Archive for the ‘CleanTech’ Category

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Healing Plastic

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Everyone has scraped or cut themselves at one point or another. Once a finger has an unfortunate encounter with the edge of a knife or your knee falls against rough pavement, exposed skin is damaged and you start bleeding. It’s all temporary, though. A scar is eventually all that is left from a painful injury.

Machines aren’t so lucky. Tiny cracks that form in all plastic structures widen over time. Fixing these cracks before they become an issue would increase the overall integrity of anything made from plastics. This isn’t an unrealistic concept: In 2001 aeronautics engineers at the University of Illinois developed a self-healing man made material. The idea was to eliminate microscopic cracks that form on a material’s surface.

The whole process works with the help of microcapsules filled with dicyclopentadiene (a liquid) that are dispersed throughout the plastic surface. These microcapsules rupture as soon as a crack reaches them. Once these capsules burst and release the diclopentadiene inside, the liquid comes into contact with a catalyst which turns the liquid into a more solid state while it fills the crack, thereby healing the plastic. The healed plastic is then about 80% as strong as it was before it acquired the (now healed) crack.
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Self-healing plastic hosts a microvascular network containing a healing
agent that automatically oozes in to repair cracks.
(Photo: National Science Foundation)

It may take a while before this technology is perfected but self healing plastics have obvious benefits: We tend to grow less interested in our gadgets as they get scratched up. If our cell phones or ipods stayed scratch free, we would probably hang on to them a lot longer. Not only that, but it would be incredibly practical to incorporate self healing plastics into structures that are difficult (and costly) to get to, such as satellites, wind turbines and the inside of complex machinery.

Self healing plastics have already evolved since 2001: The original researchers in Illinois have eliminated the need for the catalyst (thereby cutting down production costs) while Biswajit Ghosh and Marek W. Urban from the University of Southern Mississippi have also taken things a step further by developing a polymer that uses natural sunlight to repair itself. (Polyurethane networks have been proven to exhibit self-repairing tendencies with exposure to ultra-violet light.) Click HERE to link to the scientific article.

As a whole, I look forward to when my cell phone looks new for longer than a day.

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Posted in Buildings, CleanTech | No Comments »

Bristol Creates Robots that Feed Themselves

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

We live in a world of technology. Our kids grow up with computers as one of their best friends. They even mature together: The kids who grow up expect their systems to grow with them, which means that old computers are constantly replaced with new ones. Technology is evolving faster than we ever thought possible and I doubt that anyone will be surprised when machines become almost independent of their creators.

The biggest problem with self sustaining machinery is fuel. Just like we consume countless varieties of foods to keep us going throughout the day, a machine’s hunger pangs are generally alleviated with gas, electricity and batteries. The ideal machine, however, should be able to ’survive’ on naturally occurring foods that are sustainable and abundant.

Science projects today, voracious
self-serving servants tomorrow.
(Image: Bristol Robotics Lab.)

This is where the Ecobot comes into play. Engineers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory were motivated by the idea of developing autonomous robots able to collect energy from their surroundings, foraging for items like rotten fruit (similar to any other animal), while eliminating unnecessary waste from their systems after having consumed the ‘meal’. The design is nothing short of genius (if not eerie) and revolves around the robot’s Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC).

Bristol explains the MFC design for their Ecobot model: “the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology is employed to extract electrical energy from refined foods such as sugar and unrefined foods such as insects and fruit. This is achieved by extracting electrons from the microbial metabolic processes. To be truly autonomous, robots will be required to incorporate in their behavioral repertoire actions that involve searching, collecting and digesting food. The robot will be designed to remain inactive until sufficient energy has been generated to complete its next task.”

The first Ecobot (aptly titled Ecobot I) was developed in 2002. E.coli bacteria were incorporated into the design and they powered the robot after ingesting sugar. The first ecobot was a small, simple robot that used the microbial energy charging its fuel cells to do nothing more than roll towards areas with more light. The light-loving Ecobot is described as a “960g robot, powered by microbial fuel cells (MFCs)…This robot does not use any other form of power source such as batteries or solar panels. It is 22cm in diameter and 7.5cm high.”

