Ten Emerging Technologies in Chuan Dao Science and Technology Bio-Alcohol Oil: Turkey Guts Can Also Produce Fuel
According to a report by Sina Technology on March 6, 2007 at 9:27 AM, experts point out that wasteful energy policies, overuse of resources, water supply shortages, global climate change, and deforestation are all issues that need attention for sustainable human development on this planet. According to UN statistics, by 2025, the world population will increase by another 2.9 billion people, exacerbating already strained water supplies. By 2030, global energy demand is expected to rise by 60%. Life Science has proposed ten technologies that could help make our future a little brighter. Some of these technologies have been around for a while and are now more refined, some are emerging, and others are a bit unconventional. Nonetheless, all of them can be useful to humanity. Below are the ten emerging technologies.
10. Eliminating Paper
Imagine one morning you're lying on your recliner reading a morning newspaper, then the same page shows a novel by your favorite author. You might think it's impossible, but electronic paper can do it. It's a flexible display that looks like real paper and can be reused countless times. The display contains many small microcapsules with tiny charged particles attached to thin steel sheets. Each microcapsule has white and black particles, either positively or negatively charged. Depending on the charge, black or white particles appear on the surface in different patterns to form text and images. In the U.S. alone, 55 million newspapers are sold each week. If electronic paper were used, how much paper would be saved worldwide!
9. Burying Harmful Substances - Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide should be buried underground before it reaches the atmosphere. After being separated from other emissions, it can be stored in abandoned oil wells, salt mines, or rocks. These methods sound promising, but scientists cannot yet guarantee that the buried gases will remain stable underground, nor do they know the long-term effects. Additionally, the cost of separating and burying carbon dioxide is still too high, so this technology cannot currently be considered a short-term solution. Peter McGrail holds a basalt core sample, explaining his plan to trap carbon dioxide gas in basalt.
8. Let Plants and Microbes Do the Cleaning
Bioremediation uses microbes and plants to remove pollutants. For example, nitrate-contaminated water can be cleaned with the help of microbes, and arsenic from polluted soil can be absorbed by plants. This process is called phytoremediation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has used this technology to clean several contaminated sites. Usually, local plant species can be used to clean polluted areas. This method has many advantages because, in most cases, local plants don't require pesticides or watering. In other cases, scientists are experimenting with genetically modified plants to absorb pollutants through their roots and transport them to leaves, making them easier to collect and treat.
7. Growing Plants on Roofs
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the Seven Wonders of the World, inspiring the concept of growing plants on roofs. Strangely, this concept hasn't quickly caught on in the modern world. According to legend, the rooftops, balconies, and terraces of the Babylonian palace were turned into gardens at the king's command, done to please one of his wives. Rooftop gardens help absorb heat, reduce the impact of carbon dioxide by emitting oxygen, attract rainstorms, and decrease air conditioning use in summer. In urban centers, due to tall buildings, a heat island effect forms, and planting on roofs could eventually reduce this effect. Additionally, rooftop gardens can attract butterflies and songbirds, allowing people to enjoy such beauty as the king's wife once did. Pennsylvania State in the U.S. is experimenting with green roofs.
6. Harnessing Wave and Tidal Energy
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, and waves contain abundant energy that can drive turbines and convert mechanical energy into electricity. The challenge with this energy source is the difficulty in harnessing waves and tides; sometimes the waves are too small to generate sufficient energy. The key to this technology is storing the mechanical energy once enough is produced. New York City's East River is testing six tidal-powered turbines, and Portugal has a new plan to utilize wave energy, which is expected to generate enough power for 1,500 households. Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a buoy system to capture ocean energy.
5. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
Our oceans are actually the largest solar collectors on Earth. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the oceans absorb enough heat equivalent to burning 250 billion barrels of oil daily, compared to the 7.5 billion barrels consumed annually in the U.S. OTEC technology uses the temperature difference between the warm ocean surface and cold deep water to convert solar heat into electricity. This temperature difference drives turbines to power generators. The main drawback of this technology so far is its inefficiency as a primary power generation system.
4. New Approaches to Solar Utilization
Solar energy reaches Earth in the form of photons, which humans can convert into electrical or thermal energy. Solar collectors come in various forms and have been successfully used by energy companies and households. The two most well-known types of solar collectors are photovoltaic cells and solar heaters. However, both have limitations, and researchers are exploring ways to overcome these by using mirrors and parabolic reflectors to collect solar energy more effectively. Part of the challenge in utilizing solar energy comes from government motivation. In January, California passed a comprehensive plan to support solar development. Conversely, Arizona, despite abundant sunlight, does not prioritize solar energy utilization. In fact, some communities planning to use solar energy are strictly limited by so-called aesthetic rules.
3. Hydrogen Energy Usage
Hydrogen fuel cells are considered a pollution-free green energy source that could replace petroleum fuels. This is known as "H" energy or hydrogen energy. Scientists combine hydrogen atoms with oxygen atoms to form water molecules, producing electricity in the process. The issue with hydrogen fuel cells is obtaining hydrogen. Molecules like water and alcohol must be processed to extract hydrogen for the fuel cells, requiring other energy sources, which diminishes the "clean" fuel advantage. Recently, scientists have begun using fuel cells to power laptops and small devices, and some car manufacturers promise that we will soon see cars that emit nothing but water, referred to as the "hydrogen economy." However, not all scientists believe these promises will be fulfilled.
2. Extracting Freshwater from Seawater
According to an American study, water shortages will affect billions of people by mid-century. Desalination, which removes salt and minerals from seawater, could be a solution for water-scarce regions, making desalinated water suitable for drinking. The problem with this technology is its high cost and large energy consumption. Scientists are researching better treatment methods, using less expensive fuels to heat water and remove salt, then passing it through membranes with tiny pores to improve efficiency.
1. Producing Fuel from Common Materials
Any carbon-based waste, from turkey guts to used tires, can be turned into fuel through heating and pressurization. This process is called pyrolysis, which is similar to how nature forms oil but can shorten the millions-of-years-long process to just a few hours. Supporters of this technology claim that one ton of turkey waste can produce 600 pounds of oil.
Product Advantages:
With the rapid development of the catering industry, increasing public concern about environmental health, strong national environmental policy requirements, the inevitable rise in future crude oil prices, and enormous market demand, our company's researchers have successfully developed a bio-alcohol fuel that comprehensively replaces diesel, gas, and liquefied gas. Choosing to invest in the bio-alcohol fuel project saves energy, aligns with the theme of harmonious development, and helps achieve your financial success. Bio-alcohol fuel is developed using advanced technology and is a leading product in today's fuel industry. It offers high calorific value with low energy consumption and is hygienic. Currently, most restaurants, hotels, institutions, and school canteens primarily use diesel and liquefied gas as fuel, and most rural households also mainly rely on liquefied gas. Although diesel and liquefied gas cost around 6,000 yuan per ton, their production costs are still 2-3 times higher than those of bio-alcohol fuel. Moreover, the production and use of bio-alcohol fuel are safer. Production generates no waste (wastewater, fertilizer, exhaust gas), and usage is non-toxic, odorless, pressure-free, and fire-extinguishable with water. The production process is simple, requires minimal investment, yields quick results, and doesn't need machinery. Only lighting electricity and blending equipment are required, and raw materials are available in chemical markets and enterprises nationwide.