The document discusses the possibility of creating a spring-powered car. It notes that while spring-powered toys were common, using springs to power a vehicle faces challenges around energy density. However, springs could potentially work on the moon or Mars where gravity is lower. The document proposes designing a car powered almost exclusively by springs, using modern watchmaking materials and technologies, as a truly green alternative to gasoline or electric cars.
The Road To Change: Electric Vehicles Power the Future for Everyone Rick Borry
What is the future of electric vehicles (EV) in our gasoline-powered economy? With oil prices plummeting, is there still a growing market for EV? These are just two of the questions that will addressed in this interesting and thought-provoking webinar.
Participants will also learn:
•How new battery technologies coupled with innovations in the electric motor will drive growth in EV markets.
•How solar power can play an important role in powering personal transportation.
•What it will take for EV to create true energy diversity in an established transportation industry.
The world has just witnessed the convergence of personal communication and personal computing, with over seven billion smartphones placed into service over the last eight years.
Attendees of this live webinar will hear from thought-leaders Mark Victor Hansen and Michael Gorton their vision of a not-too-distant future where electric vehicles supplant internal combustion engines in many applications as personal transportation converges with electronics and the power grid.
The document discusses alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) as a way to decrease dependence on fossil fuels for transportation. It describes electric vehicles (EVs) which are powered solely by lithium-ion batteries, as well as solar-battery vehicles which harness energy from the sun but currently cannot power a standard car. The document also mentions compressed air vehicles (CAVs) which use compressed air instead of explosions to power pistons, but have limitations such as long recharging times and issues in cold environments. Overall, the document presents EVs as the most feasible replacement for combustion engine vehicles currently and discusses various AFV technologies and their challenges.
This document discusses solar energy, including what it is, its various applications, and the pros and cons of using it. Some key points:
- Solar energy is the radiation from the sun that can produce heat, chemical reactions, or generate electricity. It is a renewable and non-polluting energy source.
- Solar energy can be converted into thermal or electrical energy using various technologies like solar panels, concentrating collectors, photovoltaics, and concentrated solar power.
- Applications of solar energy include power generation, heating, lighting, cooking, drying, water treatment, agriculture, and more.
- Pros are that it is renewable, produces no pollution, and can power remote areas. Cons include the initial high cost
This document summarizes a student's school project to build a homemade robot out of recycled materials to teach about recycling and sustainability. The student outlines steps to make a basic electric car, including cutting bottles to form a body and axles, adding wheels from straws and caps, attaching a motor and battery. While the student was unable to complete the robot, they learned that recycled materials can be used for educational toys and reducing waste. The document provides resources on building simple electric vehicles and their working principles to encourage reuse and recycling.
Solar power is energy from the sun that is harnessed and converted into thermal or electrical energy. It can be converted into thermal energy to heat homes, buildings, and water or converted into electricity through photovoltaic cells or concentrating solar power plants. The three main types of concentrating solar power plants are parabolic trough systems, solar dish systems, and solar power tower systems, which use mirrors to focus sunlight to heat a fluid and drive electricity-generating turbines. Solar power provides a renewable energy source without air pollution and can be implemented on various scales.
Renewable energy can be generated continuously practically without decay of sources.
Example: Solar energy, Wind energy, Hydro energy. Non renewable energy is that comes from the ground and is not replaced in a relative short amount of time.
Example: Combustion of fossil fuel, coal, etc.
A solar panel is made up of interconnected solar photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity. Each module contains solar cells and can produce around 100-320 watts of power. Multiple modules are typically used in solar installations to provide more power. A solar panel system may also include inverters, batteries, and solar trackers.
The Road To Change: Electric Vehicles Power the Future for Everyone Rick Borry
What is the future of electric vehicles (EV) in our gasoline-powered economy? With oil prices plummeting, is there still a growing market for EV? These are just two of the questions that will addressed in this interesting and thought-provoking webinar.
Participants will also learn:
•How new battery technologies coupled with innovations in the electric motor will drive growth in EV markets.
•How solar power can play an important role in powering personal transportation.
•What it will take for EV to create true energy diversity in an established transportation industry.
The world has just witnessed the convergence of personal communication and personal computing, with over seven billion smartphones placed into service over the last eight years.
Attendees of this live webinar will hear from thought-leaders Mark Victor Hansen and Michael Gorton their vision of a not-too-distant future where electric vehicles supplant internal combustion engines in many applications as personal transportation converges with electronics and the power grid.
The document discusses alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) as a way to decrease dependence on fossil fuels for transportation. It describes electric vehicles (EVs) which are powered solely by lithium-ion batteries, as well as solar-battery vehicles which harness energy from the sun but currently cannot power a standard car. The document also mentions compressed air vehicles (CAVs) which use compressed air instead of explosions to power pistons, but have limitations such as long recharging times and issues in cold environments. Overall, the document presents EVs as the most feasible replacement for combustion engine vehicles currently and discusses various AFV technologies and their challenges.
This document discusses solar energy, including what it is, its various applications, and the pros and cons of using it. Some key points:
- Solar energy is the radiation from the sun that can produce heat, chemical reactions, or generate electricity. It is a renewable and non-polluting energy source.
- Solar energy can be converted into thermal or electrical energy using various technologies like solar panels, concentrating collectors, photovoltaics, and concentrated solar power.
- Applications of solar energy include power generation, heating, lighting, cooking, drying, water treatment, agriculture, and more.
- Pros are that it is renewable, produces no pollution, and can power remote areas. Cons include the initial high cost
This document summarizes a student's school project to build a homemade robot out of recycled materials to teach about recycling and sustainability. The student outlines steps to make a basic electric car, including cutting bottles to form a body and axles, adding wheels from straws and caps, attaching a motor and battery. While the student was unable to complete the robot, they learned that recycled materials can be used for educational toys and reducing waste. The document provides resources on building simple electric vehicles and their working principles to encourage reuse and recycling.
Solar power is energy from the sun that is harnessed and converted into thermal or electrical energy. It can be converted into thermal energy to heat homes, buildings, and water or converted into electricity through photovoltaic cells or concentrating solar power plants. The three main types of concentrating solar power plants are parabolic trough systems, solar dish systems, and solar power tower systems, which use mirrors to focus sunlight to heat a fluid and drive electricity-generating turbines. Solar power provides a renewable energy source without air pollution and can be implemented on various scales.
Renewable energy can be generated continuously practically without decay of sources.
Example: Solar energy, Wind energy, Hydro energy. Non renewable energy is that comes from the ground and is not replaced in a relative short amount of time.
Example: Combustion of fossil fuel, coal, etc.
A solar panel is made up of interconnected solar photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity. Each module contains solar cells and can produce around 100-320 watts of power. Multiple modules are typically used in solar installations to provide more power. A solar panel system may also include inverters, batteries, and solar trackers.
