Fuel of the Future
It is obvious that this country has a knack for vast and rapid consumption of oil. Increases in greenhouse gas emissions, global warming threats and surging gas prices are just some of the warning signs. In the last two decades, this country has made great bounds in new, energy efficient technologies that have played a major role in the United States’ energy conservation efforts. “It’s not about turning off the lights or unplugging the refrigerator. It is a story about better technology. Industry and economics, not virtue or government control, are the driving forces” (Brown, 2007). New technologies in everything from simple household appliances to transportation methods have had a major impact in reducing this country’s rate of energy consumption, and more importantly its need for foreign oil. “The most important exception to this trend is in transportation. While fuel mileage in cars continues to improve, the fuel efficiency of U.S. automobiles has actually declined since the mid-1990’s. That’s because many drivers have switched from ordinary cars, to light trucks or so-called sport utility vehicles” (Brown, 2007). Vehicles and public transportation methods account for a critical portion of our nations energy tab. One way scientists have countered this problem is the development of alternative fuels, specifically the use of Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Advancements in the research and development of this alternative fuel have proven to be a vital solution to this nation’s increasingly prevalent energy crisis.
“The world’s demand for energy is projected to double by 2050 in response to population growth and the industrialization of developing countries” (Crabtree, 2004). Through its react...
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3) Crabtree, G, Dresselhaus, M, & Buchanan, M (2004, December). The Hydrogen Economy. Physics Today, 57(12), Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://search.ebhost.com.proxy.uwlib.uwyo.ed/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=15210897&site=ehost-live.
4) Hutchinson, H (2007, December). Going for Distance. Mechanical Engineering, Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.uwlib.uwyo.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=27761367&site=ehost-live
5) Leal, D, Velez, A, Prelas, M, Gosh, T, & Leal-Quiros, E (2006). Hydrogen Storage in Diamond Powder Utilizing Plasma NaF Surface Treatment for Fuel Cell Applications. AIP Conference Proceedings, 875(1), Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.uwlib.uwyo.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=23421089&site=ehost-live.
U.S. energy dependence is higher today than it was during the oil shock of the 1970's, and oil imports are projected to increase. Passenger vehicles alone consume 6 million barrels of oil every single day. If just 20 percent of cars used full cells, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels every day. 10,000 fuel cell vehicles running on non-petroleum fuel would reduce oil consumption by 6.98 million gallons a year.
The earth’s supply of gasoline is slowly diminishing along with the cleanliness. In a desperate attempt to save precious gas, scientists have been attempting to find new ways to store and use energy. One way that scientists are consistently trying out is storing hydrogen. According to Demirbas(2001), “Because hydrogen can be easily generated from renewable energy sources and water, it has great potential as an energy source” (p. 287). When using hydrogen, the product leads to zero emissions (Yocular & Olgun, 2008, p. 309). If not that, then carbon-free or carbon neutral systems are formed (Yocular and Olgun, 2008, p. 309). Alternative-energy researchers have attempted to find materials that have properties that can resemble those of sponges (Baker, 2005, p.82). This way, the materials could ‘soak in’ the hydrogen and then hold it until it is further needed (Baker, 2005, p.82). There are many ways of storing hydrogen, but what is the most effective way to store it?
As the global population increases exponentially, having passed six billion in 1999, the world population is expected to be 8.9 billion by the year 2050. The worlds energy consumption will increase by an estimated 54 percent by 2025. Energy demand in the industrialized world is projected to grow 1.2 percent per year. Energy is a critical component of sustained economic growth and improved standards of living. One of the major requirements for sustaining human progress is an adequate source of energy. As the world’s technological enhancements and standards of living improve, so too does their appetite for electricity.
The future American commuter will undoubtedly have to transition from the use of fossil fuels to new alternatives due to the diminishing availability of the nation’s oil resources. How will America respond to this upcoming issue? It is difficult to predict which alternative fuel source America will ultimately choose, but with the premier of Nissan’s electric powered Leaf and other companies; such as Tesla Motors and Chevy, with their electric cars ready for market, the electric car may be winning the race to become the new standard for the gasoline alternative. Electric cars resolve long standing environmental issues, but it will need to maneuver around many roadblocks to become a marketable consideration for the general public. The cost of electric cars, currently on the market, makes them an impractical purchase for the average consumer. If cost is not the growing concern in today’s economy which prevents the consumer from considering this option; they may deny the technological advance due to battery storage capabilities and the inadequate infrastructure in place to refuel and provide for them.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, over half of the oil used in the USA is imported. Most of this imported oil is located in the middle east and is controlled by OPEC members. Subsequent oil price shocks and price manipulation by OPEC have cost our economy dearly—about $1.9 trillion from 2004 to 2008—and each major shock was followed by a recession (Reduce). We may never be able to fully eliminate our need to import oil, but we can reduce cartel market control and the economic impact of price shocks by reducing our demand (Reduce). One way we can reduce our reliance on oil is through investing in renewable energy. Solar power, wind power, and hydro power are all forms of energy which come from renewable resources. Unlike oil, solar, wind and hydro electric power is abundant and can be obtained locally.
