AC Propulsion: Making Gas Cars Electric « Peak Oil Garage

October 20, 2011 By

AC Propulsion: Making Gas Cars Electric « Peak Oil Garage

By Stefano Paris on December 8, 2008

The talented Kristen Reeves produced this wonderful video segment on AC Propulsion and their world class electric vehicle drive technology. for the past 3 years AC Propulsion has been converting gasoline Scion xBs to 100% electric drive with their phenomenal AC150gen2 electric drive system. In her video, Kristen interviews AC Propulsion President & CEO Tom Gage, and legendary actor/director and longtime EV enthusiast Tom Hanks. mr. Hanks purchased the very first consumer eBox back in 2006 and uses it as his primary vehicle for all SoCal commuting.

Kristen writes: ”Imagine taking the car you drive now, and never having to stop at a gas station ever again. AC Propulsion, has been converting gas-fueled cars to electric for two decades. This is a piece profiling AC Propulsion’s car, the eBox, with a special interview with Tom Hanks who owns one of these cars. is this the way of the future?”

AC Propulsion: Making Gas Cars Electric

Tom Hanks shares the joy of driving electric (an AC Propulsion eBox and Toyota RAV4-EV) in his videos below.

My Electric Car – Part 1

My Electric Car – Part 2

1 Comment(s)

Comments RSSTrackBack Identifier URI

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: ,

Prius top-selling car in Japan in April-Sept. for 3rd straight year – The Mainichi Daily News

October 10, 2011 By

Prius top selling car in Japan in April Sept. for 3rd straight year The Mainichi Daily NewsToyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, left, speaks during a joint press conference with Salesforce.com chief executive Marc Benioff in Tokyo Monday, May 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius hybrid car was the top-selling vehicle in Japan in the April-September period for the third straight year, despite a big decline in sales and production following the March earthquake and tsunami, industry bodies said Thursday.

Prius sales in the first six months of fiscal 2011 decreased 33.2 percent from a year earlier to 113,211 vehicles, according to data released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association.

While the temporary drop in production dented sales, the environmentally friendly car saw its sales revive due to its popularity as a fuel-efficient car after production returned to normal.

Fuel-efficient small cars were popular in the first half of fiscal 2011, with Honda Motor co.’s Fit subcompact ranked second and Suzuki Motor Corp.’s WagonR minicar third in sales.

Of the 10 top-selling models, Daihatsu Motor co. made three, Toyota and Suzuki each made two, and Honda, Nissan Motor co. and Mazda Motor Corp. each produced one.

In September alone, the Toyota Prius topped the monthly rankings for the fourth consecutive month, with its sales up 21.8 percent year on year to 33,197 vehicles. Honda’s Fit ranked second with sales of 27,980 vehicles and Suzuki’s WagonR third with sales of 16,244 vehicles.

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , ,

Aerojet’s AJ26 Flight Engine Delivers Successful Hot Fire Test

October 2, 2011 By

Aerojets AJ26 Flight Engine Delivers Successful Hot Fire Test

  • For Orbital’s Taurus II Space Launch Vehicle

Sacramento, Calif. - Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced today that along with NASA and Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) (Orbital), the team conducted a successful ground test firing of an AJ26-62 flight engine that will power Orbital’s Taurus(r) II medium-class space launch vehicle. the test was conducted at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. “The successful test is a testament to our strong belief in collaboration and commitment,” said Executive Director of Space and Launch Systems, Pete Cova. “Successful engine testing, integration and deliveries are evidence of the strong partnerships that Aerojet has with Orbital, along with NASA’s Stennis Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center, Wallops Flight Facility and Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE).” Aerojet’s AJ26 engine is an oxidizer-rich, staged-combustion LO2/kerosene engine that achieves very high performance in a lightweight compact package. Based on the NK-33 engine, originally designed and produced in Russia for the Russian N1 lunar launch vehicle, the liquid-fuel AJ26 will provide boost for the first stage of the Taurus II launch vehicle.

Source : Aerojet

 

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , , ,

Alan Krueger Has Some Peculiar Views on Energy Policy

September 2, 2011 By

Alan Krueger Has Some Peculiar Views on Energy Policy

Daniel Kish is the senior vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research.