Kaushik Kishore submitted a seminar report on solar power towers. The report provides details on how solar power towers work, including focusing sunlight with heliostats onto a tower-mounted receiver to heat a working fluid like oil or molten salt. The heated fluid is then used to generate steam and power a turbine generator. Key advantages are the ability to store thermal energy for nighttime or cloudy conditions and generate electricity without emissions. Large solar power towers could provide 200MW of power but require significant land area and precise engineering for the tall tower structure.
Solar energy is a renewable source of energy derived from the sun. It is clean, renewable, and produces no pollution or greenhouse gases. A solar energy system converts sunlight into electricity or uses it to heat water. Key benefits are that it provides an unlimited, free source of energy and reduces environmental impacts and costs compared to fossil fuels over the long term. However, high initial installation costs are the main disadvantage.
Solar towers generate electricity from sunlight by using an array of mirrors called heliostats to concentrate solar radiation onto a receiver at the top of a tower. There are two main types of solar towers: steam-based systems that use water as a heat transfer medium, and molten salt-based systems that use a molten salt mixture. Molten salt systems can store heat for hours after sunset, allowing electricity generation to continue. India is well-suited for solar towers due to its location along the Tropic of Cancer and availability of land, sunlight, and raw materials. A proposed molten salt solar tower in Gujarat could harness the region's abundant solar energy.
Here, is the first presentation on slideshare on how to make a working model of a hydroelectric and solar power plant and present your model through the presentation. It will provide you enough information on the model when you are going to present it from school. It will prove to be very helpful for your science projects.
If You Like the presentation Please subscribe and share it.
Thank you
NIKHIL MEHTA
The document provides an introduction to solar energy, including:
- The sun produces enormous amounts of energy that can be harnessed using solar panels to generate electricity. On average, every square meter of the Earth's surface receives 164 watts of solar energy from the sun.
- Solar energy refers to the energy from the sun, which has produced energy for billions of years and is a renewable source of energy unlike fossil fuels. It is one of the cleanest sources of energy since it does not produce pollutants.
- Solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells, are electronic devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity and are used in solar modules and panels to harness solar energy for applications like powering homes
This power point presentation summarizes information about solar energy. It defines solar power as the conversion of sunlight into electricity using photovoltaics or concentrated solar power. Solar power is highlighted as the best renewable resource. The presentation explains how solar panels work by converting light to electricity using solar cells in arrays. It discusses India's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission to promote solar power and provides statistics on installed solar capacity by state. The advantages and applications of solar energy are outlined. Finally, it notes milestones such as the world's first 100% solar airport in India and solar parks in Gujarat and California.
A solar vehicle is powered by solar energy, usually through photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight directly into electric energy. Solar vehicles include solar cars for races, as well as experimental electric vehicles, boats, aircraft and spacecraft that use solar power. While not yet practical as everyday transportation, solar vehicles demonstrate solar energy technologies and their applications may expand in the future as costs come down and efficiencies increase. Challenges for solar vehicles include their limited range without sunlight and high production costs compared to gasoline vehicles.
1. Solar power can be harnessed through two main methods - photovoltaic devices and solar thermal electric power plants.
2. Photovoltaic devices directly convert sunlight into electricity using solar cells, while solar thermal plants indirectly generate electricity from the sun through concentrating solar power technologies like solar power towers and parabolic troughs.
3. Both photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies can be used for residential, commercial, and large-scale power production and have applications for powering devices, heating water, and cooling buildings.
A solar power plant is based on the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses, mirrors, and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect. The largest photovoltaic power plant in the world was the 354 MW Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) CSP installation located in the Mojave Desert, California. But now the largest is in india, India owns world's largest solar power plant - Believe it or not | The Economic ... Other large CSP plants include the 250 MW Agua Caliente Solar Project in Arizona, the Solnova Solar Power Station (150 MW, 250 MW when finished) and the Andasol solar power station (150 MW), both in Spain.
Concentrated solar power plants first appeared in the 1980s. Solar power is increasingly used.
This document discusses solar power resources and projects in Pakistan. It provides information on group members and their roles for a geography project. It then discusses the locations of solar power resources in Pakistan, including maps. Advantages and disadvantages of solar power are outlined. Finally, future solar projects in Pakistan are described, including specific projects in Islamabad, Punjab, and Sindh. Government policies supporting solar power development are also mentioned.
Wind power plants harness the power of wind to generate electricity. They work by using wind turbine blades to capture the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into rotational energy to spin a shaft. This shaft spins a generator to produce electricity. India has over 19,000 MW of installed wind power capacity as of 2013, the fifth largest in the world. The state of Tamil Nadu generates the most wind power in India. Wind power is a renewable and clean energy source but suffers from intermittent availability due to fluctuating wind speeds.
The NSIT Solar Car Team aims to represent India in international solar car races with its third vehicle. It will enter the World Solar Challenge and American Solar Challenge. The team previously competed with two vehicles, Advay 1 and Advay 2, securing podium positions. A solar car utilizes solar panels to collect energy, batteries to store it, and motors powered by a motor controller to propel the car. The team will design its third vehicle using CAD software and simulate it before beginning manufacturing.
The document discusses 5 mind-blowing facts about solar energy:
1) The amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth each year is equivalent to approximately 3,850,000 exajoules, which is over 40,000 times the total energy consumption in the United States and 8,000 times the total energy consumption worldwide.
2) Solar power is certainly greener than conventional energy sources like fossil fuels and coal that produce harmful emissions.
3) NASA has been working on solar-powered aircraft since the 1980s, resulting in prototypes like Pathfinder, Pathfinder Plus, and Helios that can achieve long duration high-altitude flights.
4) Though nuclear power relies on fission and fusion,
Solar power is becoming increasingly popular and viable in Sacramento, CA due to the consistent sunshine. The document explains how solar energy works, from installing solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity, to storing excess energy in batteries or selling it back to the grid to have power even when the sun isn't shining. Installing a solar power system is now a common and smart investment for homes in Sacramento as the technology improves and the area is well-suited to solar energy.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is an energy technology that uses the temperature differences between deep and shallow ocean water to produce electricity. It was first proposed in 1881 and a plant was built in Cuba in 1930. There are two types of OTEC plants - land-based and floating. OTEC can provide clean, renewable energy as well as fresh water and opportunities for aquaculture. While high initial costs is a challenge, OTEC has potential as an alternative energy source that does not produce pollution.
This document provides an overview of solar energy technology presented by Vanita Thakkar. It discusses the limitations of conventional energy sources and why solar energy is an important alternative. It then describes different types of solar energy utilization including direct conversion technologies like photovoltaics and solar thermal conversion systems. Photovoltaics convert sunlight directly into electricity using solar cells while solar thermal systems use collectors to convert sunlight into heat for applications such as water heating. Flat plate collectors and concentrating collectors are also discussed. The document provides details on various solar thermal power plants and technologies.
