Clippings

Technology Review - Tapping Rocks for Power

Link: The Impact of Emerging Technologies: Tapping Rocks for Power - Technology Review.

A European consortium has tapped the heat energy of 200-degree Centigrade granite five kilometers down.  Through blasting, the rocks are fractured such that brine can be injected into the rocks and drawn out for power generation or heating.  Flow rates sufficient to generate 1.5 megawatts of power have been achieved.  To be profitable, the flow rate needs to be doubled.  Testing is underway to determine whether acid can be used to reduce flow resistance.

Technology Review - Super-Repellent Plastic

Link: The Impact of Emerging Technologies: Super-Repellent Plastic - Technology Review.

GE has developed a superhydrophobic plastic based on the Lotus Effect that repels water.  Different from other initiatives that worked with plastics that were already hydrophobic (and expensive) plastics, GE used Lexan, a cheap plastic that is normally hydrophilic (easily wetted), and roughens the surface using a chemical treatment.  Although the current process makes the plastic opaque, GE believes a transparent version is possible. 

GE estimates commercial products using this process will be available in five years.  Applications include food containers for sticky substances that can be completely emptied, self-clearing surfaces, and inexpensive diagnostic chips that rely on fluids flowing easily through tiny channels. 

Technology Review - Switchgrass to Gas?

Link: The Impact of Emerging Technologies: Switchgrass to Gas? - Technology Review.

This article describes both the challenges and benefits of using cellulose as a feedstock for ethanol.  Cellulose is a more complex molecule than starch, requiring heat, pressure and acids to 'pre-condition' the cellulose prior to the fermentation process.  On the other hand, being able to use all parts of a plant significantly increases the yield.  A gallon of ethanol from switchgrass could generate 60,000 'net' BTUs (energy generated less energy consumed in growing, harvesting and fermenting the plant), compared to 20,000 BTUs if the source is corn kernels.  Switchgrass can grow on marginal lands to avoid affecting food production, potentially replacing 30% of current gasoline.  An acre of land could produce enough switchgrass to produce from 600 to 1500 gallons of ethanol, without the large inputs of irrigation, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. 

Michael Raab of Agrivida is investigating adding genes that will generate enzymes to break down the cellulose, but only under specific triggering conditions to avoid weakening the plant while it is growing.  Field trials based on modified corn are expected by 2007, with commercial availability in 2010 and a modified switchgrass at least 2 or 3 years later. 

Japan for Sustainability - Eco-Houses Built with Domestic Cypress

Link: Japan for Sustainability - Eco-Houses Built with Domestic Cypress.

Sumitomo Forestry Company is selling "a new wooden house design based on a concept of optimal harmony between wood housing and the demands of daily life. "  To reduce the environmental impact, key goals include:

• "a healthy and comfortable housing environment,"
• "an affinity with the surrounding environment"
• and "protection of the global environment."

The homes use primarily Japanese cypress for the pillars and foundation, and relies on traditional knowledge in using natural energy sources as well as air conditioning.  Natural materials are used for the walls, providing moisture control, insulation, and the ability to absorb/fix volatile organic compounds (VOCs)  such as formaldehyde.  The houses also uses innovative techniques to reduce the isolation of residents from seasonal and diurnal change.

Commentary:

According to Jared Diamond in Collapse, Japan reversed a long-standing pattern of deforestation.  In spite of high population densities, 74% of Japan's land area is forested, the highest percentage of any First World country.  Unfortunately, this has lead to large imports of timber from other countries, effectively exporting deforestation.  This article suggest a trend to truly sustainable housing development.

Japan has become a leader in reducing the separation between building residents and outside conditions.  The hope is that this will not only create a richer interior environment, but also reduces the costs associated with our traditional mechanisms for controlling interior climates.

Japan for Sustainability - Test Starts for 100% Renewable Energy Microgrid

Link: Japan for Sustainability - Test Starts for 100% Renewable Energy Microgrid.

Hachinohe City will be testing a decentralized energy system that generates 710KW from gas engines (fueled by biogas), photovoltaics and wind turbines.  Combining a diverse set of power sources allows supply to meet demand, and also adjusts for any variability in wind or sun power.  Carbon dioxide levels are expected to be 80% less than comparable traditional systems.  This system uses a 5 km private transmission link, which makes it unique in the world.