The latest in President Obama’s revolving door of White House Economic Council Chairmen—Dr. Alan Krueger—has some peculiar views on our national energy policy, to say the least.

In his previous capacity as United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and Chief Economist, Krueger testified before the Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure back in 2009 to defend the administration’s budget proposals regarding oil and gas. Krueger began by defining two central tenets to the administration’s environmental and energy policy: (1) that the United States must build a new clean energy economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and (2) that finding more fossil fuels will no longer address our nation’s energy needs.

The logic of this position is elusive, especially if you take a look at the amount of fossil fuels we can recover in the United States with existing technology. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey, relative to current rates of consumption, America has enough oil to power itself for 29 years, enough oil shale for 140 years, enough natural gas for 88 years, and enough coal for a whopping 465 years of use. And that’s just what we could extract today, with existing technology. History shows energy supplies grow geometrically with technological advances, the shale gas revolution being the latest proof. [See a collection of political cartoons on gas prices.]

Nonetheless, according to Krueger’s testimony, what we should really be worried about is the overproduction of oil. In attempting to make the case for why a discriminatory repeal of tax deductions for U.S. oil and gas businesses is a good thing—while leaving this particular deduction for all other U.S. manufacturing and production industries—Krueger exposed his ignorance with the following statement: "to the extent that current tax subsidies encourage the overproduction of oil and natural gas, they divert resources away from other, potentially more efficient investments and they are inconsistent with the Obama administration’s goals to reduce GHG emissions and build a new, clean energy economy."

Reading that first part, one might think Krueger sounds like a supporter of the free market, bemoaning as he does the diversion of resources to inefficient investments. Alas, Krueger conveniently neglects to mention that in building a "new, clean energy economy," the federal government provides massive subsidies to green energy technologies that apparently can’t get off—or more importantly, stay off—the ground without taxpayer dollars. If that’s not inefficiency, I don’t know what is, and if you don’t believe me, ask someone from Spain where green energy subsidy programs have contributed to 21 percent unemployment.  its commitment to renewable energies subsidies has cost the government four times what it had originally budgeted and totals 11 percent of its gross domestic product, while the sovereign debt crises has led to significant doubt that government energy subsidy programs will even be honored.

Ultimately, then, cost-effectiveness isn’t the true end goal for Krueger. In his testimony to the Senate, he stressed the importance of leveling the energy playing field by taking into account nebulous "externalities," like global climate change, foreign oil dependency, and—wait for it—the costs of traffic congestion. He makes the case for a social conscience when it comes to budget policy, but job losses and increased foreign energy dependence associated with restricting our access to domestic oil and gas resources don’t appear to count. indeed, he never even addressed how making energy cost more for consumers and making U.S. production of energy uncompetitive with that in foreign countries will help America’s economy or produce jobs. [Read the U.S. News debate: should offshore drilling be expanded?]

What this all adds up to is a troubling scenario for a president looking to address our nation’s economic and energy troubles. as Chairman of the White House Economic Council, Krueger—renowned for his expertise in labor issues—will ostensibly be expected to advise President Obama on how to get our unemployment situation back on track and bring down gas prices. Proposals like building the Keystone XL pipeline, lifting the Gulf of Mexico "permitorium," beginning to tap Alaska’s vast energy resources, and opening up a bit more than 4 percent of government lands for energy exploration stand out as ways to create jobs, attract investment and bring prices down almost immediately.

It’s doubtful that Krueger will be suggesting these ideas to the president, though. not only did he lead the charge to repeal the aforementioned tax deductions—a proposal that the administration has recently revived in budget talks—but Krueger also advocated for a new excise tax on offshore oil and gas and the national cap-and-trade program, which was nothing more than a new tax on energy use. Affordable energy is like fertilizer for an economy, but taxing it to make it more expensive is like sowing salt in a field. [Read: how much Oil is There?]

Had these proposals become law in 2009, the impacts would have been disastrous for U.S. energy security and the economy. Let’s hope the President conditioned Krueger’s appointment on him reversing his previous policies.