The document discusses solar power towers, which use an array of flat, movable mirrors called heliostats to focus sunlight on a central collector tower. The concentrated sunlight heats a fluid in the tower that is used to generate steam and power a turbine, producing electricity. Several early solar power tower projects from the 1980s-1990s are described that varied in size from 0.5-10 MW and used different heat transfer fluids and storage media. The technology has advantages of being easy to operate, environmentally friendly, and having falling costs as renewable energy.
Raj Vachhani's document discusses solar power plants. It describes two main methods of solar power generation: photovoltaic and concentrated solar power. Photovoltaic uses solar cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity, while concentrated solar power uses mirrors to focus sunlight and heat a liquid to create steam to power turbines. The document also outlines the basic components of solar power systems, including solar panels, batteries, controllers, and inverters. It discusses the working principles and applications of solar energy generation.
This document discusses fuel-less engines that draw energy from the environment rather than burning fuel. It provides examples of how sailing boats, hydroelectric power, and windmills get their power from the sun without directly burning a fuel. It then describes several engine designs that operate using compressed air, including ones from Bob Neal, Scott Robertson, and Leroy Rogers. These engines recharge the compressed air supply using heat from the surrounding air and without directly burning a fuel.
- Electric and hybrid vehicles are often seen as environmentally friendly, but there are many issues with them beyond just the vehicles themselves.
- The production of the batteries used in these vehicles is complex, environmentally damaging, and energy intensive. It involves mining scarce materials, shipping components around the world, and producing radioactive waste.
- When the batteries reach the end of their lifespan after only a few years, there are few options for safe recycling and most must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
- Considering the full lifecycle from production to disposal, electric vehicles may not be as green as advertised and individual transportation may not be the most sustainable option overall.
Kaushik Kishore submitted a seminar report on solar power towers. The report provides details on how solar power towers work, including focusing sunlight with heliostats onto a tower-mounted receiver to heat a working fluid like oil or molten salt. The heated fluid is then used to generate steam and power a turbine generator. Key advantages are the ability to store thermal energy for nighttime or cloudy conditions and generate electricity without emissions. Large solar power towers could provide 200MW of power but require significant land area and precise engineering for the tall tower structure.
Solar energy is a renewable source of energy derived from the sun. It is clean, renewable, and produces no pollution or greenhouse gases. A solar energy system converts sunlight into electricity or uses it to heat water. Key benefits are that it provides an unlimited, free source of energy and reduces environmental impacts and costs compared to fossil fuels over the long term. However, high initial installation costs are the main disadvantage.
Solar towers generate electricity from sunlight by using an array of mirrors called heliostats to concentrate solar radiation onto a receiver at the top of a tower. There are two main types of solar towers: steam-based systems that use water as a heat transfer medium, and molten salt-based systems that use a molten salt mixture. Molten salt systems can store heat for hours after sunset, allowing electricity generation to continue. India is well-suited for solar towers due to its location along the Tropic of Cancer and availability of land, sunlight, and raw materials. A proposed molten salt solar tower in Gujarat could harness the region's abundant solar energy.
Here, is the first presentation on slideshare on how to make a working model of a hydroelectric and solar power plant and present your model through the presentation. It will provide you enough information on the model when you are going to present it from school. It will prove to be very helpful for your science projects.
If You Like the presentation Please subscribe and share it.
Thank you
NIKHIL MEHTA
The document provides an introduction to solar energy, including:
- The sun produces enormous amounts of energy that can be harnessed using solar panels to generate electricity. On average, every square meter of the Earth's surface receives 164 watts of solar energy from the sun.
- Solar energy refers to the energy from the sun, which has produced energy for billions of years and is a renewable source of energy unlike fossil fuels. It is one of the cleanest sources of energy since it does not produce pollutants.
- Solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells, are electronic devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity and are used in solar modules and panels to harness solar energy for applications like powering homes
This power point presentation summarizes information about solar energy. It defines solar power as the conversion of sunlight into electricity using photovoltaics or concentrated solar power. Solar power is highlighted as the best renewable resource. The presentation explains how solar panels work by converting light to electricity using solar cells in arrays. It discusses India's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission to promote solar power and provides statistics on installed solar capacity by state. The advantages and applications of solar energy are outlined. Finally, it notes milestones such as the world's first 100% solar airport in India and solar parks in Gujarat and California.
A solar vehicle is powered by solar energy, usually through photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight directly into electric energy. Solar vehicles include solar cars for races, as well as experimental electric vehicles, boats, aircraft and spacecraft that use solar power. While not yet practical as everyday transportation, solar vehicles demonstrate solar energy technologies and their applications may expand in the future as costs come down and efficiencies increase. Challenges for solar vehicles include their limited range without sunlight and high production costs compared to gasoline vehicles.
1. Solar power can be harnessed through two main methods - photovoltaic devices and solar thermal electric power plants.
2. Photovoltaic devices directly convert sunlight into electricity using solar cells, while solar thermal plants indirectly generate electricity from the sun through concentrating solar power technologies like solar power towers and parabolic troughs.
3. Both photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies can be used for residential, commercial, and large-scale power production and have applications for powering devices, heating water, and cooling buildings.
A solar power plant is based on the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses, mirrors, and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect. The largest photovoltaic power plant in the world was the 354 MW Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) CSP installation located in the Mojave Desert, California. But now the largest is in india, India owns world's largest solar power plant - Believe it or not | The Economic ... Other large CSP plants include the 250 MW Agua Caliente Solar Project in Arizona, the Solnova Solar Power Station (150 MW, 250 MW when finished) and the Andasol solar power station (150 MW), both in Spain.
Concentrated solar power plants first appeared in the 1980s. Solar power is increasingly used.
This document discusses solar power resources and projects in Pakistan. It provides information on group members and their roles for a geography project. It then discusses the locations of solar power resources in Pakistan, including maps. Advantages and disadvantages of solar power are outlined. Finally, future solar projects in Pakistan are described, including specific projects in Islamabad, Punjab, and Sindh. Government policies supporting solar power development are also mentioned.
Wind power plants harness the power of wind to generate electricity. They work by using wind turbine blades to capture the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into rotational energy to spin a shaft. This shaft spins a generator to produce electricity. India has over 19,000 MW of installed wind power capacity as of 2013, the fifth largest in the world. The state of Tamil Nadu generates the most wind power in India. Wind power is a renewable and clean energy source but suffers from intermittent availability due to fluctuating wind speeds.
The NSIT Solar Car Team aims to represent India in international solar car races with its third vehicle. It will enter the World Solar Challenge and American Solar Challenge. The team previously competed with two vehicles, Advay 1 and Advay 2, securing podium positions. A solar car utilizes solar panels to collect energy, batteries to store it, and motors powered by a motor controller to propel the car. The team will design its third vehicle using CAD software and simulate it before beginning manufacturing.
