Extraterrestrial Energy – Moon or Sun Power

Control Room for Nuclear Fusion The search for viable forms of clean alternative energy continues as each potential solution carries with it significant shortcomings: Nuclear power presents environmental challenges, in the disposition of high and low level radioactive waste or in the event of a nuclear accident (e.g. Chernobyl), The sun can be impacted by the presence of clouds, Winds are...

Introduction to Demand Response

21st Century Electric Grid The traditional electric grid is a one-way system in that it provides electricity in response to an initiating event such as turning on an appliance or the cycling of a home’s heating and cooling system. A smart grid, the 21st century version of today’s grid, offers 2-way communication between the utility and consumer, where: The flow of electricity can be...

Cellulosic Ethanol – Is it an Alternative Fuel?

Cellulosic Ethanol-The Source According to the U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA) the average daily use of petroleum in the U.S. is 20.7 million barrels per day. More than half of this daily intake is imported, leaving the U.S. dependent on foreign petroleum to meet its energy needs. For that reason, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was passed to require that 36 billion...

Artificial Geothermal Energy – An Experiment that Works

Success is Around the Corner Geothermal Power Plant Though artificial or engineered geothermal energy is still in an experimental stage of development, there are a few small commercial plants in operation: Japan demonstrated this capability on the side of a volcano, at Hijiori. It converted enough heat in a test run of one year to support a 130 KW power plant. Australia has some bright prospects...

Artificial Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy Natural geothermal energy, also known as hydrothermal energy, starts with water underground trapped in holes or cracks in rocks. The water and rocks, heated by the earth’s mantle or radioactive minerals in the rock, becomes steam. This steam is released by drilling, drives turbines in generators, and thereby creates electricity for homes and other facilities. It’s termed...

Energy Star Heating and Cooling

ENERGY STAR Label-Energy Efficiency Heating and cooling accounts for almost half of the total energy used by a typical residential customer. Independent of specific purchasing decisions and the choices regarding the selection of heating and cooling equipment, there are a number of operating and maintenance activities consumers should do to maximize the efficiency of these devices These activities...

The ABCs of the Smart Grid

Smart Grid-Improved Reliability The U.S. electric power grid consists of more than 300,000 miles of transmission lines weaving there way across the country that despite its age performs remarkably well. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) assigns it a reliability rating in excess of 99.9 percent However, the relatively few outages that do occur each year in the U.S. cost the American economy an...

An Introduction to Capacitors

Electric Capacitor Like batteries, capacitors store electrical energy. However, unlike batteries they do not produce electrons. Capacitors consist of two terminals, each connected to a metal plate which is separated by a non-conducting substance referred to as a dielectric. The plate that is attached to the: Negative terminal of the battery that accepts the electrons that the battery is...

Understanding the Benefits and Risks of SF6

What are the Characteristics of SF6? Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) is colorless, odorless, non-flammable, and chemically stable gas. At room temperature it does not react with any other substance. This stability is the result of a symmetrical arrangement of six fluorine atoms around a central sulfur atom. It makes the gas useful as an effective electrical insulator that extinguishes arcs; making it...

Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6): A GHG and Environmental Challenge

What is SF6? Sulfur Hexafluoride or SF6 is an artificial gas commonly used in high voltage electrical equipment such as circuit breakers and substation switchgear, primarily as an insulation medium due to its great arc quenching characteristics. What about discharges? Substation Switchgear In most instances SF6 is contained in closed systems that remain sealed throughout the equipment’s entire...