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: ,

NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 1 July 2011

July 3, 2011 By

1309704620 40 NASA ISS On Orbit Status 1 July 2011

all ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. As part of the crew’s regular morning inspection tour, CDR Borisenko performed the routine checkup of circuit breakers & fuses in the DC1 (Docking Compartment). [The monthly checkup in DC1, MRM1 & MRM2 looks at AZS circuit breakers on the BVP Amp Switch Panel (they should all be On) and the LEDs (light-emitting diodes) of 14 fuses in fuse panels BPP-30 & BPP-36. MRM2 & MRM1 were derived from the DC1 concept and are very similar to it.] With its battery recharged overnight, FE-1 Samokutyayev set up the Russian DZZ-12 RUSALKA (“Mermaid”) hardware at SM window #9 for another sun-glint observation session, using the hand-held spectrometer (without use of the TIUS three-stage rate sensor), synchronized with the coaxially mounted NIKON D2X camera for taking snapshots, and later downloaded the data to laptop RS1 for subsequent downlink via OCA. the equipment was then torn down and stowed away. [RUSALKA is a micro spectrometer for collecting detailed information on observed spectral radiance in the near IR (Infrared) waveband for measurement of greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth atmosphere], In the Lab, FE-3 Ron Garan had several hours of work, removing & replacing the failed Lab MCA (Major Constituent Analyzer) Mass Spectrometer (ORU 2), to be returned on ULF7. the R&R was not fully completed due to a time-consuming issue with fasteners. [For the R&R, Ron first had to remove the Lab MCA Drawer for which the D6 rack had to be rotated down (away from the wall). To gain access to the MSA (Mass Spectrometer Assembly), the VGA (Verification Gas Assembly) also had to be taken out temporarily. the failed spectrometer has been removed and prepacked for return. Activities will be replanned to complete this R&R and activate the MCA.] Meanwhile, Andrey Borisenko & Sergei Volkov spent several hours in the SM (Service Module) on the long-awaited major TVIS treadmill IFM (Inflight Maintenance). the gyroscope removal went well, and no crew calldowns were required. [After taking the TVIS out of the "pit" in the SM floor, Andrey & Sergei removed the failed treadmill gyroscope, to be returned on Atlantis. while TVIS was out of the pit, they lubricated the transfer case, vacuumed the screens, checked the Aft right Stabilizer Witness Mark and inspected one corner. TVIS was then temporarily stowed to await the new gyro, to be delivered on ULF7. the activities were monitored by MCC-Houston TVIS specialists.] FE-5 Furukawa performed the periodic reboot of the JAXA Kibo SLT (System Laptop Terminal) computer (which had experienced a recurrence of communications failure on 6/10). Afterwards, Satoshi initiated another sampling run with the EHS GC/DMS (Environmental Health Systems Gas Chromatograph / Differential Mobility Spectrometer) after executing some troubleshooting steps (swapping a T61p laptop cable to see if the cable was causing AQM runs to be unsuccessful), and deactivated the system ~5 hrs later. [This was the 2nd session with the replaced GC/DMS unit #1001, after the previous instrument (#1004) was used for 37 runs after it had replaced the earlier instrument, #1002, which was used for approximately 7 sessions. Also known as AQM (Air Quality Monitor), the system is controlled with "Sionex" expert software from the SSC (Station Support Computer)-12 laptop (due to a software glitch, the software needs to be opened, closed, and then reopened in order to ensure good communication between GC/DMS and SSC-12). the AQM demonstrates COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) technology for identifying volatile organic compounds, similar to the VOA (Volatile Organics Analyzer). this evaluation will continue over the course of several months as it helps to eventually certify the GC/DMS as nominal CHeCS (Crew Health Care Systems) hardware. In the JAXA Kibo JPM (JEM Pressurized Module), FE-6 Fossum worked on the MELFI-3 (Minus eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS 3), removing its failed EU (Electronic Unit) and inserting a new spare instead. the failed unit was packed for return. Borisenko performed a hardware test on the Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 ("Plants-2") payload with its LADA-01 