The document discusses 5 mind-blowing facts about solar energy:
1) The amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth each year is equivalent to approximately 3,850,000 exajoules, which is over 40,000 times the total energy consumption in the United States and 8,000 times the total energy consumption worldwide.
2) Solar power is certainly greener than conventional energy sources like fossil fuels and coal that produce harmful emissions.
3) NASA has been working on solar-powered aircraft since the 1980s, resulting in prototypes like Pathfinder, Pathfinder Plus, and Helios that can achieve long duration high-altitude flights.
4) Though nuclear power relies on fission and fusion,
Solar power is becoming increasingly popular and viable in Sacramento, CA due to the consistent sunshine. The document explains how solar energy works, from installing solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity, to storing excess energy in batteries or selling it back to the grid to have power even when the sun isn't shining. Installing a solar power system is now a common and smart investment for homes in Sacramento as the technology improves and the area is well-suited to solar energy.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is an energy technology that uses the temperature differences between deep and shallow ocean water to produce electricity. It was first proposed in 1881 and a plant was built in Cuba in 1930. There are two types of OTEC plants - land-based and floating. OTEC can provide clean, renewable energy as well as fresh water and opportunities for aquaculture. While high initial costs is a challenge, OTEC has potential as an alternative energy source that does not produce pollution.
This document provides an overview of solar energy technology presented by Vanita Thakkar. It discusses the limitations of conventional energy sources and why solar energy is an important alternative. It then describes different types of solar energy utilization including direct conversion technologies like photovoltaics and solar thermal conversion systems. Photovoltaics convert sunlight directly into electricity using solar cells while solar thermal systems use collectors to convert sunlight into heat for applications such as water heating. Flat plate collectors and concentrating collectors are also discussed. The document provides details on various solar thermal power plants and technologies.
The document discusses solar power towers, which use an array of flat, movable mirrors called heliostats to focus sunlight on a central collector tower. The concentrated sunlight heats a fluid in the tower that is used to generate steam and power a turbine, producing electricity. Several early solar power tower projects from the 1980s-1990s are described that varied in size from 0.5-10 MW and used different heat transfer fluids and storage media. The technology has advantages of being easy to operate, environmentally friendly, and having falling costs as renewable energy.
Raj Vachhani's document discusses solar power plants. It describes two main methods of solar power generation: photovoltaic and concentrated solar power. Photovoltaic uses solar cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity, while concentrated solar power uses mirrors to focus sunlight and heat a liquid to create steam to power turbines. The document also outlines the basic components of solar power systems, including solar panels, batteries, controllers, and inverters. It discusses the working principles and applications of solar energy generation.
This document discusses fuel-less engines that draw energy from the environment rather than burning fuel. It provides examples of how sailing boats, hydroelectric power, and windmills get their power from the sun without directly burning a fuel. It then describes several engine designs that operate using compressed air, including ones from Bob Neal, Scott Robertson, and Leroy Rogers. These engines recharge the compressed air supply using heat from the surrounding air and without directly burning a fuel.
- Electric and hybrid vehicles are often seen as environmentally friendly, but there are many issues with them beyond just the vehicles themselves.
- The production of the batteries used in these vehicles is complex, environmentally damaging, and energy intensive. It involves mining scarce materials, shipping components around the world, and producing radioactive waste.
- When the batteries reach the end of their lifespan after only a few years, there are few options for safe recycling and most must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
- Considering the full lifecycle from production to disposal, electric vehicles may not be as green as advertised and individual transportation may not be the most sustainable option overall.
This presentation is about the advances in Renewable Resources of energy. This includes the innovations in the field of Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Water Energy and Success Stories and Ongoing work worldwide. This is what I call a Technovation.
The document discusses alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) as a way to decrease dependence on fossil fuels for transportation. It describes electric vehicles (EVs) which are powered solely by lithium-ion batteries, as well as solar-battery vehicles which harness energy from the sun but currently cannot power a standard car. The document also mentions compressed air vehicles (CAVs) which use compressed air instead of explosions to power pistons, but have limitations such as long recharging times and issues in cold environments. The overall message is that AFVs like EVs present solutions for cleaner transportation if the technologies can be further advanced.
How tesla battery storage compares with rivals on prices renew economymartinchem
The document compares the pricing of Tesla's Powerwall and Powerblock battery storage systems to competing products from Aquion Energy, Iron Edison, Eos Aurora, and Imergy. It provides assumptions and calculates the cost per usable kWh over the lifetime of the products for residential and utility-scale applications. For residential batteries, the Powerwall has among the lowest costs per kWh, though it depends on individual electricity rates and solar incentives. For utility-scale, the analysis models multiple scenarios for Imergy's flow batteries and finds Tesla and Eos Aurora have competitive pricing.
This document discusses the history and types of batteries. It begins with defining batteries and describing their invention by Volta in 1800. It then discusses the increasing demand for batteries to power electronics and electric vehicles. The document outlines several recent advances in batteries, including sodium-ion and solid-state designs that improve safety. It concludes that continued research in nanoscience and new materials could enable breakthroughs in sustainable battery technologies.
This is why 5 new battery technologies that can change everythingMdAwalAli
Batteries are omnipresent in today's hyper-connected, electrically powered society. I guess the battery to power the device you're now watching this video. Have you a low battery status? What if you could travel 1000 kilometers, load 10 minutes and last 1 million miles on a single charge? We have worked with a team of specialists in this film to evaluate via current battery research, the most promising new options based on performance, practicality, and economics. We waited till after Tesla's battery day for this film so that we could take their ads into consideration and capture the greatest picture of the present battery landscape.
This document discusses several alternative and futuristic energy sources. It begins by defining alternative energy as energy sources that can replace traditional fossil fuels and have low environmental impact. The document then explores why alternative energy is the author's passion due to always being fascinated by futuristic energy solutions. It notes that alternative energy is needed because fossil fuels will run out and cause environmental damage. The rest of the document summarizes several potential alternative energy sources including algae biofuel, hydrogen fusion, fuel cells, and pelletier generators. It also proposes ideas to improve wind turbines and safely burn fossil fuels.
Fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen without combustion or pollution, producing only water and heat. They have the potential to power vehicles cleanly and efficiently. Key challenges include reducing the size, weight, and cost of fuel cell systems while improving durability, reliability, and the ability to process hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen. Researchers are working to address these issues and apply fuel cell technology to transportation.
Thane Heins had an idea in the 1980s about increasing motor efficiency by retarding counter-EMF but was dismissed by his professor. He experimented in his basement in the 2000s and discovered his "Regenerative Acceleration" technology can increase motor output up to 200% by storing magnetic energy from flywheel magnets and releasing it to boost acceleration. The author witnessed a demonstration showing an electric vehicle that gained charge and speed without drawing additional power, challenging conventional understanding of physics but explained by latent energy storage in rare earth magnets. While not creating unlimited free energy, it can extend vehicle range and boost other generator and motor outputs.
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The document discusses various forms of solar energy that can be harnessed for power and heating, including solar collectors, solar hot water, active solar space heating, and photovoltaics. It explains how solar collectors work to absorb the sun's energy and transfer it to water or air. Solar hot water systems are highlighted as being more affordable and efficient for homes compared to photovoltaic panels. Both active and passive solar hot water systems are described.
This document discusses different types of electric vehicles, including cars, motorbikes, aircraft, buses, and ships. It notes the advantages of electric vehicles as producing no pollutant emissions and having fewer mechanical parts requiring maintenance compared to gas vehicles. However, it also lists disadvantages such as limited driving range before recharging, long recharging times, high upfront costs, and low power output. Specific electric car models from Renault and Nissan are mentioned. The document also discusses an electric solar-powered ship in Guadalest, Spain that can run indefinitely using solar energy and for over 150 hours without sunlight.
The document discusses liquid electricity in the form of a vanadium redox battery (VRB). A VRB works by pumping charged and discharged electrolytes into and out of the battery, allowing it to be "recharged" quickly by just swapping the electrolytes. This could enable electric vehicles to refuel similar to gas vehicles by exchanging the spent electrolyte for a fresh one. Researchers are working to improve the technology and reduce costs to facilitate using liquid electricity for electric vehicle transportation and grid storage applications.
A fuel cell generates electricity through chemical reactions between a fuel and oxidant such as hydrogen and oxygen. It consists of an anode, cathode, and electrolyte sandwiched together. Fuel cells have many applications but require further technical developments to be economically viable at a wide commercial scale. Key challenges include reducing costs, improving water and temperature management within the cell, and increasing durability and tolerance to fuel impurities. Overcoming these issues could enable fuel cells to be practical for transportation and distributed power generation.
Sink Float Solutions is a European company created in 2014 to develop a new energy storage system called OGRES to address the intermittency of renewable energies at a lower cost. OGRES uses concrete weights on barges in the ocean that can be raised and lowered to store potential energy, acting like a battery. This technology is 5-20 times cheaper than conventional storage options. It is ready for demonstration and aims to accelerate the energy transition by making renewable energy mixes cost competitive without using the public grid.
Ocean Gravitational Energy Storage (OGRES) from Sink Float Solutions:
Reducing the cost of energy storage to make competitive energy mixes 100% renewable without CO2 emissions.
Similar to Project-clockwork-car-wind-up-car-eng (20)
Understanding Catalytic Converter Theft:
What is a Catalytic Converter?: Learn about the function of catalytic converters in vehicles and why they are targeted by thieves.
Why are They Stolen?: Discover the valuable metals inside catalytic converters (such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium) that make them attractive to criminals.
Steps to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft:
Parking Strategies: Tips on where and how to park your vehicle to reduce the risk of theft, such as parking in well-lit areas or secure garages.
Protective Devices: Overview of various anti-theft devices available, including catalytic converter locks, shields, and alarms.
Etching and Marking: The benefits of etching your vehicle’s VIN on the catalytic converter or using a catalytic converter marking kit to make it traceable and less appealing to thieves.
Surveillance and Monitoring: Recommendations for using security cameras and motion-sensor lights to deter thieves.
Statistics and Insights:
Theft Rates by Borough: Analysis of data to determine which borough in NYC experiences the highest rate of catalytic converter thefts.
Recent Trends: Current trends and patterns in catalytic converter thefts to help you stay aware of emerging hotspots and tactics used by thieves.
Benefits of This Presentation:
Awareness: Increase your awareness about catalytic converter theft and its impact on vehicle owners.
Practical Tips: Gain actionable insights and tips to effectively prevent catalytic converter theft.
Local Insights: Understand the specific risks in different NYC boroughs, helping you take targeted preventive measures.
This presentation aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to protect your vehicle from catalytic converter theft, ensuring you are prepared and proactive in safeguarding your property.
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Ensure your Mini Cooper stays cool and comfortable with our top-quality AC service. Our expert technicians provide comprehensive maintenance, repairs, and performance optimization, guaranteeing reliable cooling and peak efficiency. Trust us for quick, professional service that keeps your Mini Cooper's air conditioning system in top condition, ensuring a pleasant driving experience year-round.
Real-time driver monitoring is one of the easiest ways to make fleet management efficient as well as seamless. Connected vehicle solutions such as fleet GPS trackers and associated software help businesses in several ways. Refer to the post below for more details.
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Expanding Access to Affordable At-Home EV Charging by Vanessa Warheit
Project-clockwork-car-wind-up-car-eng
1. THAT'S ENOUGH! I WANT A SPRING CAR...
by Matteo Bortolotto
After the resounding flop of Tesla
Battery Day (at least as far as the stock
market is concerned), it is clear that
the world of electric cars is still very
hazy and far from being that
technological paradise that should
free us once and for all from the
"dinosaurs" bursting engines, just as
the likes of Elon Musk have tried to sell
us to this day.
The fact is that, many automakers, have prepared medium or long-term electrification plans, with
the intention of making Full-Electric vehicles and/or hybrid versions; but despite efforts to do so,
and the capital invested, no solid-state battery, or lithium-air, or lithium-sulfur, or zinc-air or
aluminum-air has still reached a degree of refinement that allows for large-scale production.
So, the dear old liter of gasoline, with its 34.6 Mega Joules of fully available chemical energy, still
dominates it (at least until we can handle hydrogen in the same way).
34.6 Mega Joule, however, remains a very high energy value, corresponding to 9.6 kWh (34.560.000
Nm.). Try to imagine what kind of cell would come out of it if we wanted to put that amount of
energy into a battery intended to power an electric car...
Unfortunately, the best petrol engines arrive at a maximum thermal yield of 40% (50% those of F1),
while electric motors are much more efficient at converting energy into motion, due to their
simplicity of construction. Therefore, a car travelling 16 km with a liter of petrol will consume
approximately 600 Wh per kilometer, compared to 140–160 Wh per km in the same conditions as
an electric car.
This means that with the equivalent of a liter of gasoline, an electric car will travel from 60 to 70 km
only thanks to the higher performance of its engine. However, this will have a "tank", much heavier
than the petrol car, so much of its energy will be absorbed by its mass.
Then we drop a pitiful veil on hybrid cars, which add up components of both technology for an even
higher overall weight. These vehicles, as well as the Full-Electric vehicles, also use a regenerative
braking system to recover some of the energy that is normally wasted in the form of heat in
conventional braking systems.
However, the data indicate that most hybrid-electric regenerative braking systems operate with less
than 50% efficiency when kinetic energy is converted into electricity, and then re-entered into the
vehicle's propulsion.
Not to mention the price of batteries, which last an average of between eight and ten years and are
extremely expensive to replace. The devices are assembled in specialized companies because for
safety reasons, the devices must be virtually perfect, so as to reduce as much as possible the risks
of fire or explosion related to the presence of a liquid component inside the battery pack.
