The farming and agriculture industry has had its fair share of problems over the last decade. Bottlenecks in the supply chain and the lack of risk management and flexibility led to increasing food waste, and the labor shortage that existed before has only gotten worse with COVID-19. This article digs deeper into how the industry has turned to automation as a solution.
{"title":"Automating the Risk Out of Farming","authors":"Carlos M. González","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-aug1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-aug1","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The farming and agriculture industry has had its fair share of problems over the last decade. Bottlenecks in the supply chain and the lack of risk management and flexibility led to increasing food waste, and the labor shortage that existed before has only gotten worse with COVID-19. This article digs deeper into how the industry has turned to automation as a solution.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"12 1","pages":"32-37"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85874899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
While many engineers look to develop new, clean energy sources, Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute has spent 40 years preaching that the cleanest fuel is efficiency. His team’s designs for buildings and vehicles use creative engineering to push the envelope of what’s possible.
{"title":"The Infinitely Expandable Resource","authors":"R. P. Siegel","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-aug3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-aug3","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 While many engineers look to develop new, clean energy sources, Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute has spent 40 years preaching that the cleanest fuel is efficiency. His team’s designs for buildings and vehicles use creative engineering to push the envelope of what’s possible.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"27 1","pages":"44-49"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90468979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The current commercial hydrogen production has a significant carbon footprint. Now, projects co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and commercial nuclear utilities with operating nuclear power facilities aim to change that by exploiting the capabilities of nuclear power plants. This article delves into four projects aimed at demonstrating technology to make hydrogen from water on an industrial scale using energy from an operating commercial nuclear power plant.
{"title":"Clean Fuel from Nuclear Power","authors":"Hogan Hank","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-jul3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-jul3","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The current commercial hydrogen production has a significant carbon footprint. Now, projects co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and commercial nuclear utilities with operating nuclear power facilities aim to change that by exploiting the capabilities of nuclear power plants. This article delves into four projects aimed at demonstrating technology to make hydrogen from water on an industrial scale using energy from an operating commercial nuclear power plant.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"51 1","pages":"40-45"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88695675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Scientists are developing a wide variety of technologies to solve the urgent problem of water shortages across the world. In fact, many have been working for decades on finding better and more economical ways to turn non-traditional sources of water into potable water for drinking and cooking. This article focus on early-stage research and development of energy-efficient and cost-competitive technologies to tap nontraditional water sources for a variety of uses.
{"title":"The Thirst Quenchers","authors":"C. Kelly","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-jul2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-jul2","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Scientists are developing a wide variety of technologies to solve the urgent problem of water shortages across the world. In fact, many have been working for decades on finding better and more economical ways to turn non-traditional sources of water into potable water for drinking and cooking. This article focus on early-stage research and development of energy-efficient and cost-competitive technologies to tap nontraditional water sources for a variety of uses.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"63 1","pages":"46-51"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91105117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Superstar Cities are known for their technology startups, but innovative companies are popping up all over the United States. To show the diversity of innovation outside the so-called innovation hubs, this article spotlights 10 startups or young companies developing products in a variety of engineering fields. Some of these companies are located in small towns, others in large cities not necessarily known for their entrepreneurship. Some are tapping into local universities or resources; almost all are in cities that can offer a high quality of life at an affordable cost.
{"title":"10 Smart Startups","authors":"W. Jeffrey","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-jul1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-jul1","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Superstar Cities are known for their technology startups, but innovative companies are popping up all over the United States. To show the diversity of innovation outside the so-called innovation hubs, this article spotlights 10 startups or young companies developing products in a variety of engineering fields. Some of these companies are located in small towns, others in large cities not necessarily known for their entrepreneurship. Some are tapping into local universities or resources; almost all are in cities that can offer a high quality of life at an affordable cost.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"40 1","pages":"34-39"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80689211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The gas turbine industry has had many successes, but this past year it has been dogged by the specter of two great mistakes—one that occurred, and another that is being threatened. Many groups are pushing for the immediate elimination of natural gas as a fuel source, and some jurisdictions have begun to ban new residential gas hook-ups. This study analyzes if it can be avoided and a crisis for a major segment of the gas turbine industry can be averted.
{"title":"Hits and Errors","authors":"L. Langston","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-jun3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-jun3","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The gas turbine industry has had many successes, but this past year it has been dogged by the specter of two great mistakes—one that occurred, and another that is being threatened. Many groups are pushing for the immediate elimination of natural gas as a fuel source, and some jurisdictions have begun to ban new residential gas hook-ups. This study analyzes if it can be avoided and a crisis for a major segment of the gas turbine industry can be averted.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"9 1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89803161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
For decades, reliability has been the watchword for electric utilities, but now there’s a focus on a related concept: Resilience. It has gained notice as planners began thinking about increased natural disasters brought on by climate change, man-made interference due to malicious cyberattacks, and the instability brought about by adding large quantities of renewable energy. Resilience has become a legitimate field of study involving industry, academia, and government labs, complete with experts in the field. This article delves deeper into the need to achieve electrical grid resiliency as intensity of natural disaster amplifies.
