Tag Archives: Technology

Tom Vales Talk

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Recently, our Science and Innovation class had a unique opportunity to get acquainted with Tom Vales. An amazing professor who definitely knows how to introduce the physics to the class and make it entertaining at the same time. The main topic which Tom covered were types of engines and machines.The first experiment which the Professor introduced was the experiment with the stirling engine. The machine works with the help of heat. Professor Vales put the engine on top of a special cup filled with water. The heat which rose in the cup was trapped and under the piston created heat and as a result – a working machine. Tom added that the machine is 200 years old and is still widely used nowadays.

Next Professor Vales showed us the Peltier Junction. The machine generates an electric current and uses a thermoelectric effect to create very cold temperatures.

After that Tom introduced the Mendocino motor. It has 4 solar cell magnets which generate the power which the motor uses to levitate. This motor also uses its own magnetic field to float. The magnetic which the motor has converts light into electricity.

Professor Vales broadened our minds with the topic of electricity and how engines and motors use it. The office which the Professor has is amazing. The machines and gadgets there truly show the amazing power of Science and how electricity can be used to assist a person in daily life. I loved his method of explaining and he has a great personality as well. It was an amazing experience. Thanks Tom!

 

 

 

Natural Gas Hydraulic Fracturing.

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All of us use something every day. Everything is made out of something. Phones, furniture, cars, planes – all of those require some natural resources. Nowadays the amount of resources which humanity uses decreases every day. Scientists are working hard to find new ways to extract such resources like oil, natural gas and other. Natural gas at the same time runs out quite fast but recently a new way to obtain it has been found – the Hydraulic Fracturing which allows to increase or restore the rate at which fluids, such as petroleum, water, or natural gas. Such technology makes the production of natural gas possible even from rock formations deep below the earth’s surface. Fractures provide a conductive path connecting a larger volume of the reservoir to the well. So-called “super fracing”, which creates cracks deeper in the rock formation to release more oil and gas, will increase efficiency of hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is also applied in industry in many ways, for example:

  • To stimulate groundwater wells.
  • To precondition or induce rock to cave in mining.
  • As a means of enhancing waste remediation processes, usually hydrocarbon waste or spills.
  • To dispose of waste by injection into deep rock formations.
  • As a method to measure the stress in the earth.
  • For heat extraction to produce electricity in an enhanced geothermal systems.
  • To increase injection rates for geologic sequestration of CO2.

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Scientist predict that Hydraulic fracturing will account about 70% of natural gas development in the future. Hydraulic fracturing as well as horizontal drilling use the latest technologies and such technology is much more viable for companies to recover natural gas. For instance, In the United States, 45% of domestic natural gas production and 17% of oil production would be lost within 5 years without usage of hydraulic fracturing. In conclusion, we can say that such technology is very useful and has a great potential in future for many world companies. And if companies will start using this technology the resource decreasing will be drastically stopped!

References:

  1. National Petroleum Council, Prudent Development: Realizing the Potential of North America’s Abundant Natural Gas and Oil Resources, September 15, 2011.
  2. IHS Global Insight, The Economic and Employment Contributions of Natural Gas in the United States, December 2011
  3. Wikipedia: Hydraulic Fracturing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing)