The Women’s Engineering Society - inspiring women as engineers, scientists and leaders. Our members are people who work in the field of engineering, science and technology at all levels (and with any type of qualifications), students on engineering and related courses, companies and others who share our aims.
The Society and its members are involved in many different activities, almost all of them in the United Kingdom where we are based.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Women Engineering Society
IEEE Women in Engineering
IEEE Women in Engineering
IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists.
Mission of IEEE WIE
| The mission of IEEE WIE is to inspire, engage, encourage, and empower IEEE women worldwide. |
Vision of IEEE WIE
| IEEE WIE envisions a vibrant community of IEEE women and men innovating the world of tomorrow. |
| IEEE WIE strives to:
|
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Celebration of Women in Engineering
Only 9% of American engineers are women. And only 20 of engineering degrees are earned by women. There are a number of reasons why the low number of women in engineering is a problem.
There are a few major reasons why girls don't consider engineering careers. Many girls opt out of math and science courses in middle school and close the doors to many socially important and personally rewarding jobs in the future.
Find out how you influence girls' career choices and access resources to learn more about engineering to help you roster girls' interest in math, science, and technology.
The EngineerGirl website celebrates the achievements of women engineers and shares information on engineering careers with girls and young women.
There are a few major reasons why girls don't consider engineering careers. Many girls opt out of math and science courses in middle school and close the doors to many socially important and personally rewarding jobs in the future.
Find out how you influence girls' career choices and access resources to learn more about engineering to help you roster girls' interest in math, science, and technology.
The EngineerGirl website celebrates the achievements of women engineers and shares information on engineering careers with girls and young women.
Engineer Girls
Girls Can Grow Up to Solve Problems and Make the World a Better, Cleaner, Safer Place
- Why should girls become engineers?
- Engineers help solve important problems, like controlling and preventing pollution, developing new medicines, creating advanced technologies, even exploring new worlds.
- Engineers have significantly higher starting salaries than do college graduates with bachelor's degrees in many other fields.
- Engineers enjoy lots of options: they work in big cities and small towns, business offices or classrooms, factories or research labs, in the great outdoors, or even in outer space!
- Some engineers go into medicine, law, business management, or policymaking.
There's job security—people who solve problems and come up with new ways of thinking and doing things will always be in demand!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Engineering a Mindset
Engineers increase the standard of living for their communities. They improve efficiency, lower cost, and create opportunities in new job fields. Without engineers, there would be no solutions for the new problems we encounter because the rest of the population is already specialized in established fields; although the energy crisis worries a large portion of the world community, we can’t expect those without the expertise to alter the inevitable implications of empty oil fields. Engineers must be the ones to bring about change because they are the only people equipped to do so.
But perhaps the focus of engineers should be less technical and more ideological. Instead of building machinery, they should be molding mindsets. There is no shortage of energy-conserving options for those willing to invest their time, money, and patience, but the problem arises from the preconceptions of the public, especially those of the United States. We cannot forget that the main reason for America’s movement towards a “green” way of life has been the endangerment of our most precious resource: money. If impassioned speeches regarding the disappearance of ice caps and reduction of the ozone layer didn’t move citizens to call for another option, rising gas prices did. But what keeps the homes from being solar-paneled, cars electrically run, and windmills from filling lawns? The United States, in particular, seems to lack the foresight to realize the potential for investment in these options. It is always too expensive, too inconvenient, and not aesthetically appealing. The difficulty of the energy crisis lies not in the awareness of the issue and its consequences, or even in the applicability of the technology that will replace oil fields, but a full understanding of what the country, and world, will have to sacrifice in order to maintain the luxuries of a civilized society. Engineers must be the ones to educate the public because they will know the full implications of their alternatives.
Each option for conserving energy comes with its own side effects. For instance, the main problems with solar panels are their cost and wavelength compatibility. In less sunny climates, the panels will not provide as consistent savings on energy bills as other areas because of the difference in light waves. For many locations, this may cause the initial start-up cost to be greater because of the increased time of compensation. In addition, most energy options require more inconvenience than the consumer may have predicted. Electric cars, for example, can only be driven for a set number of miles or in certain conditions until needing to be plugged in again. And if the vehicle is powered with an alternate fuel, such as ethanol, there is an added reliance on fueling stations to be built. Even though consumers want to reduce their costs, and improve the environmental conditions, they are not prepared for the lifestyle changes needed to use each fuel-saving option to the fullest.
As the innovators of society, engineers will bear the weight of the environment’s outcome. But in order to be successful, they will first need to expand their plan of action beyond the AutoCAD-designed structures and reaction-tested substances; they will need to develop a desire for change and an acknowledgement of the challenges ahead. Engineers will need to build, within each individual, the feeling of empowerment and responsibility
But perhaps the focus of engineers should be less technical and more ideological. Instead of building machinery, they should be molding mindsets. There is no shortage of energy-conserving options for those willing to invest their time, money, and patience, but the problem arises from the preconceptions of the public, especially those of the United States. We cannot forget that the main reason for America’s movement towards a “green” way of life has been the endangerment of our most precious resource: money. If impassioned speeches regarding the disappearance of ice caps and reduction of the ozone layer didn’t move citizens to call for another option, rising gas prices did. But what keeps the homes from being solar-paneled, cars electrically run, and windmills from filling lawns? The United States, in particular, seems to lack the foresight to realize the potential for investment in these options. It is always too expensive, too inconvenient, and not aesthetically appealing. The difficulty of the energy crisis lies not in the awareness of the issue and its consequences, or even in the applicability of the technology that will replace oil fields, but a full understanding of what the country, and world, will have to sacrifice in order to maintain the luxuries of a civilized society. Engineers must be the ones to educate the public because they will know the full implications of their alternatives.
Each option for conserving energy comes with its own side effects. For instance, the main problems with solar panels are their cost and wavelength compatibility. In less sunny climates, the panels will not provide as consistent savings on energy bills as other areas because of the difference in light waves. For many locations, this may cause the initial start-up cost to be greater because of the increased time of compensation. In addition, most energy options require more inconvenience than the consumer may have predicted. Electric cars, for example, can only be driven for a set number of miles or in certain conditions until needing to be plugged in again. And if the vehicle is powered with an alternate fuel, such as ethanol, there is an added reliance on fueling stations to be built. Even though consumers want to reduce their costs, and improve the environmental conditions, they are not prepared for the lifestyle changes needed to use each fuel-saving option to the fullest.
As the innovators of society, engineers will bear the weight of the environment’s outcome. But in order to be successful, they will first need to expand their plan of action beyond the AutoCAD-designed structures and reaction-tested substances; they will need to develop a desire for change and an acknowledgement of the challenges ahead. Engineers will need to build, within each individual, the feeling of empowerment and responsibility
The Fuel of the Future: Hydrogen Energy
Commuting to school in a SUV, flickering the lights on in the evening, and turning on the air conditioning on a hot summer day - the very comforts that Americans take for granted. However, the fuel that provides the power to support these comforts and the economy cannot last forever. If no immediate actions are taken, exhaustion of the fuel will lead to an apocalyptic future.
According the U.S. Department of Energy, “Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas - currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels.” This total dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental, as worldwide demand for fossil fuels is projected to surpass the supply of fossil fuels in the coming decades. The low supply and great demand have lead to increasingly higher prices on fossil fuels, hurting the economy of many nations, including the United States. Moreover, fossil fuels have a damaging effect on the environment; many scientists believe that fossil fuels are key to producing the emissions that cause global warming, an ecological catastrophe.
However, the world is not without hope. One of the most anticipated energy alternatives to fossil fuels is hydrogen energy. Currently, the focus of hydrogen energy research focuses on applications to power automobiles. Automobiles are one of the principal users of energy resources. “The number of vehicles worldwide, now 750 million, is expected to triple by 2050” (Ogden, 2006). Thus, if automobiles can shift to the use of hydrogen energy than relying on fossil fuels, the dependency of society on fossil fuels will greatly decrease, which will benefit the environment and the economy for a brighter future.