In 2004, an alternative robot was developed that used sludge microbes instead of E.coli bacteria. These sludge microbes seem more capable; digesting more complicated foods like dead insects and waste (like rotting produce) to fuel the MFC. Also, this technology seems much more beneficial to the environment.

Bristol has also been working on an underwater version of an ecobot that uses mechanical ‘gills’ to strain microorganisms into its fuel cell.

It is important to note that the robots developed by the laboratory are the first step towards the creation of incredible machines that are comparable to metal animals-foraging for foods that naturally surround them when fuel cells run low. Bristol’s findings are essential for the development of these complicated machines. Right now all we see is potential, but it would be incredible to have robots slurping up garbage strewn through parks, simultaneously cleaning up our messes and energizing themselves in the process. But, that is a long way off.

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Posted in Biofuel, CleanTech, Energy | 1 Comment »

Wind-Turbines Come with Unexpected Consequences

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Wind turbine farms are popping up all over the place. The mammoth wind-mills are planted in the ground and then proceed to twirl their giant blades in a lazy circular motion, pumping out electricity in the process. The blades that cut through the sky vary in size, but are generally around 35 meters long. Of course some are bigger…much bigger. The largest turbine in the world - the Enercon E-126 - has a rotor diameter of 126 meters and stands proudly in Emden, Germany where it generates 20 million kilowatt hours per year. In the United States, wind generated power accounts for about one percent of the energy consumed. Wind turbines are symbols of the alternative energy movement, but the consequences of living near a wind farm aren’t always positive ones.

Wind turbines are constantly evolving into bigger, more efficient, and quieter machines. Unfortunately, individuals living next to these farms may complain of illnesses linked to the slow humming of the blades cutting through the wind. Symptoms range from migraines and mood swings to stomach aches and ulcers.

As if that isn’t enough, many individuals find that the large structures ruin the flow of the landscape, while others are horrified at the sight of a dead bird or bat lying near the turbine, after having suffered fatal injuries from flying near the blades.

The rapid spinning of the blades causes the air pressure around them to fluctuate. Decreases in the air pressure around turbines on exceptionally windy days have been known to kill bats by destroying their sensitive lungs, while vibrations in the air may not be heard, but can travel for miles effecting individuals living nearby.

Wind turbines are an excellent source of alternative energy, but not when human health is put on the line. This is a controversial topic, since organizations like the American Wind Energy Association claim that the noise from a wind turbine (1,000 feet away) is comparable to the light hum of a kitchen refrigerator, while neighbors to the farms are adamant that the contraptions have a detrimental effect on their lives.

Engineers are constantly improving wind-power technology with sound-dampening technologies, while researchers recommend that a wind farm should be surrounded with a buffer zone up to 3 miles wide. In theory, wind turbines are a great energy source: They are clean, efficient, self sustaining and create numerous jobs in an economy where finding employment is becoming more and more difficult. But nobody accounted for the health problems that the turbines seem to blow into homes.

Wind turbines are an innovative solution to the energy crisis. However, we can assume that there are going to be issues associated with wind farms until the design has been perfected.


The Enercon E-126 6.0 Megawatt Wind Turbine,
the largest wind turbine in the world, stands
656 feet (198 meters) from base to top of rotor sweep.

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Posted in CleanTech, Energy, Wind | 3 Comments »

BioVigilant-Always Know What You’re Breathing

Monday, December 29th, 2008

When it comes to testing for contaminants-whether in your lab, production facility, or even in your own body-nothing is more excruciating than the wait. Current testing methods are painfully slow: It takes about a full week to get results from most labs, and there is nothing you can do but gnaw at your fingernails and plan for the worst.

BioVigilant has developed a unique tool that automatically detects a variety of contaminants such as mold, bacteria, dust and smog almost immediately. This is incredible news, since lab testing for the same contaminants is typically time consuming, costly and labor intensive (often requiring the growth of a substance on petri-dishes and identifying contaminants by squinting through a microscope).

While waiting for lab results, companies lose incredible amounts of money since they need to halt production. Not only that, but items such as medicines or water are wasted, since even the slight chance of exposing people to contaminants like bacteria, mold or a biohazard (like anthrax) is not a risk worth taking.