To implement the highest possible degree of safety, the battery pack is then treated with a special
retardant, in order to limit overheating problems. The entire module, closed by an automatically
2. sealed plate, must then be airtight, i.e. water-proof and dust-proof, as required by the IP67
certification.
For the same reason, the production facilities of the devices have a high degree of automation, as
they use numerous automated devices dedicated to the assembly and storage of batteries... Put
simply, too many complications!
In addition to all this, to establish exactly the true environmental impact of an endothermic or
electric vehicle, you then have to calculate how you get the energy, both to produce the fuel and to
charge the batteries, since refineries and fossil fuel plants make a green or hybrid medium, on the
whole, much worse for our health than you want to give to.
So, what about a spring car?
The idea is certainly not new, since as usual "HE" had already theorized it five centuries ago in the
812r sheet of its Atlantic Code, as can be seen here:
Now the question arises, that is, if "HE" succeeded in 1478 why can't we try it too, given the technical
evolution that in the meantime materials and technological processes have undergone over the
centuries?
3. The engineers will surely tell you that the energy density possessed by the springs currently on the
market, is still too low compared to the chemical contained in traditional fossil fuels or in the last
generations of lithium-ion batteries for self-traction...
I myself tried to ask that question on Quora without success...
However, a hypothetical automatic spring car, it would end in itself point and that's it!
It would not need refueling or processing plants, let alone distribution. Its bill of materials would
also be much simpler compared to that of a conventional or hybrid car, with substantial economic
savings.
A spring car theoretically would not need any thruster, which would already be a nice step forward
in terms of weight, but it still needs an even larger "tank" given the lower energy density it is able
to accumulate.
Its large limit is largely due to the law of the square cube.
It, in a very simple explanation states that, the surface area of any element increases by the square,
while its volume (i.e. weight and mass) increase in the cube.
So, the ability to store energy in a spring will decrease as it grows, because the mass of the springs
increases faster than their energy density, which depends in part on their surface area.
The larger they are, the less efficient they become, and exceeding their mass will eventually absorb
almost all of the stored energy.
(For more information, read: Here )
Okay, all true for goodness' sake, but what if we were on the Moon or Mars where gravity is
significantly lower?
Zero petrol pumps or electric charging columns... limited oxygen to the use of cylinders to be able
to breathe (which translates means limited journeys to a few kilometers for humans).
In such a context, the spring car could certainly make sense, as it would weigh significantly less than
the energy it could develop.
That's why, the thought of being able to make a spring car according to the most current criteria of
modern watchmaking, looks damn green here on Earth, as useful for future space missions.
Personally, I find it really strange that the refined mechanisms and materials developed for the latest
generation watches, by the Swiss Haute Horlogerie, and the constant research carried out by this at
such high levels, have not yet been poured into the automotive world.
Such engineering "laziness" is truly disconcerting, since it could be solved at least in part of today's
serious ecological and energy problems instead of simply keeping it on your wrist.
The mere fact that after five centuries we have been able to replicate Leonardo da Vinci's spring car
project gives me a lot to think about...
Someone tried to carry on as reported in this old patent of 1892:
Link
someone else in later eras by trying their hand at different paths:
Read article 00
Read article 01 Read article 02
Read article 03 Read article 04
4. In short, there are a lot of discussions out there on this issue, but very few notable projects... carried
on most of the time, by some mechanical enthusiast or makers, in the garage of the house in lost
time.
Now as I imagine you will have already understood from the title, in these pages I will try to illustrate
my concept of a truly green car, powered almost exclusively by spring, thanks to the materials and
technologies currently available. And if I can't, I would at least like to lay the groundwork for a
constructive discussion about a future generation of really clean and affordable vehicles.
So, raise your hand if you've never had to deal with any toy or spring-loaded device as a child?
Well, these toys were driven by a particular twisting spring that was rewinded from time to time
when it discharged, and which acted as an energy storage device (Elastic Potential Energy), given its
inherent tendency to return to its original state after being twisted.
The energy accumulated by the spring was then released through a series of gears, aimed at
preventing it from happening too quickly, ensuring a more gradual flow and constant speed of the
device until it was completely discharged, as seen in the sample footage.
5. The spring was usually of this type:
and was enclosed in a plastic or serrated metal "barrel" in
order to preserve its operating characteristics, while
ensuring an adequate degree of protection for its user.
The Elastic Potential Energy stored by the spring was
therefore the result of the deformation that we went to
imprint them by acting on the stick or rather, on the charge
device.
So, twisting it, we did a job on it, transferring energy to it.
Here, however, we encounter the first problem, that is, it
takes more energy to wrap the spring than can be obtained when it is discharged completely,
precisely because of the energy transfer... However, once released, the spring transformed that
potential energy into kinetic energy, allowing it to operate the object in which it was inserted or
connected.
Now the elastic potential energy formula, is given by:
𝐸 𝑝𝑒 =
1
2
∙ 𝑘∆𝑥2
where k indicates the elastic constant of the spring while ∆x represents the strain (stretching or
compression) exerted from the outside on it.
Here are the inverse formulas:
𝑘 =
2𝐸 𝑝𝑒
∆𝑥2
∆𝑥 = √
2𝐸 𝑝𝑒
𝑘
When the spring is in its resting position, that is, the deformation x is nothing, even the elastic
potential energy is nothing, but every time it is stretched or compressed the elastic force intervenes,
which, by opposing its deformation, causes it to regain its initial length (i.e. the length at rest).
For some applications, springs can have different advantages over other ways of storing energy.
6. Unlike batteries, for example, springs can provide energy stored effectively quickly and intensely, or
more slowly and steadily over a longer period, as exemplified by the difference between the spring
in a mousetrap and that of a mechanically charged clock.
In addition, unlike batteries, the energy stored in the springs does not normally disperse slowly over
time.
A mousetrap can stay ready to shoot for years without dissipating its energy.
So, after scouring the web for weeks, I was finally able to find spring devices powerful enough to
move a car when combined with each other:
See here
The company that produces them has several models, but only in the top-of-the-range ones (of the
SZH series) Are used Archimedes spiral springs that allow to develop up to 3765 Joules of energy,
for a limited number of rotations of the shaft (17-19 max).
It goes without saying that in order to be able to power a car properly, you would have to have that
energy for a long enough period to allow you to travel at least a few kilometers... already but how
to do it?
Someone seems to have partially solved this problem too, serially connecting the "barrels" and
making them work interconnectedly as if they were a single spring, so as to obtain a higher energy
density and force output for a longer period of time, as can be observed in the following document:
Read article
But to give you a clearer idea of the result I strongly recommend to take a look at the really
interesting prototype made by Mr. David Outteridge:
Go to site
The following video shows the stunning results he obtained after several attempts at optimizing
and disposition of springs and transmission for his locomotive model:
7. Of course, a similar but much more refined
mechanism can also be found in the Hublot "MP-05
LaFerrari" watch.
