From Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society
Here are the slides from the energy symposium at Sigma Xi’s Annual Meeting and International Research Conference. Clicking on the thumbnails will open presentations in pdf format.
Hans Püttgen: The Energy Challenges of the 21st Century.
Vernon Roan: Alternatives for Transportation Energy.
Christine Ehlig-Economides: Unexpected Difficulties with Geologic CO2 Storage.
contributed by:
Edward Rouse Pryor
gobbledyhaha (at) juno.com
772-468-4646
posted November 17, 2009
Summary: Just when public policy leadership has embraced as gospel the concept of man-induced atmospheric carbon dioxide as the cause of global warming, there is emerging evidence that CO2 and man have nothing to do with global warming or climate change. If the erroneous belief that atmospheric CO2 is responsible for global warming is incorporated into public policy legislation the unnecessary extra energy cost will be incalculable.
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J. A. Van Vechten, PureGeneration (UK) Ltd., Hillsboro, OR. email: javanvec (at) msn.com
posted November 10, 2009
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Abstract:
The overall problems for the energy-climate crisis are logistics and transportation (L&T), i.e., matching the locations, times, and amounts of supply to the location, times, and amounts of demand. The solution is to produce, at renewable and sustainable (R&S) source points, a chemical fuel that is practicable to collect, transport, store, and to distribute to demand regions. The most economic new R&S source now available is that of ideally located wind turbines. With current technology, electricity from wind turbines could be used to make enough ammonia-based fuel to relieve almost all our need for fossil fuel. In particular, this paper presents the fuel potential of guanidine, guanidine-urea alloys, and guanidine-alcohol solutions that could serve as carriers for ammonia or hydrogen. The potentials of ammonia and methanol are also discussed. If the hydrogen for any of these fuels is produced by electrolysis of saltwater, the resulting NaOH byproduct can remove CO2 from the atmosphere and allow for climate recovery. Meanwhile, the HCl byproduct can be used in local mining operations to produce valuable commodities, and/or it can be sequestered as chlorides. The sequestered chlorides, the carbonates, and the mined pits can be used to geoengineer hydroelectric facilities.
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We ran across this showy little interactive feature from Scientific American recently. It’s part of their ongoing coverage of energy issues, and goes along with their November cover story (which is available by subscription only.)
I’m very curious to hear what you all think of the feature. Has anybody accessed and read the full story? Is the online feature useful on its own? I know some of our white paper authors will take issue with the conclusions! In any case, comments are welcome!
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Saurabh H. Mehta, Centre for Energy Environment and Education (CEEE), India. email: smh048 (at) gmail.com
posted November 6, 2009
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Abstract: Worldwide growth of economy and population has caused an immense increase in demand for energy. Furthermore, energy prices have always been volatile. These trends are expected to continue and even worsen in coming years. These trends create both pressure and opportunities in the steel industry to seek new technologies for conservation, substitution of fuels, and ultimately the development of new steelmaking processes which are environmentally friendly. Such measures are intended to reduce the steel industry’s reliance on energy sources, as well as the volume of greenhouse gases it introduces to the environment. This paper discusses a technology to improve the energy efficiency of the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) in the steelmaking process by utilizing the heat of the waste gases from the EAF to generate steam that can be used in other applications within the steel plant.
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Dr. Solomon Zaromb, Zaromb Research Corp., Burr Ridge, IL 60527, email address: zarombs (at) cs.com
Dr. Joseph R. Stetter, Professor of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology
posted November 2, 2009
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Abstract: Aluminum as a safe and compact means of energy storage and hydrogen generation is obtainable immediately from presently unutilized waste and in future years from an emissions-free process. Salvageable aluminum waste should be highly advantageous for stationary power backups, for electric motor boats, and for economizing fuel by injecting hydrogen into the intake manifold of internal combustion engines, but there is not enough of it at present for powering a sufficient number of electric automobiles to seriously impact global warming. This paper is therefore restricted to the above three immediately realizable applications, keeping in mind that it should eventually be possible to produce enough inexpensive aluminum without adding CO2 to the atmosphere by restricting the power supplied to its production plants to carbon-free sources, sequestering plant emissions, and using an inert anode-wetted cathode process.
