Sub's Alternative Energy Thread

[SubGod22]

Scientists stun industry with breakthrough in energy storage technology: 'This is truly a spectacular research result'

Researchers from the Technical University of Munich in Germany have developed new technology that can significantly expand the lifespan of zinc-ion batteries, Interesting Engineering reported.

The university said in a press release that the battery includes a porous organic polymer that can help it last several hundred thousand cycles instead of the regular lifespan of a few thousand cycles.

You don't need to understand what a "porous organic polymer" is to benefit from its existence, however. As we replace more of our dirty energy infrastructure with wind, solar, and other forms of clean, renewable energy, we will also need more and better battery technology in order to store that energy for future use.

To that end, a new invention that makes batteries last hundreds of times longer is a great thing for the industry. Although clean energy is undoubtedly far more environmentally friendly than gas and oil, much of the pollution that the industry creates comes from producing batteries, which require rare metals that must be mined.

The technology to help the industry recycle these batteries and their components more effectively is coming along, but a battery that simply lasts (practically) forever without ever needing to be recycled is in theory the best solution of all.

"This is truly a spectacular research result," Roland Fischer, an inorganic and metal-organic chemistry professor at the Technical University of Munich, said.

I think most people are in agreement that our battery technology absolutely has to improve for a number of different reasons. It's encouraging to see so much research going into different ideas and I hope in the near future we see a move away from lithium ion batteries.

[SubGod22]

MIT unveils ultra-efficient 3D transistors, could surpass silicon technology

MIT researchers have developed a new type of 3D transistor that could be more energy-efficient and powerful than current silicon-based transistors.

The novel 3D transistors have been designed using ultrathin semiconductor materials.

“This is a technology with the potential to replace silicon, so you could use it with all the functions that silicon currently has, but with much better energy efficiency,” said Yanjie Shao, an MIT postdoc and lead author.

The transistors harness quantum mechanics to achieve high performance at low voltage within a nanoscale area.

Their minuscule size paves the way for a new era of ultra-dense, high-performance, and energy-efficient electronics.

Silicon transistors function as electronic switches. A simple voltage application triggers a dramatic state change in the transistor, from off to on. This on/off state represents binary digits, enabling computation.

The efficiency of a transistor is linked to its switching slope. A steeper slope directly correlates to lower energy consumption. This means that the transistor can be switched on and off quickly, requiring less time and, consequently, less energy.

However, a fundamental limitation known as Boltzmann tyranny imposes a minimum voltage requirement for transistor operation at room temperature.

This limit is generally found in silicon transistors.

[SubGod22]

I find this to be pretty cool.

Airbus and Toshiba collaborate on revolutionary superconducting aircraft motor technology

Superconductivity is a phenomenon that occurs when certain materials are cooled to extremely low temperatures, causing their electrical resistance to drop to nearly zero. This property allows for the creation of powerful and efficient magnets, which can be utilized in various applications, including :

Medical imaging (CAT scanners)

・Particle accelerators

・Power transmission networks

・Electric motors

In the context of aviation, superconducting motors offer significant advantages over conventional systems. Airbus claims that their superconducting motor is over three times lighter than traditional alternatives and boasts an impressive 97% powertrain efficiency rating. This remarkable improvement in power-to-weight ratio makes superconducting motors an attractive option for aircraft propulsion.

The collaboration between Airbus and Toshiba brings together two industry leaders with extensive experience in their respective fields. Airbus, through its subsidiary Airbus UpNext, has been exploring innovative propulsion technologies, while Toshiba's energy arm, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation, has been developing superconducting motor prototypes for over half a century.
Hydrogen-powered aircraft : A sustainable future


The development of this superconducting motor is closely tied to the broader goal of creating emissions-free aircraft. Among the various options for achieving this objective, hydrogen stands out as the most promising solution. Hydrogen offers a relatively high energy density and produces minimal emissions, with water vapor being the primary byproduct.

However, the use of hydrogen in aviation presents several challenges :

・Storage : Hydrogen requires significant volume compared to traditional aviation fuel.

・Handling : Practical use necessitates storing hydrogen as a cryogenic liquid at temperatures below -253°C (-423°F).

・Weight : Conventional electric motors powerful enough for aircraft propulsion are typically very heavy.

The innovative approach proposed by Airbus and Toshiba addresses these challenges by utilizing the liquid hydrogen as both fuel and coolant. This dual-purpose solution allows for the creation of a more compact and efficient propulsion system.

[SubGod22]

Could be a game changer for air travel.

Startup's Revolutionary Jet Engine Could Transform Air Travel

Why it matters: A Y Combinator-backed startup has developed a groundbreaking jet engine that could make supersonic flight as affordable as current commercial aviation. As Freethink reports, this isn’t just another incremental advance – it’s a fundamental reimagining of how jet engines work.

The Innovation: Astro Mechanica‘s Turboelectric Adaptive Engine uses electric motors to independently control its components, allowing it to function efficiently at any speed from takeoff to Mach 5. The design eliminates the traditional trade-offs between power and efficiency that have limited jet engine development.

• Adapts to different flight conditions
• Uses electrical power for optimal control

The Visionary: CEO Ian Brooke, despite lacking traditional engineering credentials, brings decades of hands-on aviation experience to the project. Starting with model aircraft at age 14, he progressed to building real planes before founding Astro Mechanica.

• Plans San Francisco to Tokyo test flight
• Targets commercial aviation market

Market Impact: The company plans to demonstrate a full-size engine model this year and integrate four engines into a 20,000-pound test aircraft. Success could revolutionize both private and commercial aviation, making supersonic travel accessible to regular passengers.

[SubGod22]

More potential advancement around hydrogen.

Magnetocaloric cooling method produces liquid hydrogen using environmentally friendly technology

If we want to use hydrogen as fuel for cars or airplanes, or for chemical storage of excess renewable energy, it would be most efficient if it were liquid. However, this would require cooling it down to minus 253°C or 20°K, which is very energy-consuming when using a conventional cooling technology.

A team of scientists led by Graeme Blake, assistant professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands), has been researching a more energy-efficient cooling method called magnetocaloric cooling. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications.

This method involves using materials that will heat up when they are exposed to a magnetic field. The heat is then transferred to a "heat sink," which leaves the material—and its surroundings—colder once the magnetic field is removed. The method not only consumes less energy, but also eliminates the need for refrigerant gases, which have a strong greenhouse effect.