I admit, however, that Mr. David Outteridge had
come very close before the well-known Swiss
maison to this unique solution, especially with
regard to the drill charging system, which seems to
have been taken up of healthy plant by the latter!
Unfortunately, Mr. Outteridge certainly did not
have the economic resources of the famous Swiss
brand, so he had to deal with what he had at his
fingertips.
However, if the same materials and technical
measures adopted for example on Cartier's ID TWO
concept were applied to the "barrels" and
mechanics of his locomotive, I am sure that he would have achieved and greatly exceeded the goal
he had set himself... that is, to cross the mile of travel!
Link CARTIER ID TWO
However, I believe that Mr. Outteridge could have already achieved this by adopting a different
range of springs, for example those with constant force (Tensator type), even if this would have
involved the entire redesign of the locomotive and its transmission.
Such springs, are described well in this post
by Mr. John Hubby:
Read
Hubby himself, in a later post, then proposed
his solution to power a car with the Tensators
by providing some indicative data here:
Read
Inspired by what emerged in these posts, and
given the results obtained by David
Outteridge despite the use of less efficient springs, I realized that the time and technology for the
realization of an advanced prototype of spring cars with an automatic charging system similar to
that found in many watches, are now mature, just want it and put a little effort to look for all the
elements necessary to assemble it, in addition to raising funds for the project through a
crowdfunding campaign on the web, thanks to dedicated platforms such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo
etc. just to mention the most famous.
But let's go with order...
Step 01) - Before getting hurt it is good to validate the idea. To understand whether the market is
interested or ready to accept a means of transport powered by these devices... and most
importantly, totally independent of current energy sources.
Economically it would be advantageous and clean, but far from performance (forget so
numbers at Fast and Furiors at least for the moment), at least until we are able to store
8. and manage mechanical energy at the molecular level through carbon nanotubes (read
Fullerene), which however are still very complicated to obtain in homogeneous
structures...
Clarifying the real needs that should cover our vehicle is a priority for the project.
It doesn't have to be a car, initially it could be a motorcycle or a trike or something else...
The important thing is to evaluate whether or not people appreciate the basic idea, so
that we get as much feedback as possible that will allow us to move on to the next steps.
Once you have identified the problem and the reason why any competitors have not
solved it yet, we move on to phase two, so for now no prototypes, no business plans etc.
To advertise only the basic idea and expose it to those concerned without being jealous
of it, because "no one earns money in the automotive industry apart from the taxman.
The biggest gain on any car is always the government."
Step 02) - Once all our data is collected, we will carefully analyze it, adjusting our initial idea based
on the issues that have arisen. So once the correct solution has been found, it must be
validated in turn, that is, it must be identified who really needs such a means of transport
immediately, and is willing to fork out any amount in order to solve its problem quickly,
even though the project is still in the embryonic stage.
Summing up who our ideal user is and how we can sell them such creation... that is, how
we can get out on the market as soon as possible with what is technically called an MVP
(Minimum Viable Product) or minimum working product.
Step 03) - From this point on we move on to the actual realization of the first prototype, which will
have to be as cheap and simple as possible, since it will serve to estimate whether we
have correctly interpreted the problems of potential customers and what corrections we
will have to make exposing us as little as possible to unnecessary risks.
The MVP will be optimized over time based on the criticisms and additional information
we will collect to make it as functional as possible from time to time.
In short, you have to start light as will be our initial product to comply with the law of the
square cube.
Given this dutiful premise, let's try to establish in theory the powertrain necessary to ensure its
movement.
Spring choice – As previously seen the main spring (mainspring) should be of a constant force type,
for the reasons expressed very well by Mr. John Hubby in his posts in response to Mr.
Rodericke. These springs are very efficient and have two or more drums depending on
how much energy you want to get.
At the following link you can get a clearer idea of their use in double or multiple version
and some configurations:
Read here
Driven by curiosity I then tried to look for the most suitable version for the project
proposed by this manufacturer (Spiroflex), current division of the Kern-Liebers group.
The first problem I immediately came across based on the data proposed by Mr. Hubby
was the one relating to the size of the drums.
In fact, such springs are characterized by a very uniform force-shift curve.
9. This curve can be adjusted within defined limits for specific applications, thanks to special
machinery made within the manufacturer. But the idea of wrapping the tape directly on
a 100 mm tree. doesn't seem viable at the moment.
In the catalogue the spring that is closest to our needs is the SR120.
This includes 198 mm drums, respectively. (main) and 119 mm. (secondary).
Then there is the problem of the thickness of the tape, which for this product rises to 0.64
mm. 51 mm. compared to a nominal thickness of 0.50 mm. 300 mm. width always
suggested by Mr. Hubby. The SR120 is guaranteed for 20,000 work cycles and manages
to develop 81.5 kg/cm2 (8 N/m). I assume that this type of tape is the same as used in
Kineteko starters seen previously. Driven by curiosity I then tried to look for the most
suitable version for the project proposed by this manufacturer (Spiroflex), current division
of the Kern-Liebers group.
The first problem I immediately came across based on the data proposed by Mr. Hubby
was the one relating to the size of the drums.
In fact, such springs are characterized by a very uniform force-shift curve.
This curve can be adjusted within defined limits for specific applications, thanks to special
machinery made within the manufacturer. But the idea of wrapping the tape directly on
a 100 mm tree. doesn't seem viable at the moment.
In the catalogue the spring that is closest to our needs is the SR120.
This includes 198 mm drums, respectively. (main) and 119 mm. (secondary).
Then there is the problem of the thickness of the tape, which for this product rises to 0.64
mm. 51 mm. compared to a nominal thickness of 0.50 mm. 300 mm. width always
suggested by Mr. Hubby. The SR120 is guaranteed for 20,000 work cycles and manages
to develop 81.5 kg/cm2 (8 N/m). I assume that this type of tape is the same as used in
Kineteko starters seen previously.
10. However, there is a fairly similar version in size but a little more efficient the SR99, able
to develop up to 103 kg/cm2 (10 N/m) guaranteed for only 5000 work cycles.
However, this spring can count on a slightly longer tape length that allows it to perform
27 complete rotations of work, compared to only 20 of the sister.
Either way, we're a long way from the 540 meters of tape proposed by Mr. Hubby. vehicle
to have a range close to the optimal one.
I have no idea whether or not this company is able to provide custom products with such
features, but if anyone has more information about it or knows other companies that can
make springs of this type close to the dimensions seen above, I would appreciate it if you
reported them to me.
Normally these springs are made of high-yield 301 stainless steel, but to contain as much
weights and sizes as possible, gaining a 20% more torque, I would recommend using the
Elgiloy alloy although notoriously more expensive:
Read
In reality, to effectively counteract the law of the square cube, the ideal springs should be
made of fiberglass and reinforced plastic (FRP) like those produced by SOGEFI for AUDI
models.