Hydrogen energy provides many advantages over fossil fuels; hydrogen energy is flexible, renewable, eco-friendly, and efficient. For example, chemically, hydrogen energy can be produced from a variety of sources, like biomass or water. Hydrogen energy can also be conveniently stored, so it can be utilized when needed in any desired destination. Furthermore, hydrogen energy can be produced through several methods that produce virtually little or no greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, engineers could either use electrolysis, which separates hydrogen from water, or biomass gasification, which heats organic substances, like wastes to release hydrogen. In order to make use of hydrogen energy to fuel automobiles, fuel cells, or hydrogen “batteries” that make electricity, need to be developed. These fuel cells are more efficient than current gasoline engines. Therefore, hydrogen energy would solve many of the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels and provide an energy source to power the economy and society.
Hydrogen energy is still not without some challenges that engineers must face. The electrolysis and biomass gasification processes are still too expensive to be attractive to today’s consumers. Currently, the costs for hydrogen production are six to ten dollars for every kilogram, meaning that the cost for hydrogen automobile fuel cells would be about one thousand five hundred to two thousand dollars, which is ten times the cost needed to be competitive in the global market. So, cheaper fuel cells need to be developed. Other possible solutions to initiate the hydrogen energy economy with lower cost issues include producing hybrid cars with internal combustion engines that use hydrogen energy and converting conventional automobiles to use hydrogen fuel. Engineers predict that a car manufacturing company can convert 100,000 cars to hydrogen fuel in a year, and the conversion for each hydrogen car would cost less than two thousand five hundred dollars (Cashman, Logue, 2004). As of now, no conversion processes exist. All in all, according to the National Research Council and the National Academy of Engineering, with improved technologies and large-scale manufacturing of hydrogen energy in the future, the cost for hydrogen could be reduced to two to four dollars for every kilogram. So, it is predicted that hydrogen could cost less than gasoline in powering automobiles, which will provide a boost to the global economy (Ogden, 2006).
Hydrogen energy truly has great potential as a major energy source for the future. However, to make it a reality, politicians need to place a greater emphasis on hydrogen energy. Engineers play a vital and major role in designing less complex methods to produce hydrogen energy cheaply, less expensive hydrogen fuel cells, and more efficient conversion processes for conventional automobiles to use hydrogen energy. A society and economy fueled by hydrogen energy will be extremely promising and an apocalyptic future can be averted.
According the U.S. Department of Energy, “Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas - currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels.” This total dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental, as worldwide demand for fossil fuels is projected to surpass the supply of fossil fuels in the coming decades. The low supply and great demand have lead to increasingly higher prices on fossil fuels, hurting the economy of many nations, including the United States. Moreover, fossil fuels have a damaging effect on the environment; many scientists believe that fossil fuels are key to producing the emissions that cause global warming, an ecological catastrophe.
However, the world is not without hope. One of the most anticipated energy alternatives to fossil fuels is hydrogen energy. Currently, the focus of hydrogen energy research focuses on applications to power automobiles. Automobiles are one of the principal users of energy resources. “The number of vehicles worldwide, now 750 million, is expected to triple by 2050” (Ogden, 2006). Thus, if automobiles can shift to the use of hydrogen energy than relying on fossil fuels, the dependency of society on fossil fuels will greatly decrease, which will benefit the environment and the economy for a brighter future.
Hydrogen energy provides many advantages over fossil fuels; hydrogen energy is flexible, renewable, eco-friendly, and efficient. For example, chemically, hydrogen energy can be produced from a variety of sources, like biomass or water. Hydrogen energy can also be conveniently stored, so it can be utilized when needed in any desired destination. Furthermore, hydrogen energy can be produced through several methods that produce virtually little or no greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, engineers could either use electrolysis, which separates hydrogen from water, or biomass gasification, which heats organic substances, like wastes to release hydrogen. In order to make use of hydrogen energy to fuel automobiles, fuel cells, or hydrogen “batteries” that make electricity, need to be developed. These fuel cells are more efficient than current gasoline engines. Therefore, hydrogen energy would solve many of the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels and provide an energy source to power the economy and society.
Hydrogen energy is still not without some challenges that engineers must face. The electrolysis and biomass gasification processes are still too expensive to be attractive to today’s consumers. Currently, the costs for hydrogen production are six to ten dollars for every kilogram, meaning that the cost for hydrogen automobile fuel cells would be about one thousand five hundred to two thousand dollars, which is ten times the cost needed to be competitive in the global market. So, cheaper fuel cells need to be developed. Other possible solutions to initiate the hydrogen energy economy with lower cost issues include producing hybrid cars with internal combustion engines that use hydrogen energy and converting conventional automobiles to use hydrogen fuel. Engineers predict that a car manufacturing company can convert 100,000 cars to hydrogen fuel in a year, and the conversion for each hydrogen car would cost less than two thousand five hundred dollars (Cashman, Logue, 2004). As of now, no conversion processes exist. All in all, according to the National Research Council and the National Academy of Engineering, with improved technologies and large-scale manufacturing of hydrogen energy in the future, the cost for hydrogen could be reduced to two to four dollars for every kilogram. So, it is predicted that hydrogen could cost less than gasoline in powering automobiles, which will provide a boost to the global economy (Ogden, 2006).
Hydrogen energy truly has great potential as a major energy source for the future. However, to make it a reality, politicians need to place a greater emphasis on hydrogen energy. Engineers play a vital and major role in designing less complex methods to produce hydrogen energy cheaply, less expensive hydrogen fuel cells, and more efficient conversion processes for conventional automobiles to use hydrogen energy. A society and economy fueled by hydrogen energy will be extremely promising and an apocalyptic future can be averted.
Engineering Energy for the Future
It is hard to think of something that energy doesn’t do for us. It runs our cars and machinery; works our computers, TV’s, and toasters, heats our homes, food, and blankets; and lights up our streets, homes and traffic lights. We use energy everyday, and we would be really lost without it. This may happen in the future; we may lose our energy. It is decreasing. The amount of oil that we buy from the Middle East has increased a lot over the years, while the supply of oil in the world, especially in the Middle East, has decreased. But the bigger danger is what the energy increase is doing to our environment. The sulfuric acid that is released from factories after burning fossil fuels has resulted in an increase in acid rain. We showed this in an experiment that I did with my Mom (and teacher). We placed a small amount of water in a jar, along with a few colored flower petals, some metal nails, and some small pieces of marble. We than burned some sulfur on a spoon, in the jar. We pulled out the spoon and trapped the gas in the closed jar. After a day, the flowers became bleached. The iron was covered with a dark coating and the marble became rough. The pH of the water became acidic. The sulfur dioxide had damaged the items in the jar. It continues to damage our trees and lakes and kills our fish.
Carbon dioxide also causes damage to our planet by keeping our earth hotter. In another project we perform in class, we showed how this ‘greenhouse effect’ works. By placing a thermometer in a jar and placing it in the sun, we saw that the sun heats up the earth, (or the glass jar) and the carbon dioxide traps the heat in like a blanket and keeps our planet warm. This may seem good at first, but it is not. The result is that it is melting our polar caps and causing flooding by raising the level of the oceans. It is also changing the habits of animals, such as making the polar bear adapt, and changing the timing of animal migration. This climate change is also having an effect on our plants and trees. I went on a fun field trip were I was allowed to tap maple syrup from the trees. I recently found out that the maple syrup workers are tapping their trees a month earlier than before. They said that as the earth’s temperature continues to get warmer, the trees may not be able to make sap, which would leave them in danger of diseases and insects, and the rest of us, without fresh maple syrup for our pancakes.
Engineers should work together to help decrease the level of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide in the air because this is not just our country’s problem, but the entire world’s problem. It is a big problem and it may take big solutions. Engineers should come together to find other, cleaner ways to run our cars and factories. Engineers could help create better ways to heat our homes. Engineers should find ways to turn off the use of energy when we are not using the TV or the computer.
The future for engineers and for us will be mainly focused on saving energy and creating a cleaner world. I want to be an engineer to help solve some of these problems. My Mom says that I’m very smart and creative. I think this is a good thing for becoming an engineer because it’s going to take a lot of creativity, imagination, and education to help solve our energy problem. I’m sure that the people and engineers can come together to solve this problem.
