The Stirling Engine

            Although the Stirling engine is less visible compared to other types of heat engines, it has been existent since 1816. Reverend Robert Stirling, a Scottish minister, invented this engine to function as a good alternative to steam engine (Bonnick 96). Back then, steam engines were considered less safe, especially due to risks of boiler explosions.

Unlike steam engines, Stirling engines function through external combustion and contain a cylinder that seals gas (e.g. helium, hydrogen and gas). The gas is then mechanically heated and cooled. The heating mechanism (“regenerator”) causes the gas to expand, subsequently driving the piston and generator. The gas contracts when transferred to the cold side, thus functioning as an “air-cooled heat exchanger” (Andrews and Jelley 216).

In terms of configuration, Stirling engines are categorized into two: the two-piston type and the displacer type, as shown below.

In the two-piston type, the engine contains pistons with spaces in separate cylinders that are continuously heated and cooled. In the displacer type Stirling engine, an insulated displacer piston displaces the air from the hot to the cold side of the displacer.

The Stirling engine has its tradeoffs. On the one hand, it is quiet, has an excellent thermal efficiency, with very little to unknown emissions during engine start-up. On the other hand, the engine takes more time before it warms up, more bulky, and needs accurate machination compared to other types of commercial engines (National Research Council 63). This explains why Stirling engines are relatively uncommon for commercial use.

Despite the limitations of this mechanical technology, one can find uses of Sterling engines in a number of areas. This engine has been continuously developed for solar power technology and biomass energy. A 10 to 25 Kilowatt generator with this engine usually supplies electricity in rural areas (Andrews and Jelley 216). Stirling engines are also used in submarines, heat pumps, and as cryocoolers.

Stirling Engine in a Submarine

Works Cited

Andrews, John and Nick Jelley. Energy Science: Principles, Technologies, and Impacts. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Web. 27 October 2013. <http://books.google.com/>.

Bonnick, Allan. Automotive Science and Mathematics. Elsevier: Burlington, MA, 2008. Web. 27 October 2013. <http://books.google.com/>.

“Google Images.” 2013. Web. 27 October 2013. <https://www.google.com/>.

National Research Council. Review of the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997. Web. 27 October 2013. <http://books.google.com/>.

The MIT Nuclear Research Reactor serves the research purposes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

What do they do at MIT?

The reactor is used for research and not power, moreover it is used for materials research as well as medical research and it produces isotopes for medicine for implantation and finally it has other researching radiation.

The MIT nuclear reactor contains a number of experimental facilities such as In-core Irradiation Facilities, Fission converter beam, thermal neutron beam, and beam ports.

The MIT nuclear reactor has three process, we are going to start talking about the Fission process. The fission is basically when the nucleus absorbs an extra neutron and it breaks into two parts. The fissions products contain a lot of energy. They are saving the energy for the reactor.

Reaching to the Core description, the core consists of 27 positions most of which are filled with fuel elements. They have neutron-controlling blades as well as water circulates through the core.

Lastly reaching to the reactor systems, they lie under two parts, one of which is called the cooling system. The MIT reactor produces heat in addition to neutrons, heat would be converted through steam into electricity the heat is carried away via heat exchangers.

On the other hand is the radiation monitoring, The MIT Reactor has over twenty area and effluent radiation monitors operating continuously to provide an indication of radiation levels at various points both inside and outside the reactor.

Japan had faced the most challenging part in their economy after the spate of Tsunami and earthquake last March 2011. The epidemic had rapped Japan’s ultimate source of their energy supply which is the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The disaster opens the doors for new strategies in conserving and distributing energy supply towards the half of the country’s energy consumers. However, decisions over incidents cost with several arguments in some of Japanese’s legal aspects. It was decided that the nuclear power plant should be closed by the 2040, in which until now is still under series of deliberation (Japan Strives to go Nuclear Free), as the probable solution could affect the country’s economy and growth. Thus, some environmental enthusiasts took their chances in eliminating the nuclear plant as this would be a good opportunity in accessing renewable energy. The Canadian environmentalist named David Suzuki had dealt with the Japan’s government including the private sect in developing the hydroelectric plant as an alternative power source of energy. The hydro-plant had existed along with the nuclear energy plant but in a diminutive percentage as energy consumption (Renewable Energy for Japan: Post Fukushima Quest). Moreover, the strategy for of solar energy as energy source was supported by many of Japan’s environmental enthusiasts including Sweden and Germany; but the plan was grounded with many financial issues due to the outlays of PV materials. Other scholarly studies had pinned out Japan’s strategies in Post Fukushima crisis which are identified thru the following; identify energy sufficiency risks including small back up energy supplies, renewable energy as alternative source and small power grids. The next one is security of costs for other power subsidies, implementation of “feed-in tariff” on energy sources, rebuilding the 10 region’s energy plants and the main nuclear plant and lastly importing geothermal energy supply or petroleum gas as source of energy (Seven Point Plan for Japan’s Energy Strategy Post Fukushima). The loss and the danger of Fukushima power plant resulted in series of deliberation and had garnered a lot of apprehensions in terms of its safety in any possible earthquake incidents in the future. Until now, the Japan’s government is in the middle of this discussion either to pursue the formal elimination of nuclear power system or resume the costly alternative power source in their country.