Lighter than 40-70% than steel sisters, they are unassailable from corrosion, last longer
and are even quiet.
Unfortunately, I do not yet know the production process of this product well, but it is said
to be more convenient and sustainable than the traditional one, since it requires fewer
stages of processing and surface treatments, for the benefit of the environment.
However, if it were possible to print them in 3D (See here) and/or make them for
pultrusion in tapes suitable for our purpose, keeping the physical/mechanical
characteristics unchanged, they would really be the top.
Transmission Choice – Returning to Mr. Hubby's directions, to get a transmission ratio of 900:1 to
the 30-inch diameter wheel of our vehicle, we would need a gear train that releases on
average about one meter of spring per mile with only 2/3 rpm of the main shaft,
compared to 600 rpm of wheel speed, equivalent to about 53 mph.
In watchmaking a transmission report like this would be translated as follows:
6:1 x 6:1 x 5:1 x 5:1
And it would give rise to a gear train very similar to the one shown in the following image:
11. However, such an "elegant" provision, referring to the "complications" of a "tourbillon",
must clearly be simplified for use in a spring vehicle, where frictions and masses must
necessarily be reduced to a minimum, in favor of overall efficiency, as well as energy
transfers.
To simplify the task, a harmonic gearbox could then be inserted inside the main drum of
the moving spring, which is still to be verified during the project.
The substantial characteristics and benefits of such devices are the high reduction ratio in
a single stage, the absolute absence of play, the high torsional stiffness on the torque
values, small size and reduced weight, as well as reversibility.
Only real mole remains the price... but it is the best that can be found on the market at
present.
12. If the main spring is too voluminous and we are forced to use more than one in series, as
in the example of Mr. Outteridge, but adopting the Tensators, it would be appropriate to
consider the insertion of a trigger/disengagement device similar to this:
... giving each spring a recharge while the others work, without affecting the vehicle's
pace.
Always following Mr. Hubby's instructions, a 900:1 transmission would require an initial
thrust provided by a flywheel or electric motor, otherwise the vehicle would be too slow
to start.
The company Flybird has developed a very interesting mechanical Kers that could do just
for us:
13. This device, already successfully tested by Volvo on some of its models, is very useful in
stop and go driving, and could limit the use of the main spring to the bare minimum.
However, it should be appropriately modified, in fact the CVT group in the foreground on
the left of the photo, is too
complicated and heavy for a
spring car with clearly limited
performance.
In addition, this type of gearbox
provides for a complex hydraulic
control system that is totally
inappropriate, which should be
replaced with something much
lighter and more efficient, given
the low powers at play, such as
the one next to it...
In its latest evolution this cvt has
been further simplified and no longer requires complicated external control systems.
Tightening pressures on the rollers are also lower than on other similar devices, offering
significantly higher returns.
The driving spring should still be able to recharge automatically on the go, a bit like in
automatic clocks with a kinetic mechanism, as well as through deceleration or when
traveling downhill.
Examining the various "Energy Harvesting" solutions on the network, I identified this very
interesting device that captures energy from movement on all six axes:
It is produced by Witt Energy in various sizes, and depending on the size can develop from
5 W to 1 KW.
14. Containment of car body weights – Once the problem of springs and transmission is solved, the focus
will be on the tank.
Personally, I have always appreciated the design and chassis of the Dome Daihatsu X-021
concept although unfortunately I have never been able to find the related blueprints or
scale drawings:
It is a 1991 project that never went into production (who knows why),
on whose boxed aluminum frame was fixed the fiberglass spider body with still decidedly
pleasant shapes.
The car weighed only 700 kg. It had independent sports-type suspension, two lightweight
Recaro shell seats and rear-wheel drive.
If until some time ago I had been asked how to further lighten a car like this to fit the
Wind-up car/Clockwork-car project, I would have replied: replacing the steel frame with
an equal one but made by INREKOR:
15. Unfortunately, this company was decommissioned in 2015, and it's a shame because it
had developed lightweight structural panels that could be used cheaply to build a chassis.
In practice, a 2D element that created 3D structures and involved a plastic foam core of
ARPRO expanded polypropylene glued between two thin sheets of aluminum or other
metal materials or even composite as needed.
By changing the density and thickness of the core to ARPRO, the designers could thus
derive different tensions in the panel, due to its flexibility and the ease with which it could
be modeled.
As for the bodywork, I would have replaced the fiberglass of the X-021 concept with
aluminum alloys, certainly more comfortable to work with features now known to
everyone.
16. Anyway, dead one Pope makes another one is said to be from my side, and technology
has continued to progress as well as the design tools.
Today, thanks to advances in computing and 3D printing, we can count on "generative
CAD design", which allows designers to explore multiple compromises between different
approaches.
This allows them to address and solve the various problems they encounter on a daily
basis at work, through a more accurate definition of goals and constraints.
Autodesk's Dreamcatcher project is a concrete example of this.
That's why, what until yesterday could be considered an innovative frame, very light and
cheap, developed thanks to INREKOR technology, today could instead look more like
something like this:
Of course, the weight would still decrease, while the resistance would increase further.
17. However, for those who feel like they're getting on a web rather than a vehicle with a
state-of-the-art chassis, or still have skepticism about 3D-printed products, there are
alternatives.
The iStream technology developed by Gordon Murray in collaboration with Toray
Industries, Innovate UK and ELG, allows you to combine formula1's lightweight
technology with high volume production flexibility and excellent safety standards to
create lighter vehicles with multiple advantages in terms of both low emissions and
production costs, reduced by up to 80%:
In short, the solutions and products to make a spring car nowadays certainly do not lack...
What I have illustrated in these pages is, from my point of view, the concept closest to
reality, but it is not said to be the definitive solution.
Every day we deal with spring devices of various kinds without even realizing them, so
why not exploit them also for urban mobility, rather than spending capital on copper and
lithium etc...
From this point of view, I find society really distracted or rather too addicted to oil and
electricity...
If the economic effort made every day in the search for new, more efficient batteries, had
instead focused on the search for metal alloys or polymers with higher energy density for
18. springs, today on the roads we would have far better and cleaner vehicles, even if
analog...
Also, in the worst case that mainspring was completely unloaded, you could start it with
a simple crank, just like the starters of Kineteco, which also does a bit vintage:
Other elements such as OEM parts, wheels and
interiors could be 3D printed in various ways, using a
combination of selective laser fusion (SLM), electron
beam fusion (EBM), stereolithography (SLA) and
other technologies...
I had already proposed some solutions in a previous
project for the Lite Car challenge promoted by Local
Motors a few years ago.
You can find the relevant tab on my Linkedin profile
if you want to delve into...
In conclusion, it is likely that I am neither the first nor
the last person to submit such a project, and there will certainly be some engineering
problems that should not be underestimated... but never give up!
Opinions as well as objections are always welcome, so feel free to comment!