Carbon dioxide also causes damage to our planet by keeping our earth hotter. In another project we perform in class, we showed how this ‘greenhouse effect’ works. By placing a thermometer in a jar and placing it in the sun, we saw that the sun heats up the earth, (or the glass jar) and the carbon dioxide traps the heat in like a blanket and keeps our planet warm. This may seem good at first, but it is not. The result is that it is melting our polar caps and causing flooding by raising the level of the oceans. It is also changing the habits of animals, such as making the polar bear adapt, and changing the timing of animal migration. This climate change is also having an effect on our plants and trees. I went on a fun field trip were I was allowed to tap maple syrup from the trees. I recently found out that the maple syrup workers are tapping their trees a month earlier than before. They said that as the earth’s temperature continues to get warmer, the trees may not be able to make sap, which would leave them in danger of diseases and insects, and the rest of us, without fresh maple syrup for our pancakes.
Engineers should work together to help decrease the level of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide in the air because this is not just our country’s problem, but the entire world’s problem. It is a big problem and it may take big solutions. Engineers should come together to find other, cleaner ways to run our cars and factories. Engineers could help create better ways to heat our homes. Engineers should find ways to turn off the use of energy when we are not using the TV or the computer.
The future for engineers and for us will be mainly focused on saving energy and creating a cleaner world. I want to be an engineer to help solve some of these problems. My Mom says that I’m very smart and creative. I think this is a good thing for becoming an engineer because it’s going to take a lot of creativity, imagination, and education to help solve our energy problem. I’m sure that the people and engineers can come together to solve this problem.
How Engineers Can Work Together For A Clean Energy Future
Energy. Everyone uses it everyday. You would think that when we use energy, like turning on a light, it wouldn’t do anything except light a room. But what people don’t think about is that it adds to the problem of polluting the world and emitting greenhouse gasses.
To add that all and the energy needed to run personal electronics (ipods, cell phones, PCs, video games), appliances, gas guzzling cars and the businesses we depend on everyday, and you realize the problem is really a lot worse. That is why we are counting on engineers to solve this dilemma by uncovering different types of clean, renewable and environmentally safe energy sources. I believe engineers need to work together in the following ways to get the job done.
First, form alliances with all kinds of engineers everywhere to work toward the same clean energy goals. For instance, energy engineers should work closely with architectural, industrial, structural and even civil engineers to make all the different projects they work on are earth-friendly, whether they are building huge office buildings or airplanes. By working together, they can share important information and knowledge to generate a big range of ideas, and make sure they are used! Many engineers are working on solutions, but how come many are not being put to good use? A company called Veranium (in Massachusetts) has just been awarded a grant from the Department of Energy to come up with “improved” and “cost effective” enzymes to use in the production of ethanol, a gas substitute made from organic materials.[1] This would be very important for car and transportation companies especially, because their products and services use a lot of gasoline (which is not renewable), and cause a great deal of pollution. So, these companies need to be “clued in” to this technology, and redesign their machines to make them compatible with this new fuel. So, when Apple creates a new ipod, or if Dell makes another paper-thin laptop, they need to make them in a way that does not add to the environmental damage further, or use as much energy. Engineers need to help us (consumers) pressure companies to change how they operate, so they can help us stop the cycle.
There is also old technology that is not being used. Geothermal power has been in use for decades, according to Thomas R. Blakeslee, president of The Clearlight Foundation, a non-profit organization that invests in renewable energy. He wrote in an article, “The first geothermal plant was built in Larderello, Italy in 1911. It is still producing enough power for a million homes today. Geothermal power already supplies 26% of electrical power in Iceland and the Philippines and 5% of California’s at prices that are competitive with coal power. …. They require no fuel and produce no pollution.”[2] Engineers can help convince our governments that there are ways to generate energy that will power our world without polluting it.
Next, engineers should use the knowledge they have, and the inventions they create to educate and convince the average citizen to change their energy-use habits. If you can change your habits, you can change the world! Engineers have already come up with products that reduce the use of energy, like compact fluorescent light bulbs. According to EnergyStar, these light bulbs can save the average homeowner $30 or more on their energy bill, produce 75% less heat, last 10 times longer and reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses the power plants produce to keep them on. EnergyStar says that if “every American home replaced one light bulb with an energy-saving light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equal to the exhaust of more than 800,000 cars.” [3] We need engineers to show us where even little changes can make a big difference. They can work with schools and community groups, do energy studies of public buildings, and show everyone where they can improve their habits. Start early in schools to train kids to live in energy conserving ways!
Finally, engineers need to work closely with local and national governments to help people put these ideas to use in their homes, business, and communities by making them affordable and easy to use. Engineers need to become ou
To add that all and the energy needed to run personal electronics (ipods, cell phones, PCs, video games), appliances, gas guzzling cars and the businesses we depend on everyday, and you realize the problem is really a lot worse. That is why we are counting on engineers to solve this dilemma by uncovering different types of clean, renewable and environmentally safe energy sources. I believe engineers need to work together in the following ways to get the job done.
First, form alliances with all kinds of engineers everywhere to work toward the same clean energy goals. For instance, energy engineers should work closely with architectural, industrial, structural and even civil engineers to make all the different projects they work on are earth-friendly, whether they are building huge office buildings or airplanes. By working together, they can share important information and knowledge to generate a big range of ideas, and make sure they are used! Many engineers are working on solutions, but how come many are not being put to good use? A company called Veranium (in Massachusetts) has just been awarded a grant from the Department of Energy to come up with “improved” and “cost effective” enzymes to use in the production of ethanol, a gas substitute made from organic materials.[1] This would be very important for car and transportation companies especially, because their products and services use a lot of gasoline (which is not renewable), and cause a great deal of pollution. So, these companies need to be “clued in” to this technology, and redesign their machines to make them compatible with this new fuel. So, when Apple creates a new ipod, or if Dell makes another paper-thin laptop, they need to make them in a way that does not add to the environmental damage further, or use as much energy. Engineers need to help us (consumers) pressure companies to change how they operate, so they can help us stop the cycle.
There is also old technology that is not being used. Geothermal power has been in use for decades, according to Thomas R. Blakeslee, president of The Clearlight Foundation, a non-profit organization that invests in renewable energy. He wrote in an article, “The first geothermal plant was built in Larderello, Italy in 1911. It is still producing enough power for a million homes today. Geothermal power already supplies 26% of electrical power in Iceland and the Philippines and 5% of California’s at prices that are competitive with coal power. …. They require no fuel and produce no pollution.”[2] Engineers can help convince our governments that there are ways to generate energy that will power our world without polluting it.
Next, engineers should use the knowledge they have, and the inventions they create to educate and convince the average citizen to change their energy-use habits. If you can change your habits, you can change the world! Engineers have already come up with products that reduce the use of energy, like compact fluorescent light bulbs. According to EnergyStar, these light bulbs can save the average homeowner $30 or more on their energy bill, produce 75% less heat, last 10 times longer and reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses the power plants produce to keep them on. EnergyStar says that if “every American home replaced one light bulb with an energy-saving light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equal to the exhaust of more than 800,000 cars.” [3] We need engineers to show us where even little changes can make a big difference. They can work with schools and community groups, do energy studies of public buildings, and show everyone where they can improve their habits. Start early in schools to train kids to live in energy conserving ways!
Finally, engineers need to work closely with local and national governments to help people put these ideas to use in their homes, business, and communities by making them affordable and easy to use. Engineers need to become ou
The Role of Engineers In Our Energy Future
As we look to the future, we have become more and more aware that the sources of energy we have come to rely on are becoming scarce, environmentally hazardous and expensive. As energy use continues to grow, engineers are faced with the challenge of reducing damage to the environment and finding alternative energy solutions. Today, fossil fuels are an important source of energy. Unfortunately, if energy production continues to come from the burning of fossil fuels, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will continue to increase at alarming levels causing further global warming and greenhouse gases. Engineers are faced with the responsibility of finding ways of producing clean energy and developing new more environmentally friendly ways of using energy.
