips carbon pollution from coal plant emissions.

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Amid Trump's promise to roll back climate change rules and withdraw from the Paris climate accord, much of the talk at the March 14-15 meeting will be on ways to make the coal industry more climate-friendly through the use of CCS. But even that isn't a sure fix, and it won't have job benefits for years to come, which is Trump's primary goal.

"I think everything that drives [Trump's] policy decisions is geared at the top level, first and foremost, to jobs," said Andy Roberts, research director for energy consultants Wood Mackenzie. "He wants to restore better economic health to the energy industry."

Roberts will deliver the keynote address, aptly named "Opportunities for Coal in the Trump Administration," at the coal council meeting, according to the official agenda.

When it comes to Trump's jobs priorities, Roberts doesn't see "clean coal" technologies that Trump continues to tout offering much in the way of putting miners back to work, at least not quickly.

"In the short-term, that means unburdening the industry from regulations to the extent [coal] competes on a level playing field," Roberts said. But clean coal technologies, primarily carbon capture and storage, "don't really impact employment in the industry in the short term and medium term at all."

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"It's not economic," Roberts added. "It's never going to be economic versus other forms of energy production." But it may still be necessary, he said, "depending on what the world decides it's going to do about topics like climate change."

That's why the primary thrust of the coal meeting will be focused on CCS and enhancing "the efficiency and emissions profile of our coal fleet," according to the agenda. However, the focus of the advisory panel in Trump's first year has not been determined, Janet Gellici, the National Coal Council's CEO, said before Rick Perry was confirmed as energy secretary Thursday. The coal council reports to the secretary.

The coal council under former President Barack Obama focused on legislative and policy recommendations for advancing CCS and even more advanced technologies that use the carbon to generate additional revenue stream for power plants.

One of the technologies that will be highlighted at this month's meeting will come from a company that has been collaborating with Exxon Mobil to commercialize a form of CCS technology for reducing emissions at natural gas power plants. The company sees fuel cells as a solution to the next big challenge for cutting carbon dioxide emissions, which is anticipated to be focused on natural gas power plants.

Currently, natural gas-fired plants are taking market share from coal, since they release 60 percent fewer emissions than coal plants. Gas plants, according to Exxon Mobil, are the reason the nation's emissions are at their lowest in 25 years.

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Nevertheless, any advancements in cutting carbon pollution further will stem from advancements that will come from developing CCS at coal plants, said officials with the company FuelCell Energy, which is collaborating with Exxon on CCS. Capturing carbon from natural gas is slightly different than capturing it from coal, but advancements on either would help the other fuel.

Officials with FuelCell Energy will be discussing its projects with the Energy Department, as well as the joint venture it has with Exxon. They say Trump's focus on manufacturing is good for clean coal, but also for cleaner forms of natural gas that they anticipate being needed further down the road.

"One aspect that we're certainly encouraged with is the focus on American manufacturing," said Kurt Goddard, head of investor relations for the company. "Because fuel cells represent American innovation, they represent American manufacturing."

Fuel cells had support in previous Republican administrations. Former president George W. Bush created the hydrogen fuel cell initiative to wean the nation off its "addiction to oil." But it's not clear if Trump might do something similar.

Fuel cells are a highly efficient means of producing electricity. Rather than burning a fuel, like a standard power plant does, they produce electricity through a chemical process using an electrolyte similar to a battery. But instead of charging it as a battery, the electrolyte is refilled. FuelCell Energy's device concentrates the carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power plant as part of its electricity-generation process. The process reduces carbon emissions and other pollutants.

It's also a form of clean energy that is completely made in America, Goddard said. "Our manufacturing facility is actually in Connecticut, whereas some other forms of clean power generation aren't necessarily made in the U.S.," he said, explaining why he believes Trump is supportive of CCS. It's a technology that is evolving, he said, with interest coming from Exxon, the Canadian oil sands and Europe.

Anthony Leo, the company's vice president for technology and applications, will discuss its fuel cell clean coal project at this month's meeting, in addition to the natural gas work he is doing with Exxon Mobil. The coal and gas projects are both being done at Southern Co.'s Barry Plant in Alabama.

The projects are in the engineering phase, with construction not expected to begin for about two years. Exxon CEO Darren Woods underscored the project in a blog post last month.

"Our role as the country's largest producer of natural gas which emits up to 60 percent less CO2 than coal for power generation has helped bring CO2 emissions in the United States to the lowest level since the 1990s," said Woods, who took over after predecessor Rex Tillerson was appointed secretary of state.

"But the world also will need breakthrough clean-energy technologies such as carbon capture and storage," he said, noting that the company is "investing heavily in CCS, including research in a novel technology that uses fuel cells that could make CCS more affordable and expand its use."

An Exxon official emphasized to the Washington Examiner that the company's piece of the project has received no funding or support from the government.

Roberts observed that the future of CCS could very well resemble what is being demonstrated between the fuel cell company and Exxon. He also said the "model" for clean coal could follow what is happening between SpaceX and NASA, where a private company "is driving a lot of our national space exploration activities, right now, at the direction of NASA but with cooperation."

Roberts sees demand for clean coal technology coming from Europe, where the continent's climate change policies require the technologies, even if Trump succeeds in exiting from the Paris climate agreement.

"Maybe if the U.S. steps back for a while, the driving factors happen in Europe," Roberts said.

Coal use is projected to grow globally, and there will be an increasing need for coal power plants to be made more efficient and with fewer emissions, said Benjamin Sporton, the head of the World Coal Association. He was in Washington last month to discuss advancements on coal technology with congressional staffers.

He was also in the U.S. as part of an International Energy Agency industry advisory team meeting with coal companies to get a sense of where they are on technology development, he told the Washington Examiner in an interview.

"For me it's a continuum," he said. "It's not saying let's leap to CCS today, because CCS is not a technology that is viable for widescale deployment today. It's about saying how we start on that pathway to get to somewhere further down the track."

Expanding federal incentives for carbon capture technologies was an idea supported by both parties last year. And a lobbying push by unlikely bedfellows, major coal companies and environmentalists, is gaining steam to move a similar bill in this Congress.

"When utilities, coal companies and environmental groups come together to support your bill, you know you're onto something that could work," Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota said last year in introducing her bill to expand the coal incentives. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was a co-sponsor of the legislation.

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Trump's coal council to drill down on advanced technology - Washington Examiner

Philip Hammond will put money into areas including electric cars and artificial intelligence to boost the growing sector

PHILIP Hammond is toset aside 500m for technology, innovation and robotics to help Britain compete after Brexit.

The Chancellor will use Wednesdays budget to give more money to fund research and development of electric vehicles, robotics and artificial intelligence.

PA:Press Association

He will use the cash to help British scientists and developers to compete with the rest of the world as the UK prepares to leave the European Union.

Ministers hope it will help to bring new jobs to the UK and attract foreign investment.

The money will include 270m for research and development for British business and universities.

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And 90m will be to fund 1,000 PhD places in science, technology and engineering.

200m will go towards fellowships for researchers, and 50m for programmes to attract global talent to Britain.

The Chancellor is also set to announce more investment in broadband including a hub to test 5G technology. The Government could offer incentives for super-fast broadband too to help local businesses take up new networks and upgrades.

Mr Hammond is also set to use Wednesdays budget to announce he will put away money to help protect the economy from any turbulence as a result of Brexit.

He told Andrew Marr on Sunday he wanted to make sure Britain has enough gas in the tank as the UK prepared to start Brexit talks later this month.

He went on: My job as chancellor is making sure our economy is resilient as we embark on the journey well be taking over the next couple of years confident that we have enough gas in the tank to see us through.

PA:Press Association

But he is also under pressure to give money to businesses to help offset the cliff edge of new business rates.

And campaigners are calling for more money to go into the struggling NHS and social care systems.

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Budget 2017: Chancellor to set aside 500million for technology, innovation and robotics to help Britain compete as ... - The Sun