In this report I will explain the fuel systems in an automobile. I will cover different parts and how they work. First thing to do is explain how the fuel system works. The purpose of the fuel system is to store and supply fuel to the cylinder chamber where it can be mixed with air then vaporized and burned to produce energy. The fuel, which can be either gas or diesel is stored in a fuel tank. A fuel pump draws the fuel from the gas tank through lines and brings it through a fuel filter. Next it goes to either a carburetor or fuel injector and then delivered to the cylinder chamber for combustion.
Fuel alternatives for the future are very important because, we need resources for life. We won’t have fossil fuels forever. It is important to start now. If we did not have any fuel alternatives how would the world be?
Hart, David. " Hydrogen: A Truly Sustainable Transport Fuel?" Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 1.3 (2003): 138-45. Web. Kühne, Reinhart. "
Fossil fuels are an important part of life. When you turn on the lights, watch TV, or take a shower, the electricity that you are using is being generated by fossil fuels. The three types of fossil fuels are coal, crude oil, and natural gas. They all take millions of years to form, so they are considered to be “non-renewable”- eventually, the fossil fuels will all be used up. One dangerous biological effect of using fossil fuels is ocean acidification. Extracting and transporting fossil fuels can also be very dangerous. Environmentally damaging accidents such as groundwater contamination, land subsidence, and oil spills occur frequently. Global warming is another possible environmental effect. Fossil fuels have a crucial role in modern society, but since they are non-renewable and dangerous, we should reduce our dependence on them and explore alternative energy sources. Wind energy, hydroelectricity, and solar energy are some examples of renewable fuel sources. There are also many things that people can do everyday to save energy (and, in turn, conserve fossil fuels).
Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on the earth. It can be found in the oceans as well as the atmosphere. Over the last few years, talk about the future of hydrogen power has grown from a whisper to a roar. The use of hydrogen is not just the burning of the gas, but of its use in a fuel cell. Fuel cells might be the device that causes the extinction of the internal combustion engine. A fuel cell is a device that produces electricity from a fuel and an oxidizer, a substance that combines with the fuel. The fuel and oxidizer react chemically at two separate electrodes to produce the direct electric current; These cells use hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen as the oxidizer. Hydrogen power could be the silver bullet to the current and future energy situation.
The world that we live into today affords us the expectation that the flip a switch will turn the lights on. As populations increase and developing nations undergo dramatic economic growth, this energy demand will only continue to grow. The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that “the world’s energy needs could be 50% higher in 2030 than they are today” (ElBaradei). Given this projected growth, it is necessary for world leaders must take action to secure the energy supply. Meaning that world leaders need to start seriously considering an alternative to non-renewable energy sources. “In 2012, the United States generated about 4,054 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. About 68% of the electricity generated was from fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), with 37% attributed from coal” (U.S. Energy Information Administration). The fossil fuels that are used to supply over half of our country’s energy are in finite supply and are increasing in price to astronomical heights.
For years man has relied on energy in order to be successful in life. The industrial revolution relied on coal for the new inventions brought into the world. Life as has never been the same since then. However since that time, there has been little done to improve on energy efficiency and humans still primarily rely on fossil fuels for energy. For over a hundred years the Earth has become more polluted and dirtier than ever before. Now, with new, innovative technology there is an opportunity to change that and to rely on renewable, cleaner sources of energy. The main source of energy for the world should be alternative energy instead of energy from fossil fuels.
In addition to, a huge issue with non-renewable energy is the fact that we get most of it from foreign countries. According to a recent study done by Energy Information Administration, “58% of our petroleum comes from outside the country”, this means as some speculate, that o...
My first interest in Supply Chain Management resulted from my experience. Ever since I was young, I wanted to understand not just the ‘how’ of Mechanical engineering problems, but also why machines worked at the fundamental level. In particular, I was interested in learning the application of experimental techniques and principles governing Physics to solve problems. Therefore, I found the pursuit of B.E. in Mechanical Engineering almost a necessity, given my need to satiate my curiosity to gain deeper knowledge of that area.
middle of paper ... ... g the Energy Revolution." Foreign Affairs. Nov/Dec 2010: 111. SIRS Issues Researcher.