Engineers play a key role in the way energy is produced and used. Chemical engineers develop new material and design processes for manufacturing which impact our environment. Civil engineers use their knowledge to oversee the development and construction of buildings, highways, and environmental projects. Electrical engineers design and develop electrical processes for power generation. A growing area of specialization is environmental engineering which looks to preserve the environment by reducing pollution, waste and toxins in the air and water. Even though each area of specialization is different, they all look to improve the quality of life.
As engineers work help make a “greener” energy future, they have to address two key problems. First, engineers will have to consider alternative ways to produce energy. We must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Among the energy options available are coal, natural gas, and oil which are fossil fuels and, alternatives such as nuclear, wind, solar and, in the future bioenergy. Selecting the best solution will require a balancing act between choosing the right combination of alternatives. For example, although nuclear energy is a major source of energy production in Europe, in the United States, public outcry against building new power plants has stopped new construction. Recently, there has been increased discussion about the safety of nuclear power and the opportunity it gives us for energy independence. Added to public safety concerns are political and financial considerations. One thing is definitely clear. No single solution will be the answer.
Second, how energy is used is important in how we deal with our current crisis. As a profession, engineers can lobby government to create incentives for innovation of energy efficient manufacturing and consumer products. For example, the sales of hybrid cars to consumers have been a significant movement towards cleaner energy consumption. Yet, much has to be done as SUVs continue to rule our roads. Educating consumers on the use of more energy efficient light bulbs is also a small step towards clean energy. In addition, recent political debates have brought attention to the use of “credits” to encourage industry to pursue environmentally friendly practices. In short, engineers’ focus should be an increase drive towards innovation to produce advances in clean technology. This would require cooperation among different scientific disciplines to achieve a common objective—clean energy.
In conclusion, a renewed drive for innovation will shape the future of how engineers will provide energy. It calls for engineers to adopt an environmental consciousness as to the effects of their technology with regards to production and conservation. In this regard, engineers are, as a profession, one of the groups at the forefront of protecting our planet for future generations.
Engineers play a key role in the way energy is produced and used. Chemical engineers develop new material and design processes for manufacturing which impact our environment. Civil engineers use their knowledge to oversee the development and construction of buildings, highways, and environmental projects. Electrical engineers design and develop electrical processes for power generation. A growing area of specialization is environmental engineering which looks to preserve the environment by reducing pollution, waste and toxins in the air and water. Even though each area of specialization is different, they all look to improve the quality of life.
As engineers work help make a “greener” energy future, they have to address two key problems. First, engineers will have to consider alternative ways to produce energy. We must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Among the energy options available are coal, natural gas, and oil which are fossil fuels and, alternatives such as nuclear, wind, solar and, in the future bioenergy. Selecting the best solution will require a balancing act between choosing the right combination of alternatives. For example, although nuclear energy is a major source of energy production in Europe, in the United States, public outcry against building new power plants has stopped new construction. Recently, there has been increased discussion about the safety of nuclear power and the opportunity it gives us for energy independence. Added to public safety concerns are political and financial considerations. One thing is definitely clear. No single solution will be the answer.
Second, how energy is used is important in how we deal with our current crisis. As a profession, engineers can lobby government to create incentives for innovation of energy efficient manufacturing and consumer products. For example, the sales of hybrid cars to consumers have been a significant movement towards cleaner energy consumption. Yet, much has to be done as SUVs continue to rule our roads. Educating consumers on the use of more energy efficient light bulbs is also a small step towards clean energy. In addition, recent political debates have brought attention to the use of “credits” to encourage industry to pursue environmentally friendly practices. In short, engineers’ focus should be an increase drive towards innovation to produce advances in clean technology. This would require cooperation among different scientific disciplines to achieve a common objective—clean energy.
In conclusion, a renewed drive for innovation will shape the future of how engineers will provide energy. It calls for engineers to adopt an environmental consciousness as to the effects of their technology with regards to production and conservation. In this regard, engineers are, as a profession, one of the groups at the forefront of protecting our planet for future generations.
Engineers, Perfect Advocates for Renewable Energy
There are three different directions that engineers can pursue to contribute to providing energy for the future. One way is for engineers to discover new and innovative forms of renewable energy. Another method is to uncover breakthroughs in technology for current renewable energy forms, like fusion. Lastly engineers can find means to make renewable energy more affordable. All three approaches are great and worth striving for. However engineers can make a major impact if they themselves are strong advocates and champions for renewable energy use. They must be unwavering supporters and committed to spreading this information to the public. Engineers can educate the public that it is feasible and necessary to use renewable energy in their homes. Once home buyers understand this opportunity, they can demand builders to build homes with energy efficient and environmentally friendly materials. Currently energy efficient homes tend to be more expensive to build, but future energy savings will offset the extra initial costs. A geothermal system in an average sized home costs $6,000 more to install over a less energy efficient method. With significant cost savings in energy (ranges from 40% to 75%), over the lifetime, the homeowner’s outlay will be less when compared to a conventional system. As demand for renewable energy for homes increases the incremental cost to install a geothermal system will disappear.
To prevent heat loss engineers have long concentrated on creating products that increase the R factor (ex: insulation, triple glazed windows). Engineers should focus on making homebuyers aware that a geothermal system is a more direct and efficient way to reach a comfortable temperature indoors. A home with a geothermal system uses the heat from the earth. Wells are drilled into ground about 400 to 500 feet deep for a vertical system or 4 to 5 feet deep for a horizontal system. Pipes are installed into these wells which will contain water. Since the earth is at a constant temperature of 50°F to 55°F degrees, in the winter with an outside temperature of 30°F, the heat pump acts as a boiler to extract heat from the loop. Conversely in the summer, the opposite happens with an outside temperature of 80°F, the heat pump acts like a cooling tower and extracts the hot air and sends it down the loop to cool. Heat loss can be minimized in geothermal homes when the temperature change is reduced.
With the current geothermal system, pipes are filled with water below ground. Why stop there? Engineers should design a house in which pipes run between the inner and outer walls of the house (where the insulation currently is). This is similar in concept to the radiant floor heating system. Underneath the floors of the homes, pipes are filled with heated water to provide warmth to the room. However with traditional radiant floor heating system, it does not benefit from the geothermal warmth of the earth. Imagine if the pipes throughout the floors and the walls of the house were filled with water from a geothermal system, the home would be encased with warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.
Presently using renewable energy in homes is similar in situation to when the computer was first introduced to the public. A long time ago computers were rarely found in households. Now the majority of households have a computer because the price has been drastically reduced and people also see the need for them. The same thing could happen to using renewable energy in the home. When engineers promote the need for renewable energy use in the home, more people will install them and costs will come down. However, engineers should also continue to find ways to reduce the overall expense for installing a renewable energy system. Lowering the price of a renewable system is a great way to spread the message to the public so they become aware and can make a difference for the environment.
Engineers must not be content to just think up new ways to provide energy for the future. They hold in their hands the responsibility to educate. Since engineers are respected in their field they would be ideal ambassadors for renewable energy use. Everyone needs to be brought together to make change happen.
To prevent heat loss engineers have long concentrated on creating products that increase the R factor (ex: insulation, triple glazed windows). Engineers should focus on making homebuyers aware that a geothermal system is a more direct and efficient way to reach a comfortable temperature indoors. A home with a geothermal system uses the heat from the earth. Wells are drilled into ground about 400 to 500 feet deep for a vertical system or 4 to 5 feet deep for a horizontal system. Pipes are installed into these wells which will contain water. Since the earth is at a constant temperature of 50°F to 55°F degrees, in the winter with an outside temperature of 30°F, the heat pump acts as a boiler to extract heat from the loop. Conversely in the summer, the opposite happens with an outside temperature of 80°F, the heat pump acts like a cooling tower and extracts the hot air and sends it down the loop to cool. Heat loss can be minimized in geothermal homes when the temperature change is reduced.
With the current geothermal system, pipes are filled with water below ground. Why stop there? Engineers should design a house in which pipes run between the inner and outer walls of the house (where the insulation currently is). This is similar in concept to the radiant floor heating system. Underneath the floors of the homes, pipes are filled with heated water to provide warmth to the room. However with traditional radiant floor heating system, it does not benefit from the geothermal warmth of the earth. Imagine if the pipes throughout the floors and the walls of the house were filled with water from a geothermal system, the home would be encased with warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.