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Kevin DeGroat, Antares Group Incorporated (kdegroat (at) antares.org)
Joseph Morabito, Alcatel/Lucent (morabito (at) alcatel-lucent.com)
Terry Peterson, Solar Power Consultant (terry.peterson (at) mindspring.com)
Greg P. Smestad, Sigma Xi Member, Sol Ideas Technology Development & Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells Journal (smestad (at) solideas.com)
posted November 1, 2009
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Abstract: A Systems Analysis for the solar energy industry and solar R&D is presented to identify key positive reinforcements that can accelerate the adoption of solar technologies through a process of solar value creation. Such an analysis can also identify constraints that can decelerate solar technology adoption, as well as points of leverage where investment and R&D can have the most positive impact. The approach can also be useful for explaining solar energy to a wide range of decision makers and to the public. It emphasizes two major, related challenges in achieving widespread, rapid adoption of solar energy technologies in time to have a significant impact on global energy and environmental problems. The first concerns integration of solar-generated electricity with the electric grid and this is facilitated by a “Smart Grid” infrastructure. The second challenge involves the means to continue to drive down manufacturing and deployment costs for solar energy systems and to expand manufacturing capability in order to accelerate deployment of solar energy systems. This is closely tied to market supply chain transformation that considers each step in the technology’s manufacturing and installation. The Systems Analysis suggests that there are three high leverage points: research on Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS), Systems Dynamics Modeling, and a Solar Industry Supply Chain Consortium. Although such an analysis is now widely accepted in the telecommunications industry, it has yet to be applied to the solar industry until now.
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James C. Townsend, Ph.D., World Harmony Organization; Genei, Inc.; Sigma Xi; DrJCTown@cox.net
Francis C. W. Fung, Ph.D., World Harmony Organization; Genei, Inc.; francis@worldharmonyorg.net
posted October 29, 2009
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Abstract: This paper describes innovations which are aimed at “overcoming the implementation lag” in solar energy commercialization within the utility industry. Existing sustainable solar energy technologies have been shown to be “good enough” for electrical utility generation; however, to promote their widespread adoption, they must be made more economical than non-sustainable fossil-fuel generators. New advances in solar thermal concentration for generation by Stirling engine technology, perhaps combined with thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology, promise to reduce the cost of electrical power generation below that from natural gas powered generators. The solar concentrator is a large parabolic dish made up of a number of mirror panels, as in previous technology. The innovation is that the panels consist of many identical, interlocking, metallic flat-plate reflector elements. This construction provides many advantages. The recent advent of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology gives rise to a new “see-through” application — the combination of concentrator and PV technologies. This white paper discusses the possibilities and advantages to be gained through these innovations.
I’ve been compiling Sigma Xi’s Science in the News newsletters lately, and was struck by the fact that, in the last few days, there have been two articles about Native American objections to emerging sources of energy–in totally different parts of the country, and about totally different sources of energy.
On Sunday, the Washington Post covered the Indigenous Uranium Forum, which took place in New Mexico over the weekend. Attendees opposed renewed uranium mining for nuclear energy, recalling the health problems such mining caused to their communities in the past. Plus there are objections to mining on sacred land.
Over on the East Coast, two tribes are opposing Cape Wind, an offshore windfarm proposed for Nantucket Sound. They say the sound should be listed as a traditional cultural property on the National Register of Historic Places, and that desecrating the site with wind turbines would be detrimental to their spiritual well-being. The Boston Globe had that story.
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David W. Emerson, Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); Corresponding author
Jacimaria R. Batista, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UNLV
Samir F. Moujaes, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UNLV
Thomas A. Nartker, School of Computer Science, UNLV
Spencer M. Steinberg, Department of Chemistry, UNLV
Posted October 23, 2009
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Abstract: Autoclaving (pressure cooking) municipal solid waste (MSW), and sieving the sterile product produces separable organic material, a substantial fraction of the original waste. This fraction contains most of the biodegradable material in MSW and can be treated to produce ethanol, a methane-rich gas, and other valuable components. The biodegradable material need not be put in a landfill but can be processed to make fuels such as ethanol and methane. This reduces release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from a landfill. After removing missed recyclables, on average 40% of the original waste, landfill diversion can be increased from 20% up to 80% in volume. The remaining waste, now mainly free of gas producing material, can be put in a landfill, thus reducing hauling costs and extending the lifetime of the landfill. Research on many aspects of this treatment protocol is needed to estimate the economic potential.