The IMD-A 220-4 can sample
28.4 liters per minute.
(Photo: BioVigilant Systems)

BioVigilant explains that their “systems detect-instantaneously and in real time-particulate count, size, and biological status. Unlike other rapid microbial methods, BioVigilant’s optically-based systems require no staining, no reagents, no waiting period, and little human intervention.”

The instruments developed by BioVigilant work non-stop (hence the name). They continuously sample the air in a specific area and screen for particles as small as 0.5 microns. Real time data is then presented on a computer screen for easy viewing. The fact that data can be analyzed and viewed over real time is important: This way, it is easy to determine the precise time an area became contaminated or to analyze how air quality has changed over time.

The Biovigilant systems come in two varieties: The portable version weighs only 30 pounds and draws in around 1 liter of volume per minute, while the larger version can sample around 30 liters per minute and is specifically designed for larger testing areas.

The technology was originally developed for the U.S military who used the systems for the sole purpose of testing the air for bio-agents like anthrax. This is definitely an important cause, but the technology can now be used for other purposes as well. For one thing, they ensure that production is taking place in the cleanest of environments. Not only that, but the technology is also essential in keeping surrounding environments stable by ensuring that no contaminants escape.

At this point, waiting for results is no harder than turning on a monitor, and hopefully what you see is good news.

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Posted in CleanTech, Water | 1 Comment »

Solar Sailor-Winged Ships

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

With renewable energy sources like wind and solar constantly on hand, it is no wonder that everyone wants to harness this energy with constantly evolving technology. Cars and buildings are going solar, why not boats and massive cruise ships?

Solar Sailor, an Australian company that owns the patented ’solarsail’ technology, has developed devices comparable to ‘wings’ that attach to ocean-going vessels to harness the ever-popular wind and solar energy. Both sources of energy are especially abundant when floating on the ocean.

This hybrid marine power (HMP) technology comes in the from of a ’solar wing’, which typically rests on top of the ship like a solid metal sail (to take advantage of wind) and is covered with shimmering solar panels that rotate according to the sun’s position in the sky.

Boats have less design restrictions than cars, which is why giant solar panels can’t be strapped to the roof of vehicles that end up swerving around on a small road. Boats have no problem with these huge appendages and the extra weight of the attached chargeable batteries are not a problem either. In fact, they act as a ballast and improve the whole boating experience.  

The main safety issue with boats are storms. Heavy winds and giant waves are incredibly dangerous, and in these situations, the solar wings fold down against the boat and out of harm’s way. According to Solar Sailor, the system is “engineered to operate in 40 knots of wind, with 300% margin of safety.”
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Photovoltaic sails harvest energy from the wind and the sun.
(Photo: Solar Sail Holdings, Ltd.)

Captains of a boats equipped with solar sails have the option of controlling the airfoil wings automatically with a computer or manually.  SolarSailor explains that “in automatic mode the computer generally gets 3-6 knots of boat speed in a 20-knot wind depending on the wind direction on tourist cruises. Experienced sailors adjusting the wings manually have achieved steady 8-10 knots of boat speed - so we know there is further potential there.”

A boat equipped with HMP technology is typically 20-30% more expensive than vessels without the winged design. But, as with most green technologies, the design eventually pays for itself. In this case, payback occurs in as little as 3 to 5 years.

Solar Sailor technology is incredibly efficient and CEO of the company, Dr Robert Dane is certain that the solar wings will soon be a given when designing any ship: “We are confident we can build everything up to ocean liners and in fifty years time,” says Dane on the company’s homepage, “people will look back at boats of the 20th Century and they’ll say “where are the wings?”.

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Posted in CleanTech, Energy, Photovoltaic, Solar, Vehicles, Wind | 1 Comment »

Cleaning Without Poison

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

Nobody likes a dirty workspace, but the chemicals splashed onto counters, mirrors and walls often leave a toxic residue that can cause more damage than the grime you clean off. Half of our lives are spent indoors. Who wants to spend that time inhaling unpronounceable chemical ingredients that float through the air?

According to California’s Green Initiative (a government funded directive) “Each year about six out of every 100 professional janitors are injured by the chemicals in the products that they use. Burns to the eyes and skin are the most common injuries, followed closely by breathing toxic fumes. Repeated long-term exposure may cause chronic illnesses or allergic reactions to workers who are exposed to chemicals regularly.”