Presently using renewable energy in homes is similar in situation to when the computer was first introduced to the public. A long time ago computers were rarely found in households. Now the majority of households have a computer because the price has been drastically reduced and people also see the need for them. The same thing could happen to using renewable energy in the home. When engineers promote the need for renewable energy use in the home, more people will install them and costs will come down. However, engineers should also continue to find ways to reduce the overall expense for installing a renewable energy system. Lowering the price of a renewable system is a great way to spread the message to the public so they become aware and can make a difference for the environment.
Engineers must not be content to just think up new ways to provide energy for the future. They hold in their hands the responsibility to educate. Since engineers are respected in their field they would be ideal ambassadors for renewable energy use. Everyone needs to be brought together to make change happen.
Engineering Energy for the Future
Energy! It fuels our cars, heats our homes, runs our computers and keeps the lights on. We use energy in almost everything we do, but if we aren’t careful there won’t be enough. Engineers have their work cut out for them. The world is counting on them to chart a course to a safe and clean energy future. They will need to come up with useful ways to save energy as well as ways to produce more of it. How can engineers work together to make the world work for the changing needs of people everywhere without damaging the environment? What should they be focusing on, and how will energy shape the future for engineering? Think about how much energy influences your life every day as you prepare your essay to answer the questions above.
Junk Recycler
This is a machine that decreases the amount of space junk. I am concerned about the space junk that the world creates. Some of the stuff that are space junk are paint flakes, dust and slag from solid rocket motors from man-made nuclear powered satellites, and lost tools. Space junk is a problem because if it stays up there too long it might hit satellites. It is a problem because it rains down on the earth and can be toxic. It rains down on food supplies and fields. One lady was hit by a piece of debris on her shoulder. This is a problem that many people are thinking about and trying to solve now.
Image #1 is the machine. There is a motor that we can't see. The area behind the coils in the middle is shaped like a cone. What we see is the compartment that collects the space junk and the coils that burn up the junk. The coils are also part of a system that attracts the junk to come into this machine. The attraction system could be a suction or a kind of gravity or a magnetic field. The long strips around the outside are the rollers that flatten the junk to prepare it for the burning stage. We’re looking into the chamber from the opening that the junk comes in. It’s open to outer space. A rocket is connected to the back to bring it up. A smaller rocket propels it from one orbit to another, wherever there is junk. The rings on the ceiling are heat radiating out of the coils. The depression in the floor helps the junk go into the heating area. The ashes go into the cone behind the heater. When the cone is full, one of the astronauts from the space station takes it and sends the full one back on the space shuttle for recyclling and puts an empty one there.
If I were an engineer, I would need to know about the kinds of things that are in space junk and what they are made of. I would need to know about the materials because I would need to know about what happens to things in outer space without much gravity, in very cold conditions, without oxygen, and without a protective atmosphere. So I would have to investigate how to burn something without oxygen.
In order to build this machine I would need to study mechanical engineering and also the physics of outer space. I would work with a team of engineers because if we all work together we could we could work faster and have more ideas. I would need a rocket specialist, a specialist who could help me design the burning coils, an engineer who would help me design the machine to be safe and environmentally friendly, and an engineer who knew about the properties of all the materials in space junk
Image #1 is the machine. There is a motor that we can't see. The area behind the coils in the middle is shaped like a cone. What we see is the compartment that collects the space junk and the coils that burn up the junk. The coils are also part of a system that attracts the junk to come into this machine. The attraction system could be a suction or a kind of gravity or a magnetic field. The long strips around the outside are the rollers that flatten the junk to prepare it for the burning stage. We’re looking into the chamber from the opening that the junk comes in. It’s open to outer space. A rocket is connected to the back to bring it up. A smaller rocket propels it from one orbit to another, wherever there is junk. The rings on the ceiling are heat radiating out of the coils. The depression in the floor helps the junk go into the heating area. The ashes go into the cone behind the heater. When the cone is full, one of the astronauts from the space station takes it and sends the full one back on the space shuttle for recyclling and puts an empty one there.
If I were an engineer, I would need to know about the kinds of things that are in space junk and what they are made of. I would need to know about the materials because I would need to know about what happens to things in outer space without much gravity, in very cold conditions, without oxygen, and without a protective atmosphere. So I would have to investigate how to burn something without oxygen.
In order to build this machine I would need to study mechanical engineering and also the physics of outer space. I would work with a team of engineers because if we all work together we could we could work faster and have more ideas. I would need a rocket specialist, a specialist who could help me design the burning coils, an engineer who would help me design the machine to be safe and environmentally friendly, and an engineer who knew about the properties of all the materials in space junk
The Revolutionary Light Wave Body Imaging Device
New technologies often arise from existing technologies, with enhancements in safety, function, and/or attractiveness. When creating a new product, engineers must consider many aspects of the design. They must adjust their mindset according to the type of product they are designing, always keeping the needs of the consumer in mind. Some products should be attractive, while others should just “get the job done”. Some products are complicated while for others, simplicity is preferred. Engineers must consider all of these different criteria and implement them to make the final product. By first identifying the end state of the product, they can design the functional parts of the device, and then take into consideration the aesthetics.The Light Wave Body Imaging Device. The most revolutionary machine in the medical sciences since the X-ray. A vast improvement over the MRI, the Light Wave Body Imaging Device (LWBID) can scan the entire body in minutes and produce a 3-D holographic image, showing bones, soft tissue, nerves, blood vessels, and organs. A specific frequency of light streams out from the sides and top, able to “penetrate” the body down to the cellular level. The light wave images are collected at the bottom of the machine, where they are transferred to a computer than generates and projects a holographic image of the body. It can then be manipulated by the doctor, and specific parts of the body magnified to pinpoint the source of symptoms. A revolutionary device, the LWBID is used in hospitals around the world to quickly and accurately identify physical maladies. The LWBID is composed of many parts, each of which is equally important. Getting the patient into the LWBID is an easy task. The transparent panel above the collector slides out, the patient lays on it, and the panel slides back over the collector. The lights surrounding the patient inside the LWBID are essential to the device, as it generates the frequency of light necessary to take an image of the interior of the body. The “collector” at the bottom of the machine is also vital; without it, the LWBID would not function. The collector gathers all the image data and feeds a computer which compiles the data and produces a 3-D holographic image of the patient. The doctor can manipulate the 3D holographic image of the body with simple hand gestures, rotating and zooming in and out to specific organs, bones, and even cells. All of the individual parts of the LWBID fit and work flawlessly together to make diagnoses easier for the doctor.Engineers have a difficult task when they create new products. They must keep the consumer at the forefront of their minds throughout the entire process. The engineer is in charge of design – is it comfortable? how will it work? does attractiveness matter? These questions are all important when designing a product. In the case of the LWBID, attractiveness is of less importance than functionality. Safety is a big concern when designing a device meant to be used on a person. The machine should be non-intrusive, in order to avoid harm. The light should not damage the eyes. The interior of the LWBID should be comfortable, as to accommodate the patient while he/she is lying there. The entire procedure should be fairly quick, in order to provide a pleasurable experience. The ambient temperature inside the machine should not be too hot or cold, in order to avoid discomfort for the patient. In this case, patients care more about results then the attractiveness of the machine, so the engineer can focus more on functionality rather than aesthetics.There is much to consider before a product is made. In the case of the LWBID, all the working parts must be designed to function flawlessly together. Since there are so many critical parts, if one does not work as it should, the machine will produce unreliable results. However, this is not just an issue of results; it is an issue of saving a person’s life. If the results are not accurate, diagnoses will be incorrect, treatments will be ineffective, and lives may be lost. The engineer must ensure the machine works properly, and that none of the parts will harm the patient; after all, this machine is supposed to be saving lives, not causing harm. Engineers also need to consider simplicity and attractiveness. The operation of the LWIBD should be fairly simple, and most tasks automated. Attractiveness is of lesser importance, because the LWBID’s aesthetics have no effect on the actual purpose. The LWBID is a revolutionary piece of new technology that is sought after by hospitals around the world for its functionality, and its design makes it that much more irresistible.
