Enlarge image NREL Education Programs Science Coordinator Rick Shin attaches a balsa-wood wind turbine to a gear system at Denver West High School. NREL’s Education Programs staff visit schools dozens of times each year to instruct and inspire. Credit: Pat Corkery The wind turbine that Louis Solis and Jose Santistevan fashioned in about 20 minutes […]
Power Electronic Tips
Light Inspires Energy Efficient Building Design
Enlarge image NREL Researchers Dane Gillespie and Erin Whitney will get to see the windows they normally test in the lab used in a real world environment at the RSF. Credit: Pat Corkery Artists find inspiration in many ways. But for the artists (architects and researchers) working collaboratively to create the most energy efficient office […]
AC-DC power supply achieves Climate Savers 80+ Gold efficiency rating
• 2200W output power with 12V main output • 5V standby voltage • 1U sized with 24.5W/cu. In power density • Optional 19in. 1U power shelf provides up to 8.8kW output power Murata Power Solutions has introduced a new AC/DC front-end power supply for hot-swapping redundant systems that meets Climate Savers’ 80+ Gold efficiency rating. […]
Fairchild DrMOS demo at APEC 2010
Here is a demonstration of a DrMOS integrated FET plus Driver multi-chip power stage module from Fairchild. The device is designed for multiple synchronous Buck converter applications.
SMT Current Sense Resistors Deliver Desirable Thermal Performance
For power electronics design engineers looking for high current devices capable of providing current-sense and surge protection functions in high temperature environments, TT electronics IRC offers a series of open-air current sense resistors. The OARS-3 Series surface mount metal alloy strip resistors feature a flameproof open-air design that elevates the device’s “hot spot” above the […]
Secretive fuel-cell startup stirring hopes, doubts
(AP) — A secretive Silicon Valley startup working on a new way to produce cleaner energy is taking the wraps off its product: a huge box of fuel cells that it hopes will allow homes and businesses to generate their own electricity. The technology from Bloom Energy, already used at major companies such as Google […]
IMAPS Gives Details of MicroTech Conference
(AP) — IMAPS-UK (The International Microelectronics And Packaging Society) is pleased to announce details of the forthcoming MicroTech-2010 Conference featuring “Disruptive Technologies” & APM featuring “Advanced Polymer, Organic & Inorganic Materials” being held at the well known Cambridge University Møller Centre. The location is ideally placed near many of the forward thrusting new and established […]
LED Backlight Costs Falling Faster than Conventional LCD Backlights
AUSTIN, TEXAS, February 16, 2010—Most LCD panel and set makers are focusing on development of LED (light emitting diode) backlight units for improved visual performance, thinner form factor, and lower power consumption. The key issue has been reducing cost, in absolute terms and relative to the conventional CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent) backlights. The newly-released DisplaySearch […]
Envelope-tracking modules optimise system power consumption
Nujira announced that the company’s Coolteq.h family of Envelope-Tracking modules now directly interface with Texas Instruments’ GC5322 and GC5325 digital predistortion (DPD) transmit processors and development boards. OEMs can now reduce operating expenses by more than 25 percent as a result of higher efficiency, improved linearity and reduced system power consumption over a wide bandwidth […]
Energy-Storing Soccer Ball Scores Big in Off-Grid Villages
(Gizmag) – What kid doesn’t like kicking around a soccer ball? Imagine if this fun activity could also provide enough energy to power something useful in a modest off-grid African village, like a reliable light to cook by or an emergency mobile phone. The sOccket is a prototype soccer ball that captures kinetic energy when […]
