Engineers at Oregon State University have found a new way to induce and control boiling bubble formation, that may allow everything from industrial-sized boilers to advanced electronics to work better and last longer. Advances in this technology have been published in Scientific Reports and a patent application filed. The concept could be useful in two […]
‘Community Solar’ Systems May Add Savings to Local, Cooperative Energy Projects
Part of the future of solar energy, especially for residential use, may be small “community-based” systems in which neighbors join together in the construction and use of solar systems to optimize the energy produced in their neighborhood – and share in the benefits. New research by engineers at Oregon State University indicate that an optimal […]
Photonic ‘Sintering’ May Create New Solar, Electronics Manufacturing Technologies
Engineers at Oregon State University have made a fundamental breakthrough in understanding the physics of photonic “sintering,” which could lead to many new advances in solar cells, flexible electronics, various types of sensors and other high-tech products printed onto something as simple as a sheet of paper or plastic. Sintering is the fusing of nanoparticles […]
Storage Advance May Boost Solar Thermal Energy Potential
Engineers at Oregon State University have identified a new approach for the storage of concentrated solar thermal energy, to reduce its cost and make it more practical for wider use. The advance is based on a new innovation with thermochemical storage, in which chemical transformation is used in repeated cycles to hold heat, use it […]
Storage Advance May Boost Solar Thermal Energy Potential
Engineers at Oregon State University have identified a new approach for the storage of concentrated solar thermal energy, to reduce its cost and make it more practical for wider use. The advance is based on a new innovation with thermochemical storage, in which chemical transformation is used in repeated cycles to hold heat, use it […]
‘Quantum Dot’ Tech May Help Light the Future
Advances at Oregon State University in manufacturing technology for “quantum dots” may soon lead to a new generation of LED lighting that produces a more user-friendly white light, while using less toxic materials and low-cost manufacturing processes that take advantage of simple microwave heating. The cost, environmental, and performance improvements could finally produce solid state […]
Why wave energy is cheaper than wind power
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new analysis suggests that large-scale wave energy systems developed in the Pacific Northwest should be comparatively steady, dependable and able to be integrated into the overall energy grid at lower costs than some other forms of alternative energy, including wind power. The findings, published in the journal Renewable Energy, confirm […]
Matched ‘Hybrid’ Systems May Hold Key to Wider Use of Renewable Energy
The use of renewable energy in the United States could take a significant leap forward with improved storage technologies or more efforts to “match” different forms of alternative energy systems that provide an overall more steady flow of electricity, researchers say in a new report. Historically, a major drawback to the use and cost-effectiveness of […]
Pass the Salt: Common Condiment Could Enable New High-Tech Industry
Researchers at Oregon State University have identified a compound that could significantly reduce the cost and potentially enable the mass commercial production of silicon nanostructures – materials that have huge potential in everything from electronics to biomedicine and energy storage. This extraordinary compound is called table salt. Simple sodium chloride, most frequently found in a […]
Dispatch System Could Save Money for Trucking Industry
Engineers at Oregon State University are studying a new approach to organize and route truck transportation that could save millions of dollars, improve the quality of life for thousands of truck drivers and make freight transportation far more efficient. The findings, published recently in Transportation Research Part E, show the feasibility of the new system. […]