{"title":"Electrical Grid Resilience","authors":"T. Gibson","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-jun2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-jun2","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 For decades, reliability has been the watchword for electric utilities, but now there’s a focus on a related concept: Resilience. It has gained notice as planners began thinking about increased natural disasters brought on by climate change, man-made interference due to malicious cyberattacks, and the instability brought about by adding large quantities of renewable energy. Resilience has become a legitimate field of study involving industry, academia, and government labs, complete with experts in the field. This article delves deeper into the need to achieve electrical grid resiliency as intensity of natural disaster amplifies.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"177 1","pages":"40-45"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87323351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The gas turbine industry is facing the prospects of meeting proposed national and international targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and for the promotion of sustainable energy. The evolving role of gas turbines to decarbonize the world’s energy conversion systems has been the theme of articles in the Global Gas Turbine News (GGTN) in the last three issues, of September 2019, December 2019 and March 2020. The articles are reviewed here
{"title":"The Decarboniztion of Gas Turbine Power","authors":"L. Langston","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-jun4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-jun4","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The gas turbine industry is facing the prospects of meeting proposed national and international targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and for the promotion of sustainable energy. The evolving role of gas turbines to decarbonize the world’s energy conversion systems has been the theme of articles in the Global Gas Turbine News (GGTN) in the last three issues, of September 2019, December 2019 and March 2020. The articles are reviewed here","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"1 1","pages":"52-53"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86075887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Electrified propulsion holds the promise of reducing aviation’s CO2 emissions footprint through three means: access to green grid electric energy, improvements in aircraft performance through new airframe and propulsion system architectures and enabling further optimization of the gas turbine cycle. Charging an aircraft battery pack with green electric energy and using this energy to drive electric propulsors results in a zero emissions vehicle. This is practical for light aircraft and short missions. Boosting a Jet-A burning gas turbine with green electric energy (again stored in a ground charged battery), in either a parallel or series turbo-electric architecture can yield a net reduction in CO2 emissions, as long as the fuel burn required to carry the weight of a discharged battery pack does not overcome the reduction in fuel burn afforded by the ground charged battery. Several studies have indicated that a net savings is possible with cell level energy densities approach ∼ 500 whr/kg, a reasonable target for the 2030 time frame. Electrified propulsion can also enable unique aircraft configurations, employing a veryhigh efficiency prime mover (gas turbine) designed for running only a generator at peak efficiency, and/or distributing the propulsors throughout the aircraft, for improvement in L/D and propulsive efficiency.
{"title":"Hybrid Electric Propulsion","authors":"C. Lents","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-jun5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-jun5","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Electrified propulsion holds the promise of reducing aviation’s CO2 emissions footprint through three means: access to green grid electric energy, improvements in aircraft performance through new airframe and propulsion system architectures and enabling further optimization of the gas turbine cycle. Charging an aircraft battery pack with green electric energy and using this energy to drive electric propulsors results in a zero emissions vehicle. This is practical for light aircraft and short missions. Boosting a Jet-A burning gas turbine with green electric energy (again stored in a ground charged battery), in either a parallel or series turbo-electric architecture can yield a net reduction in CO2 emissions, as long as the fuel burn required to carry the weight of a discharged battery pack does not overcome the reduction in fuel burn afforded by the ground charged battery. Several studies have indicated that a net savings is possible with cell level energy densities approach ∼ 500 whr/kg, a reasonable target for the 2030 time frame. Electrified propulsion can also enable unique aircraft configurations, employing a veryhigh efficiency prime mover (gas turbine) designed for running only a generator at peak efficiency, and/or distributing the propulsors throughout the aircraft, for improvement in L/D and propulsive efficiency.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"177 1","pages":"54-55"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81632943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James Hobson, a mechanical engineer better known as The Hacksmith, has fashioned a YouTube career from building real-world versions of video game and comic book gadgets—Make It Real videos. Like every inventor, Hobson has a garage packed with tools. These range from laser cutters to 3D printers. Sometimes, they provide cosmetic packaging for his concoctions. Other times, like his metal printed 20-kilowatt heat saber, they are highly functional. This article charts his career journey.
詹姆斯·霍布森(James Hobson)是一名机械工程师,更广为人知的名字是“骇客史密斯”(The Hacksmith),他通过制作现实世界版的视频游戏和漫画书中的小玩意——《让它成真》(make It Real)视频,在YouTube上建立了自己的职业生涯。和所有的发明家一样,霍布森的车库里堆满了工具。这些设备的范围从激光切割机到3D打印机。有时,他们为他的混合物提供化妆品包装。其他时候,比如他的金属打印的20千瓦热剑,它们功能强大。本文描绘了他的职业生涯。
{"title":"Rocket-Hammer Man","authors":"Alan S. Brown","doi":"10.1115/1.2020-may3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2020-may3","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 James Hobson, a mechanical engineer better known as The Hacksmith, has fashioned a YouTube career from building real-world versions of video game and comic book gadgets—Make It Real videos. Like every inventor, Hobson has a garage packed with tools. These range from laser cutters to 3D printers. Sometimes, they provide cosmetic packaging for his concoctions. Other times, like his metal printed 20-kilowatt heat saber, they are highly functional. This article charts his career journey.","PeriodicalId":18406,"journal":{"name":"Mechanical Engineering","volume":"50 1","pages":"42-47"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2020-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84531132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}