greenhouse, checking the operation of the greenhouse in Cultivation mode (no water feed to the root modules & no seed planting), using the RSK2 T61p laptop instead of the RSE-Med laptop. [Rasteniya-2 researches growth and development of plants under spaceflight conditions in the LADA greenhouse from IBMP (Institute of Bio-Medical Problems, Russian: IMBP).] Afterwards, Andrey started a new round of the monthly preventive maintenance of RS (Russian Segment) ventilation systems, today replacing the SKPF1 & SKPF2 dust filters and cleaned the GZhT gas-liquid heat exchanger grill in the MRM1 Rassvet module after taking documentary photography, then updating the IMS (Inventory Management System) database. Volkov worked preventive maintenance in the FGB, cleaning the detachable VT7 fan screens of the three SOTR gas-liquid heat exchangers (GZhT4), plus the fixed GZhT4 grill with vacuum cleaner and soft brush. FE-3 Garan completed the periodic maintenance of the CSI (Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus 5 / Science Insert), deactivating & decabling CGBA-5, accessing CSI-05, performing spider feeding activity, then closing up CGBA, recabling and reactivating it. the spider girls have been spinning perfectly circular webs – which they are not known to do on Earth. [During the operation, POIC (Payload Operations Integration Center) temporarily disabled the AAA (Avionics Air Assembly) fan to check whether it's causing a squeal reported earlier by Ron. SHAB (Spider Hab) video is monitoring for 24 hours after feeding activity unit. the spider is called the Nephila clavipes. it is also known as the "Banana Spider" because of its yellow banana shaped body. it is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Silk" or "Golden Orb" spider because its web has a golden hue when viewed in the sunlight. it is commonly found in the southern parts of the US, particularly Florida, but it can be found throughout all parts of the southern United States including Alabama and Texas. the two spiders in the habitats (Gladys & Esmerelda) are juvenile females and are only about in. long. When female Nephila clavipes complete their last molt and become mature adults, they can be over 3 in. long and their webs over 3 ft across. (Unfortunately, these space spiders will most likely not live until adulthood nor will they get quite that large). To keep the spiders as healthy as possible for as long as possible, they are given a diet of wild type fruit flies. the fruit flies are provided a diet enriched with extra protein. the protein is ground-up dog food that is added to their normal diet of potato flakes. the spider scientists are interested in the Nephila clavipes because she builds a three-dimensional web on the ground that appears disorganized but is in fact very ordered. the hypothesis is these spiders will not build as much 3 dimension into their web given the absence of gravity. this may help scientists more clearly understand the purpose of the 3D web on Earth.] In further preparation for their EVA during ULF7, Garan & Fossum performed the routine SOP (Secondary Oxygen Pack) checkout & leak check on EMUs (Extravehicular Mobility Units) 3009 & 3010, using battery power. Ron & Mike also worked in the A/L (Airlock) on configuring & readying equipment & tools for their spacewalk. Sasha Samokutyayev had another ~1.5 hrs for transferring cargo items from Progress 43P to the ISS for stowage, logging moves and locations in the IMS (Inventory Management System) database. after this morning’s reboost by Progress 43P, the CDR performed the periodic task of downloading structural dynamics measurements of the IMU-Ts microaccelerometer of the running experiment TEKh-22 “Identifikatsiya” (Identification) in MRM1 (Mini Research Module 1) Rassvet to the RSE1 A31p laptop for subsequent downlink to the ground via OCA. [IMU-Ts is a part of the MRM1 SBI onboard measurement system, installed in PGO behind panel 104.] Andrey also conducted the periodic (~monthly) maintenance on the temporarily deactivated Russian IK0501 GA (Gas Analyzer) of the SOGS Pressure Control & Atmospheric Monitoring system behind SM panel 449 by replacing its CO2 filter assembly (BF) with a new unit, delivered on Progress 42P (done last: 4/9). the old unit was discarded and the IMS updated. [IK0501 is an automated system for measuring CO2, O2, and H2O in the air, as well as the flow rate of the gas being analyzed.] Furukawa had another 1h 40m reserved on his timeline for continuing prepacking ULF7 return cargo, followed at ~12:35pm by ground specialist tagup for debriefing. Afterwards, Ron, Mike & Satoshi got together for an hour for a joint review of ULF7 cargo transfer plans, studying an MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) overview, transfer activities and general transfer “choreography”. at ~1:45pm, they then tagged up with ground specialists in a teleconference to discuss specifics. FE-4 Volkov, FE-5 Furukawa & FE-6 Fossum undertook another ~30 min Shuttle RPM (R-bar Pitch Maneuver) photography training session, to practice in-cabin shooting using an Orbiter tile diagram cutout and the NIKON D2Xs still camera with 400 mm lens. during the training run, Sergei used the 800 mm lens, Satoshi the 400 mm lens and Mike the other 800 mm lens. [The RPM drill prepares crewmembers for the bottom-side mapping of STS-135/Atlantis/ULF7, to arrive on 7/10. during the RPM at ~600 ft from the station, the "shooters" have only ~90 seconds for taking high-resolution digital photographs of all tile areas and door seals on Atlantis, to be downlinked for launch debris assessment. thus, time available for the shooting will be very limited, requiring great coordination between the two headset-equipped photographers and the Shuttle pilot.] Ron performed the weekly 10-min. CWC (Contingency Water Container) inventory as part of the on-going WRM (Water Recovery & Management) assessment of onboard water supplies. Updated “cue cards” based on the crew’s water calldowns are sent up every other week for recording changes. [The current card (28-0014C) lists 101 good CWCs (2,282.2 L total) for the five types of water identified on board: 1. technical water (21 CWCs with 846.4 L, for Elektron electrolysis, incl. 562.2 L in 14 bags containing Wautersia bacteria and 134.2 L in 3 clean bags for contingency use; 2. Silver potable water (no CWCs); 3. iodinated water (68 CWCs with 1,241.3 L (also 36 expired or leaking bags with 658.8 L); 4. condensate water (158.2 L in 7 bags, plus 3 empty bags); and 5. waste/EMU dump and other (36.3 L in 2 CWCs, incl. 20.2 L from hose/pump flush). Wautersia bacteria are typical water-borne microorganisms that have been seen previously in ISS water sources. These isolates pose no threat to human health.] Volkov conducted the routine daily servicing of the SOZh system (Environment Control & Life Support system, ECLSS) in the SM. [Regular daily SOZh maintenance consists, among else, of checking the ASU toilet facilities, replacement of the KTO & KBO solid waste containers, replacement of EDV-SV waste water and EDV-U urine containers and filling EDV-SV, KOV (for Elektron), EDV-ZV & EDV on RP flow regulator.] Sasha took care of the daily IMS maintenance, updating/editing its standard “delta file” including stowage locations, for the regular weekly automated export/import to its three databases on the ground (Houston, Moscow, Baikonur). FE-5 located and serviced the JAXA FUJI 3D camera, removing its battery and 3 used batteries from the camera bag for stowage, then reported the number of good batteries. Satoshi also filled out his weekly FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) on the MEC (Medical Equipment Computer). it was his 2nd time. [On the FFQs, USOS astronauts keep a personalized log of their nutritional intake over time on special MEC software. Recorded are the amounts consumed during the past week of such food items as beverages, cereals, grains, eggs, breads, snacks, sweets, fruit, beans, soup, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, chicken, sauces & spreads, and vitamins. the FFQ is performed once a week to estimate nutrient intake from the previous week and to give recommendations to ground specialists that help maintain optimal crew health. Weekly estimation has been verified to be reliable enough that nutrients do not need to be tracked daily.] at ~3:55am EDT, the six crewmembers held the regular (nominally weekly) tagup with the Russian Flight Control Team (GOGU/Glavnaya operativnaya gruppa upravleniya), including Shift Flight Director (SRP), at TsUP-Moscow via S-band/audio, phone-patched from Houston and Moscow. at ~7:30am, Sasha linked up with TsUP-Moscow stowage specialists via S-band to conduct the weekly IMS tagup, discussing inventory & stowage issues, equipment locations and cargo transfers. at ~9:15am, Sasha turned on the SM’s amateur radio equipment (Kenwood VHF transceiver