The toxic fumes aren’t the only problem. Millions of mop heads, dirty sponges, soaps and bleach mixtures end up in the trash or flow to our rivers and even our crops!. The Green California website continues to explain that “Californians [not unlike everyone else in the world] wash tons of liquid cleaners down the drain, which may eventually flow into our rivers and ocean, or end up on agricultural land. For example, researchers found that approximately 75 percent of the antibacterial hand soap ingredient, triclocarban, persists during wastewater treatment and accumulates in municipal sludge, which later is used as fertilizer for crops”.

Chlorine-free diapers
(Photo: Seventh Generation, Inc.)

Companies like Seventh Generation and Tuway provide alternative cleaning methods to reduce environmental damage and product costs.

Seventh Generation offers an impressive assortment of cleaning products made without bleach or fragrances and with more delicate detergents. The company also warns that many items claimed to be “fragrance free” actually use yet another chemical to MASK a scent that would be quite obvious without this masking agent.

With nothing to hide, Seventh Generation discloses all of their ingredients which are made with natural oils, botanical extracts and of course the occasional dash of hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate (still a far cry from the immense list of chemicals in traditional cleaners).

Tuway, on the other hand, focuses on the cloth cleaning materials such as sponges and mops. Their microfiber mops last three times longer than conventional mops (made from the floppy synthetic and cotton blended yarn that tends to fall apart so easily). Tuway’s microfiber has tiny cross-sections on every fiber which lift and trap moisture and bacteria with seven times the absorption rate of traditional mops. Microfiber mops reduce the amount of bacteria in the area by 99%, which is substantial when compared to the 30% absorbed by regular mops. All this reduces mop costs, water usage, chemical costs and labor.

There are options to clean house without having to sacrifice air quality. Contrary to popular belief, harsh chemicals aren’t always necessary to get things clean.

(On a side note, there are a few plants homeowners can put in their homes to help remove contaminants from the air such as spider plants, English ivy, potted mums and Peace lilies. )

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Posted in CleanTech, Water | No Comments »

Solio-Charge Anything Under the Sun

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

Imagine trekking through the snow in one of the most remote places in the world. Wind whips around your whole body. Your fingers and toes are numb from the cold. A thick fur lined hood obstructs your peripheral vision, but there is nowhere to walk but straight ahead, anyway. When it comes time to call in for help, the satellite phone fails to pick up a signal. Then the unthinkable happens…the battery dies.

A dying cell phone in the remote wilderness is a disaster. A dead mp3 player, camera or GPS system is not as serious, but also an incredible annoyance.

Solio, the world’s most advanced hybrid solar charger, has ensured that no one has to ever be without power. The lightweight design of the oval shaped device makes it perfect for travel, and when unfolded, the fan-like solar panels provide the Solio with an impressive charge: just one hour of sunshine will provide about 20 minutes of cell phone time. This is especially important for travelers or adventurers in the middle of an emergency.

The Solio Hybrid 1000 charger
- 198 x 68 x 18mm, .6 watt output
(Photo: Solio)

A fully charged Solio Classic model, has enough energy to charge an ipod for 20 hours. It is definitely worth it to bring a Solio on camping trips if you enjoy listening to music while sitting under the stars or on a secluded beach in the middle of nowhere.

If an outlet is available, the Solio will easily plug into a wall. The gadget comes with a variety of adapters which work for most devices. This eliminates the need to pack all the charging cables for the psp, Nintendo, camera or iphone that we can’t live without.

There is no need to worry about needing to replace your Solio any time soon, since its lithium ion battery lasts for 350-500 charges. The ‘internal fuel gauge’ indicates its current charge and figuring out the charge is pretty straightforward: Once the start button is pressed, a green light flashes 4 times verifying that the Solio is fully charged. A full charge takes about 8 hours to achieve with the help of direct sunlight.

Solio has given many individuals a chance to be less dependant on electricity. In Kenya, for example, the local Masai use a donated Solio to charge a cell phone used for medical emergencies.

This little device really is a lifesaver.

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Posted in CleanTech, Electricity, Energy, Solar | No Comments »

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