Commentary:

Micro-grids combine local production (eliminating the waste of long-haul transmission lines) with the flexibility of using diverse, small-capacity power generation.  As described in Microgrids as peer-to-peer energy, combined heat and power (CHP) systems can reclaim energy that would normally be wasted.  It is estaimted that "Only about 30 to 40% of the primary energy ends up as electricity; 60 to 70% goes up the chimney. You don't have any use for it because there is no one located around the station that needs heat."

Technology Review | Spinning a (Silk) Yarn

Link: The Impact of Emerging Technologies: Spinning a (Silk) Yarn - Technology Review.

Researchers at the University of Oxford have spun fibers that are 15-20 micrometers in diameter, using silkworm protein and a membrane based on the spider's silk-making organ.  This membrane causes the proteins to self-assemble.  As the thread is pulled from the device, the nanofibrils stick together and form a lustrous thread.  The researchers believe artificially spun fibres matching the strength and flexibility of spider silk will be commercially available in three to five years.

An effective alternative process for treating low temperature groundwater

Link: March 2005: An effective alternative process for treating low temperature groundwater.

The Yellow Quill native community in eastern Saskatchewan suffered from water contaminated with iron, manganese, arsenic, dissolved organic carbon, ammonium and total dissolved solids.  Standard water treatment methods were ineffective.  Ozonation produced floc which clogged filters quickly. 

An integrated biological reverse osmosis system showed high biological activity, even though the water temperature was 6 degrees Celsius.  Only a small amount of chemicals were used, and 15-20 times less water was required for backwashing, compared to manganese greensand filtration.  The filters are expected to last more than 10 years.  The system delivers high quality water at a wide range of water pressure. 

Additional information can found at the Safe Drinking Water Foundation 1st INternational Conference The Future of Water Treatment. 

Technology Review | Lenses of Liquid

Link: The Impact of Emerging Technologies: Lenses of Liquid - Technology Review.

Saman Dharmatilleke, Isabel Rodriguez, and colleagues at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering in Singapore have developed a low-cost, simple lens system based on a droplet of liquid.  The curvature of the drop can be changed by applying pressure, allowing the lens to focus for applications such as mobile phone cameras.  Both convex and concave shapes can be created, allowing variable focal length (zoom) lenses to be built.  Although other liquid lens systems had already been developed, they relied on electrical currents which required electrically conductive liquids.  Additional details can be found at http://www.imre.a-star.edu.sg/liquidlens/default.asp

Commentary:

Isabel Rodriguez confirmed that the design was inspired by the human eye, which also changes its curvature to focus.  In contrast, cameras move the lens to focus, a much more complex system.  Liquid lenses are limited in size - as they become larger (to improve the amount of light that can be collected), the droplets can become unstable.  Isabel believes arrays of droplets could be used (similiar to compound eyes in insects), although the required imaging and focus control systems may be complex.   

CBC Quirks & Quarks | Making Humans Hibernate

Link: Cool Science: Making Humans Hibernate.

This segment described the work of Dr. Hanna Carey (University of Wisconsin) and Dr, Ken Storey (Carleton University) to understand the genetic and physiological basis of hibernation in animals.  Dr. Storey believes he can apply the principles to individual organs.  He  hopes that specific drugs can be identified that will cause the organs to hibernate, extended the life span of organs used in transplants.

Dr. Hasan Alam (Massachusetts General Hospital) is working with pigs on 'whole body hibernation' by replacing blood with a cold fluid that drops body temperature.  Restoring the blood revives the pig.  Such an approach could be useful in treating injuries involving significant blood loss.  Dr. Mark Roth (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center) has found that giving mice hydrogen sulphide causes hibernation, which reverses itself after a few hours. 

The article includes links to the research by the contributors.

Japan for Sustainability (JFS) - ECO-PRODUCTS EXHIBITION 2005

Link: Eco-Products Exhibition 2005.

The article includes some interesting statistics comparing Japan to world averages on measures such as ecological footprints, energy consumption, percentage renewable energy and carbon dioxide emissions.  If the entire world moved up to the Japanese standard, we would need 2.4 planets.  The message was clear that Japan needs to reduce consumption, showing leadership to the developing world that aspires to achieve the standards of the developed world. 

Links to booths include:

• Kyocera (residential photovoltaics)
• Fujitsu (bio-plastics for notebook computers, color paper that can be electronically updated)
• Food and Environment (better containers and packaging)
• Sony (high efficiency/lower cost projection TV, reduced power consumption in mobile electronics, bio-plastic products)
• The Sloth Club (lifestyle in harmony with nature - low energy, cyclical, symbiotic, non-violent)
• Eco Design Museum (products that are good for the environment and attractive)