Solar Water Stills: Principles And Application

Since the 1980s, no large-capacity solar distillation plants have been built, mainly for the following reasons: Large installation areas are needed, solar distillation plants have low efficiencies, and solar water desalination has been developed, which in some cases can replace solar distillation (e.g., for medium-size communities). (more…)

Materials In The Energy Area| Fabricating Microscale Energy Systems

Materials Energy
n fabricating microscale energy systems, a number of operating conditions must first be taken into account. Foremost are the operating temperatures throughout the device. Often with mesoscale/ microscale energy systems, two closely spaced parts of the same device have a large temperature difference between them; hence, a large gradient can be present. A primary constraint is to have the material withstand the maximum temperatures existing in the system, but the gradients and thermal expansion must also be tolerated. (more…)

Heat Flow In Oceanic Lithosphere

Oceanic Lithosphere
Oceanic heat flow data show a clear variation with the age of the lithosphere. Values greater than 100 mW m –2 occur near the ridges and decrease smoothly to approximately 50 mW m –2 in the oldest oceanic lithosphere. Similarly, ocean depth is approximately 2500 m at the ridges and increases to 5600 m for the oldest sea floor.

These variations are the primary data used to constrain models of the thermal evolution of oceanic lithosphere and, hence, of the forces driving plate tectonics. (more…)

Geothermal Energy, a Commitment to the Future

The Geologists Association president advocates the use of geothermal energy by its high durability and low maintenance. Besides a remarkable performance.

The president of the Association of Geologists, Luis Eugenio Suarez said, during the annual dinner of this organization held yesterday, (more…)

Miniature and Microscale Heat Engines for Power Generation Propulsion

Many characteristics of traditional engines make them attractive for use in power generation and propulsion technology. They tend to be self-aspirating and rely on combustion, which at the macroscale is a very robust form of heat generation. Fuel is plentiful and inexpensive, with storage easily realized. The energy density of the fuel (or fuel plus container), when compared with electrochemical sources, is high. Along with these advantages come a number of drawbacks, especially where miniaturization is concerned. For example, an engine is thermodynamically restricted (by the Carnot efficiency) in its conversion of chemical energy to work due to the intermediate heat-generating step. (more…)