Works Cited

Renewable Energy for Japan: A Post Fukushima Quest. Wharton University of Pennsylvania.       (2013). Web.  http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/renewable-energy-japan-post-fukushima-quest/. 12 October 2013

Tabuchi, Hiroko. Japan Strives To Go Nuclear Free. The New York Times. (2012 August). Web.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/business/energy-environment/japan-faces-costs-of-closing-reactors.html?ref=asia. 12 October 2013

Seven Point Plan for Japan’s Energy Strategy Post Fukushima. Bloomberge New Energy Finance.            (2011 June). Web. http://about.newenergyfinance.com/about/press-releases/seven-point-plan-for-japans-energy-strategy-post-fukushima/. 12 October 2013

 As the demand of power source around the globe is increasing, the initiation of Solar PV power had proved that it is still the best alternative source of energy. The idea began when the rapid use of nuclear power and natural gasses or oil as energy, had caused the problem of global warming. Moreover, solar energy power system helps to rejuvenate the earth’s dilemma in terms of global warming. Recently, various researches had performed that the solar energy coming from the sun can also be usable and efficient to move automobiles. As the study and use of solar energy has been successful over the years, the movement for continuous promotion and production of solar PV had broadened in some countries. Last 2012 the World Bank commenced the program of “Eco2 Cities”, this is to promote the elimination of the green house effect problem and encouraging people in most urban areas to use solar energy as an alternative source of energy. Some countries in Europe like Sweden had already started using the solar energy as their source of energy, looking forward that by the year 2020 a 100% of renewed energy will be deployed in their main cities. In Asia, the Republic of China leads the use of energy power system. Scientists and researchers had discovered that China has a great potential source for renewable energy such as “photovoltaics fitting”, which is use in some urban and rural domestic homes in China. The solar energy campaigns were able to garner financial support in about $34 billion to United States, $54 billion for China and $41.2 billion in part for Germany coming from private finance legalities last 2010. Today, some departments of United States have been supporting the program of energy power system. The Solar Energy Industries Association revealed that 5.2 gigawatts of renewable energy will be accomplished by 2013; moreover, the department was able to deal with Electricity Storage Association in order to fasten the recovery and development of renewable energies and power generators centralizing a clean-green environment in affordable costs.

Works Cited

Resch, Rhone. Solar Power and Energy Storage: Pairing Technologies Vital to Our Future. Renewable Energy World.Com. (2013 September). Web.            http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/09/solar-power-and-energy-storage-pairing-technologies-vital-to-our-future. 06 October 2013

Montgomery, James. Reenergizing Cities with Solar Energy. Renewable Energy World.Com.         (2013 October). Web.            http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/10/reenergizing-cities-with-solar-energy. 06 October 2013

Pierpaolo19. Solar Energy Efforts Around the World, and the Wisdom of Clean energy Subsidies  in General. PS1991. (2012, October 20). Web.            http://sites.suffolk.edu/pierpaolo19/2012/10/20/solar-energy-efforts-around-the-world-and-the-wisdom-of-clean-energy-subsidies-in-general/. 06 October 2013.

Human endeavors had lead to several discoveries and researches in these past few decades. There activities were purposely were done in order to address the necessities of human kind in the rapid growing society. One of the most talked about issues nowadays is the production of natural gas via hydraulic fracturing. What is fracturing all about? How does it benefit to consumers? Hydrofracking is a procedure done through “horizontal drilling” in order to haul out a huge amount of natural oil or gas from the deep well ( scientific study confirms groundwater contamination by hydraulic fracturing). This procedure first begun in 1947 and was totally recognized in late 1950’s. For the record, the most concentrated and huge amount of natural gas extracted was drilled in western Pennsylvania. The discovery had poured supports and spontaneous researchers by the American government particularly handled by the department of energy and the petroleum society in the next following years ( hydraulic fracturing 101,2). The cause is beneficial as it will provide additional source of gas and oil to be used by consumers and to be sold out in the market society. The university of Texas together with the cooperation of environmental defense funds has supported the promotion of natural gas which is extracted from fracking. They opted that natural gas are far more better than using coals, as it is considered cleaner and adequate source of energy ( Gas Leaks in Fracking Disputed in Study)

However, there are arguments in terms of the risks in human health due to leakages caused by fracking. The PNAS 2013 or Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences had exuded some sort of scientific investigations that harmful chemicals are possibly mixed into ground waters due to leaks from hydraulic fracking. The study has been supported by found facts of positive contamination water in homes nearby the drilling area(Scientific Study Confirms Groundwater Contamination by Hydraulic Fracturing). The Environmental Protection Agency had made a move in managing the leakages in fracking companies. This is to control the depth of a drilled ground or well in order to avoid leaks and escape of other kinds of natural gases. As of now, the order has not yet released until 2015 and it is still undergoing in series of deliberations from the petroleum union and the U.S. government agencies (Gas Leaks in Fracking Disputed in Study).

Works Cited

Wines, Michael. Gas Leaks in Fracking Disputed in Studies. The New York Times. (2013  September 16). Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/us/gas-leaks-in-fracking-less-than-estimated.html?_r=0. 29 September 2013

Guelpa, Philip. Scientific Study Confirms Groundwater Contamination by Hydraulic Fracturing.  World Socialist Web Site. (2013 July 9). Web.            http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/07/09/frac-j09.html. 29 September 2013

King, George E. Hydraulic Fracturing 101: What Every Representative, Environmentalist, Regulator, Reporter, Investor, University Researcher, Neighbor and Engineer Should    Know About Estimating Frac Risk and Improving Frac Performance in Unconventional     Gas and Oil Wells. Society of Petroleum Engineers International. (2012). Web.           http://fracfocus.org/sites/default/files/publications/hydraulic_fracturing_101.pdf  29           September 2013