New Energy and Luminance by Organic Solar Cells and OLEDs
The physicist sitting across from me gasped. A faint electro-luminance begins to flicker as the organic light emitting diode’s (OLED) electrons are recombining into holes and releasing their photons: a brilliant, natural glow. Organic.
It was a rather ingenuous device. After testing the prototypes in the labs, I would soon bring a proposal to build a structure in the city that I would name the Hourglass. The OLED bearing grey panels around surrounding the Hourglass lifted and folded within themselves, allowing sunlight to enter in day. At night, they would envelop the Hourglass for protection. The entire machine was meant to generate energy for the nearby city: the rings that encircled its center were sheets of organic solar cells, or organic photovoltaics (OPVs). They would harvest the energy and convert them into electricity by the disassociation of an exciton.
“How can you expect the devices to not crack and break during construction and use?” The physicist inquired.
After all, typical organic photovoltaics had an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) anode layer, which made the device brittle and prone to damage from bending.
“Carbon nanotubes.” I mused, “Multi-walled carbon nanotubes.”
Instead of the brittle ITO, the organic solar cells incorporated the MWNTs into the solar cells, which were flexible and durable.
“At the molecular level, carbon nanotubes are stronger than both steel and diamond. They are lattices of carbon nestled within each other, created from carbon gas and an iron catalyst. They are grown into ‘forests’ and spun out onto wire jacks. Of course, it would require meticulous detailing and careful technical skills.”
The physicist was amused. So far, I had suggested a matrix of twelve Hourglasses throughout the city, providing the homes and corporations with the energy they needed from the sun. I had not mentioned that organic solar cells had finally reached efficiencies higher than that of their silicon-based inorganic counterparts, or even the thin-film photovoltaics.
“85% efficiency?” he cried in disbelief as I nodded and continued to draw the blueprint.
“Organic solar cells have never gotten to such high levels before. What makes you think that you can create an OPV with such incredible efficiency?”
I smiled and began to explain. The process was simple, really. Again, the carbon nanotubes were involved in the plan. However, this time, since the carbon nanotubes have a 3D matrix that extend into the organic layers, they allow for more percolation paths throughout the device. In other words, the solar cells would be more efficient once there are more paths for the carriers to penetrate the device. The current would increase, and the photon harvesting would consequently increase as well.
“What happens,” he asked, “if there is too much current running through the device. You have organic polymers: PBCM is one of them. Would they not burn with such high currents?”
My reply? “D-Sorbitol. Yes, that’s the artificial sweetener found in your gum. However, it also crystallizes easy and forms a shield around the organic molecules that prevents them from burning. While we might sacrifice some efficiency, hopefully the effectiveness of the carbon nanotubes mixed with the PEDOT:PSS hole blocking layer would balance it out. In the end, we will have an extremely efficient, extremely durable device. What else could you ask for the power source of a city?”
He chuckled. “Perhaps that will work. However, what do you propose to do with the inner grey panels. What are these…organic light emitting diodes, or OLEDs, that you always talk about?”
I pointed towards the bright panels lining the sides of the protection wall.
“These are cost effective forms of light that can be used for both aesthetic purposes and for guidance for engineers who need to repair the Hourglasses at nighttime. They can be turned on and off with the simple manipulation of voltage.”
“How exactly are they created?” he inquired, pulling the blueprint closer to him.
“Well,” I began, “They are, in essence, very similar to the organic solar cells. They are the reverse: while organic solar cells absorb light and create electricity, OLEDs use electricity to generate light. They have the same structure, and their only difference lies in their organic layers: while solar cells have PBCM, OLEDs may have a range of polymers and molecules, from PFO to alpha-NPD and Alq3.”
Pointing to the blueprint of my plan, I continued, “They can be created on plastic substrates, which gives them the ability to be bent and molded to the curved shape of the walls. Don’t you see? They add aesthetic pleasure for tourists of the Hourglass, but they’re also practical for repairmen.”
Engineers have to consider all aspects of a design: the science, the aesthetics, the practicality. Before the blueprint would go into effect, I would also have to write proposals and convince the city council to make a budget for the Hourglass. Taking the cost into consideration, I had opted for more cost effective materials: plastic substrates, carbon nanotubes (carbon being abundant in the biosphere), simple yet sturdy organic polymers, and an aluminum cathode. While gold cathodes have a higher difference in work function from the anode and would result in a brighter device, I decided that the OLEDs only required 2000 candela to light the pathways of the Hourglass.
The physicist smiled. “Tell me, Miss Yang, do you see any problems with your plan? It seems rather farfetched.”
As a woman engineer, I must have the conviction to follow through with the plan. While I have the passion for science, unless I strongly believe in the success of this combined solar cell – OLED matrix, the city council might not be convinced. I looked towards the glowing OLED 4 feet away, a miniature prototype of the larger scale OLEDs in my plan.
“No, I don’t see any impossible problems.” While there may be some, as an engineer, it is my job to find a way to make it happen.
It was a rather ingenuous device. After testing the prototypes in the labs, I would soon bring a proposal to build a structure in the city that I would name the Hourglass. The OLED bearing grey panels around surrounding the Hourglass lifted and folded within themselves, allowing sunlight to enter in day. At night, they would envelop the Hourglass for protection. The entire machine was meant to generate energy for the nearby city: the rings that encircled its center were sheets of organic solar cells, or organic photovoltaics (OPVs). They would harvest the energy and convert them into electricity by the disassociation of an exciton.
“How can you expect the devices to not crack and break during construction and use?” The physicist inquired.
After all, typical organic photovoltaics had an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) anode layer, which made the device brittle and prone to damage from bending.
“Carbon nanotubes.” I mused, “Multi-walled carbon nanotubes.”
Instead of the brittle ITO, the organic solar cells incorporated the MWNTs into the solar cells, which were flexible and durable.
“At the molecular level, carbon nanotubes are stronger than both steel and diamond. They are lattices of carbon nestled within each other, created from carbon gas and an iron catalyst. They are grown into ‘forests’ and spun out onto wire jacks. Of course, it would require meticulous detailing and careful technical skills.”
The physicist was amused. So far, I had suggested a matrix of twelve Hourglasses throughout the city, providing the homes and corporations with the energy they needed from the sun. I had not mentioned that organic solar cells had finally reached efficiencies higher than that of their silicon-based inorganic counterparts, or even the thin-film photovoltaics.
“85% efficiency?” he cried in disbelief as I nodded and continued to draw the blueprint.
“Organic solar cells have never gotten to such high levels before. What makes you think that you can create an OPV with such incredible efficiency?”
I smiled and began to explain. The process was simple, really. Again, the carbon nanotubes were involved in the plan. However, this time, since the carbon nanotubes have a 3D matrix that extend into the organic layers, they allow for more percolation paths throughout the device. In other words, the solar cells would be more efficient once there are more paths for the carriers to penetrate the device. The current would increase, and the photon harvesting would consequently increase as well.
“What happens,” he asked, “if there is too much current running through the device. You have organic polymers: PBCM is one of them. Would they not burn with such high currents?”
My reply? “D-Sorbitol. Yes, that’s the artificial sweetener found in your gum. However, it also crystallizes easy and forms a shield around the organic molecules that prevents them from burning. While we might sacrifice some efficiency, hopefully the effectiveness of the carbon nanotubes mixed with the PEDOT:PSS hole blocking layer would balance it out. In the end, we will have an extremely efficient, extremely durable device. What else could you ask for the power source of a city?”
He chuckled. “Perhaps that will work. However, what do you propose to do with the inner grey panels. What are these…organic light emitting diodes, or OLEDs, that you always talk about?”
I pointed towards the bright panels lining the sides of the protection wall.
“These are cost effective forms of light that can be used for both aesthetic purposes and for guidance for engineers who need to repair the Hourglasses at nighttime. They can be turned on and off with the simple manipulation of voltage.”
“How exactly are they created?” he inquired, pulling the blueprint closer to him.
“Well,” I began, “They are, in essence, very similar to the organic solar cells. They are the reverse: while organic solar cells absorb light and create electricity, OLEDs use electricity to generate light. They have the same structure, and their only difference lies in their organic layers: while solar cells have PBCM, OLEDs may have a range of polymers and molecules, from PFO to alpha-NPD and Alq3.”
Pointing to the blueprint of my plan, I continued, “They can be created on plastic substrates, which gives them the ability to be bent and molded to the curved shape of the walls. Don’t you see? They add aesthetic pleasure for tourists of the Hourglass, but they’re also practical for repairmen.”
Engineers have to consider all aspects of a design: the science, the aesthetics, the practicality. Before the blueprint would go into effect, I would also have to write proposals and convince the city council to make a budget for the Hourglass. Taking the cost into consideration, I had opted for more cost effective materials: plastic substrates, carbon nanotubes (carbon being abundant in the biosphere), simple yet sturdy organic polymers, and an aluminum cathode. While gold cathodes have a higher difference in work function from the anode and would result in a brighter device, I decided that the OLEDs only required 2000 candela to light the pathways of the Hourglass.
The physicist smiled. “Tell me, Miss Yang, do you see any problems with your plan? It seems rather farfetched.”
As a woman engineer, I must have the conviction to follow through with the plan. While I have the passion for science, unless I strongly believe in the success of this combined solar cell – OLED matrix, the city council might not be convinced. I looked towards the glowing OLED 4 feet away, a miniature prototype of the larger scale OLEDs in my plan.
“No, I don’t see any impossible problems.” While there may be some, as an engineer, it is my job to find a way to make it happen.
The Doramel
In the part of Virginia that I live in there are many 18 wheelers. In fact there are two rest stops and a depot within 30 minutes of where I live. After hearing about this contest I thought to myself what if I came up with an invention that helped workers unload faster. This way medicine and other important goods could be delivered even faster to third world countries where there is no way that fork lifts and pallets could be used. Even if it was not used for medicine, it could be used for unloading heavy items like whole pieces of furniture. That would take some strain off of the movers. I had to take the time to think about the main features such an invention would posses, and what engineering principles a real engineer would use. Thus the Doramel was born. I decided to call it the Doramel (door-a-meal) because it is a combination of three other words. The “do” is from dolly. The “ram” is from ramp, and the “el” is from the ending of wheel. I named it this because the Doramel is just that, a combination of all three of these inventions.
There are four aspects of the Doramel’s design that are critical. The first is the difference in the wheel sizes. If the wheels were the same size then there would be no decline and the cargo would not slide down, so the truckers would have to constantly stop to push the cargo back out of the way to allow room for more cargo. The second feature is the fact that there is a wheel inside of the wheel. The clear ball inside the outer wheel makes it possible to have brakes. Without brakes the Doramel wouldn’t be anchored and would slide around while in use. Lastly is the folding gate. Without it then the cargo would fall off. If it didn’t fold down then the Doramel would not fit in storage areas at depots.
The design of the Doramel is simple because I used the engineering principle KISS. It contains only fourteen parts. I used the KISS principle because the goal wasn’t attractiveness; it was efficiency. At the bottom of the Doramel are the wheels. The big ones are in the back; the small are in the front. Then coming off the clear wheel inside both wheels are the brakes. The brakes are split so that they can slide between the outer wheel, and still slide over the inner wheel to be out of the way when it’s moving. Additionally, the placement of the four wheels keep it balanced; they’re placed like wheels on a car. On top of the wheels is the ramp. The ramp is wide and made of steel so that large amounts can be carried on it. Also on the ramp are three handlebars, one in front and one on each side. This is so that three men or women could push it.
Connected to the ramp by joints is the gate. The gate has three sides so it can cover three sides of the Doramel. Because the back of the Doramel is needed to unload the cargo, the gate is on the right, left, and front sides. The joints are on all three sides of the Doramel so that it can be stored easier. This way it won’t take up as much space, and more can fit in one area. There is a latch on the top of the front side of the gate so that it can fasten to the end of the ramp while it is closed. First the right side goes down, then the left side on top of the right. Finally the front goes down and latches to the ramp.
In conclusion there are three reasons why I think the Doramel is a good invention. One, it has four important features. They are the gate, the wheel inside the wheel, the placement of the wheel, and the ramp. Two, it took engineering principles to make. In this case an engineer would have used the engineering principle KISS to figure out how large amounts would fit, how to balance it, and how it would fit into storage. Most importantly the Doramel can be used to help people, both workers and recipients. It will reduce the time it takes for important items to get to people, and it will reduce the strain on workers moving the Doramel.
There are four aspects of the Doramel’s design that are critical. The first is the difference in the wheel sizes. If the wheels were the same size then there would be no decline and the cargo would not slide down, so the truckers would have to constantly stop to push the cargo back out of the way to allow room for more cargo. The second feature is the fact that there is a wheel inside of the wheel. The clear ball inside the outer wheel makes it possible to have brakes. Without brakes the Doramel wouldn’t be anchored and would slide around while in use. Lastly is the folding gate. Without it then the cargo would fall off. If it didn’t fold down then the Doramel would not fit in storage areas at depots.
The design of the Doramel is simple because I used the engineering principle KISS. It contains only fourteen parts. I used the KISS principle because the goal wasn’t attractiveness; it was efficiency. At the bottom of the Doramel are the wheels. The big ones are in the back; the small are in the front. Then coming off the clear wheel inside both wheels are the brakes. The brakes are split so that they can slide between the outer wheel, and still slide over the inner wheel to be out of the way when it’s moving. Additionally, the placement of the four wheels keep it balanced; they’re placed like wheels on a car. On top of the wheels is the ramp. The ramp is wide and made of steel so that large amounts can be carried on it. Also on the ramp are three handlebars, one in front and one on each side. This is so that three men or women could push it.
Connected to the ramp by joints is the gate. The gate has three sides so it can cover three sides of the Doramel. Because the back of the Doramel is needed to unload the cargo, the gate is on the right, left, and front sides. The joints are on all three sides of the Doramel so that it can be stored easier. This way it won’t take up as much space, and more can fit in one area. There is a latch on the top of the front side of the gate so that it can fasten to the end of the ramp while it is closed. First the right side goes down, then the left side on top of the right. Finally the front goes down and latches to the ramp.
In conclusion there are three reasons why I think the Doramel is a good invention. One, it has four important features. They are the gate, the wheel inside the wheel, the placement of the wheel, and the ramp. Two, it took engineering principles to make. In this case an engineer would have used the engineering principle KISS to figure out how large amounts would fit, how to balance it, and how it would fit into storage. Most importantly the Doramel can be used to help people, both workers and recipients. It will reduce the time it takes for important items to get to people, and it will reduce the strain on workers moving the Doramel.
Imagine That It Could Be A Power Core
In this day of age we have many different pieces of technology that we love to use, they keep our houses warm, allow us to play games or do work, or even help us cook our food better! All of these things need some form of power to run properly. Electricity, coal, gas, solar power, wind power, there are countless possibilities. Even the astronauts on the International Space Station need to use power to keep their technology running, so they can perform experiments and keep comforts that we have on Earth while in space. The station, unfortunately, can’t use normal power like gas or coal, because it would be too expensive to shoot a rocket up every single time the station would need more power! My belief is that the object shown in picture three is a power core for the ISS that will suit its special power needs.
Normally the station runs on solar power, which is collected with photovoltaic cells (solar collectors that take sunlight and turn it directly into electricity¹). Those cells are mounted on wing-like structures connected to the station and are tilted towards the sun. However, during the ninety-two minute orbit around Earth, thirty-six minutes are spent in the shadow of Earth. During the time that there is no sun, rechargeable nickel-hydrogen batteries are used to power the ISS. The core should have two halves, one to deal with using the power of the batteries and recharging them during the solar power phase, and the other to deal with collecting the electricity made by the photovoltaic cells and distributing it around the station. Computers will have to check where power is needed, give a signal to the core to tell it to send off the power to wherever it’s needed the most, and make sure that none of the electricity goes to waste. The power transition between the two sources needs to be smooth, and the engineers who build it will have to make sure of that. Also, there must be a good amount of room inside one of the halves of core to hold all of the nickel-hydrogen battery cells, as 1,824 of the battery cells are used.
There is, however, a downside to using solar power on the International Space Station. The heat from the sun can damage incredibly important equipment, so something has to be used to cool those areas off, or one of those important pieces could be severely wrecked and maybe cause something to shut down that needs to be running at all times. The solution for that are liquid ammonia reactors. This power core could have a small section between the two halves to hold the reactors. That section could be hooked up to a computer that measures temperature readings around the station and informs the reactors that something is getting warmer than it should.
Many different engineers need to be involved to help create the core. Mechanical engineers will spend time designing the core, putting it together inside the station, and setting up some of its more basic features. Computer engineers will be busy trying to connect all the machinery together with the computers needed to make sure that the core knows when to switch between the power sources and keep track of other changes and readings. An aeronautics engineer will have to make sure that when the core is in the station, everything will be fine and that the ISS will continue to orbit properly. These engineers can choose to keep the core simple looking, however, if keeping it simple looking means that an important part will be left out; they will have to sacrifice looks. Efficiency must be at the front of all of the engineer’s minds so that absolutely nothing goes wrong while constructing the device or using it when it arrives on the station.
This is what I believe about the object in picture three, that it’s a power core that could be used to power the ISS, or other things in space, like rockets or the Hubble Telescope, or even factories down on Earth.
Normally the station runs on solar power, which is collected with photovoltaic cells (solar collectors that take sunlight and turn it directly into electricity¹). Those cells are mounted on wing-like structures connected to the station and are tilted towards the sun. However, during the ninety-two minute orbit around Earth, thirty-six minutes are spent in the shadow of Earth. During the time that there is no sun, rechargeable nickel-hydrogen batteries are used to power the ISS. The core should have two halves, one to deal with using the power of the batteries and recharging them during the solar power phase, and the other to deal with collecting the electricity made by the photovoltaic cells and distributing it around the station. Computers will have to check where power is needed, give a signal to the core to tell it to send off the power to wherever it’s needed the most, and make sure that none of the electricity goes to waste. The power transition between the two sources needs to be smooth, and the engineers who build it will have to make sure of that. Also, there must be a good amount of room inside one of the halves of core to hold all of the nickel-hydrogen battery cells, as 1,824 of the battery cells are used.
There is, however, a downside to using solar power on the International Space Station. The heat from the sun can damage incredibly important equipment, so something has to be used to cool those areas off, or one of those important pieces could be severely wrecked and maybe cause something to shut down that needs to be running at all times. The solution for that are liquid ammonia reactors. This power core could have a small section between the two halves to hold the reactors. That section could be hooked up to a computer that measures temperature readings around the station and informs the reactors that something is getting warmer than it should.
Many different engineers need to be involved to help create the core. Mechanical engineers will spend time designing the core, putting it together inside the station, and setting up some of its more basic features. Computer engineers will be busy trying to connect all the machinery together with the computers needed to make sure that the core knows when to switch between the power sources and keep track of other changes and readings. An aeronautics engineer will have to make sure that when the core is in the station, everything will be fine and that the ISS will continue to orbit properly. These engineers can choose to keep the core simple looking, however, if keeping it simple looking means that an important part will be left out; they will have to sacrifice looks. Efficiency must be at the front of all of the engineer’s minds so that absolutely nothing goes wrong while constructing the device or using it when it arrives on the station.
This is what I believe about the object in picture three, that it’s a power core that could be used to power the ISS, or other things in space, like rockets or the Hubble Telescope, or even factories down on Earth.
The Spit-Baller
Imagine it is 2050, and you’ve just arrived in Washington D.C. from Los Angeles after an exhausting 4 hour ride. Air planes have become so expensive because of oil shortage, they are barely ever flown anymore. Your Grandma is telling y
ou that before the spit-baller there used to be the train system, and it would have taken four days to get to D.C. Imagine the spit-baller looking like Image 2. The magLev (magnetic levitation) pod is a National Transportation System, dubbed spit-baller by its most frequent riders. The idea of the spit-baller comes from its round shape, and the way the sphere on the inside seems to be protected by the metal frame.
The spit-baller is a speedy comfortable way to travel. The round, perfectly spherical shape allows for a smooth ride, as well as perfect magnetic balance. In the metal frame there are magnets which are the secret behind the speed. The metal frame is fixed with a magnetic material made of carbon nanotubes. In 2020, advances in nano technology allowed carbon nanotubes to become the most powerful magnet material. Similar to simple magnets in everyday life there is a north pole in the top of the pod, and a south pole in the bottom. The pods travel through underground tunnels with controllable magnets in the ceilings and floors. Because likes repel, there is a cushion of air between the pod and tunnel, giving it a levitating affect. The sphere within the metal frame is made of polycarbonate material. Its qualities of light weight and heat resistance are ideal for the pod. If the pod travels fast, there will be friction and the sphere will heat up. Engineers keep the tunnels vacuum packed to minimize friction heat. Because polycarbonate is light weight, there will be less weight for the magnets to support.
An engineer is a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines, machines, or any of various branches of engineering. The engineer who created the pod worked for NASA because in 2012 President Obama gave NASA a budget for a magnetics program. NASA used this budget to create the National Transport System called magLev pods. This engineer worked with a team of engineers to design the way the pod would be propelled through the tunnels, and the system of magnets needed in the tunnels to allow the pod to move.
Some of the Engineering principles that were used would be a stylish, yet simple design that every age would like. Another principle would be to make the spit-baller easy to use. The pod uses today’s simple technology of computerized maps. You enter your destination, and the pod pulls up a map that it can follow automatically through the series of underground tunnels. This feature works like an autopilot.
The spit-baller is a high-tech green way of transportation. It is energy-efficient and less expensive over-all than cars and planes, and petroleum-based transportation methods. Citizens are satisfied with the speed of the product, and appreciate the luxuries the magLev pod has to offer. This new idea of a National Transportation System has revolutionized travel. Image 2 is the source of my idea of the magLev pod.
ou that before the spit-baller there used to be the train system, and it would have taken four days to get to D.C. Imagine the spit-baller looking like Image 2. The magLev (magnetic levitation) pod is a National Transportation System, dubbed spit-baller by its most frequent riders. The idea of the spit-baller comes from its round shape, and the way the sphere on the inside seems to be protected by the metal frame.The spit-baller is a speedy comfortable way to travel. The round, perfectly spherical shape allows for a smooth ride, as well as perfect magnetic balance. In the metal frame there are magnets which are the secret behind the speed. The metal frame is fixed with a magnetic material made of carbon nanotubes. In 2020, advances in nano technology allowed carbon nanotubes to become the most powerful magnet material. Similar to simple magnets in everyday life there is a north pole in the top of the pod, and a south pole in the bottom. The pods travel through underground tunnels with controllable magnets in the ceilings and floors. Because likes repel, there is a cushion of air between the pod and tunnel, giving it a levitating affect. The sphere within the metal frame is made of polycarbonate material. Its qualities of light weight and heat resistance are ideal for the pod. If the pod travels fast, there will be friction and the sphere will heat up. Engineers keep the tunnels vacuum packed to minimize friction heat. Because polycarbonate is light weight, there will be less weight for the magnets to support.
An engineer is a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines, machines, or any of various branches of engineering. The engineer who created the pod worked for NASA because in 2012 President Obama gave NASA a budget for a magnetics program. NASA used this budget to create the National Transport System called magLev pods. This engineer worked with a team of engineers to design the way the pod would be propelled through the tunnels, and the system of magnets needed in the tunnels to allow the pod to move.
Some of the Engineering principles that were used would be a stylish, yet simple design that every age would like. Another principle would be to make the spit-baller easy to use. The pod uses today’s simple technology of computerized maps. You enter your destination, and the pod pulls up a map that it can follow automatically through the series of underground tunnels. This feature works like an autopilot.
The spit-baller is a high-tech green way of transportation. It is energy-efficient and less expensive over-all than cars and planes, and petroleum-based transportation methods. Citizens are satisfied with the speed of the product, and appreciate the luxuries the magLev pod has to offer. This new idea of a National Transportation System has revolutionized travel. Image 2 is the source of my idea of the magLev pod.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