with manual frequency selection, headset, & power supply) for a ham radio session with the 300-450 graduates of St. Petersburg State Engineering and Economics University Branch in Tver (INZhECON-TVER), who are currently receiving diplomas of economics managers in healthcare, transportation systems, municipal services, and tourism. at ~10:00am, FE-3 Garan conducted the regular IMS stowage conference with Houston stowage specialists, discussing pre-ULF7 stowage questions. at ~10:45am, Ron Garan used the SM’s amateur radio equipment for a ham radio session with students at the Youth Hostel “La Foresta” at Rome, Italy. at ~3:30pm, the three crewmembers had their regular weekly tagup with the Lead Flight Director at JSC/MCC-Houston. at ~9:15am, Sasha turned on the SM’s amateur radio equipment (Kenwood VHF transceiver with manual frequency selection, headset, & power supply) for a ham radio session with the 300-450 graduates of St. Petersburg State Engineering and Economics University Branch in Tver (INZhECON-TVER), who are currently receiving diplomas of economics managers in healthcare, transportation systems, municipal services, and tourism. at ~10:45am, Ron Garan used the SM’s amateur radio equipment for a ham radio session with students at the Youth Hostel “La Foresta” at Rome, Italy. Before “Presleep” period tonight, Garan powers on the MPC (Multi-Protocol Converter) and starts the data flow of video recorded during the day to the ground, with POIC (Payload Operations & Integration Center) routing the onboard HRDL (High-Rate Data Link). after about an hour, MPC will be turned off again. [This is a routine operation which regularly transmits HD onboard video (live or tape playback) to the ground on a daily basis before sleeptime.] the crew worked out with their regular 2-hr physical exercise protocol on the CEVIS cycle ergometer with vibration isolation (FE-3, FE-5), ARED advanced resistive exercise device (FE-1, FE-3, FE-5), T2/COLBERT advanced treadmill (CDR, FE-1, FE-4), and VELO ergometer bike with load trainer (CDR,FE-4). no exercise reported for FE-6. Reboost Update: the 2nd one-burn ISS reboost (of 2) was performed this morning at 8:16am EDT using Progress 43P DPO rendezvous & docking thrusters, with attitude control handover to RS MCS (Motion Control System) at 6:30am and return to US CMGs at 9:10am. due to the thruster malfunction during 43P docking, only 4 thrusters were used (instead of the usual 8). Burn duration: 29m 32s. Actual Delta-V was 1.97 m/s (6.46 ft/s) vs. predicted 1.95/6.60. New mean altitude: 388.3 km (209.7 nmi) – ready for ULF7. Apogee height: 390.2 km (210.7 nmi); perigee height: 386.4 km (208.6 nmi). Prop consumption for the reboost totaled 296.3 kg for the burn, and 4.5 kg for attitude control. Progress 43P supplied the reboost and pitch/yaw propellant from its resupply tanks Purpose of the reboosts was to gain altitude and set up phasing conditions for ULF7. Robotics Update: the crew maneuvered the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) to release MBS PDGF-3 (Mobile Base system Power & Data Grapple Fixture 3) and grapple the Node-2 PDGF instead. after the base change (control transfer) to the Node-2 PDGF, the MBS was released and the SSRMS maneuvered to the ULF7 start position. the now unoccupied MT (Mobile Transporter) was moved from WS5 (Workstation 5) to WS4. this completes all MSS (Mobile Service Systems) preparations for ULF7. PMA-2 decision: With no more Shuttles after STS-135 arriving at ISS, the decision was made to leave the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 pressurized after ULF7 departure so that it can be used like a closet,- like PMA3. since it is not designed for stowage, it would require non-standard stowage. Before anything will be stowed, the thermal environment has to be determined. CEO targets uplinked for today were Kwanza Basin (general views were requested to document a thin string of new developments [infrastructure such as main roads, power lines, and settlements along the roads] between the capital city, Luanda, and new oilfields inland. Critical features were to be acquired with overlapping images. the rationale behind imaging this site is to document planned and unplanned changes in the Luanda-oilfields corridor developing between the coastal capital city, Luanda, and the new oilfields to the northeast. few usable images have yet been acquired, mainly due to the presence of continuous equatorial cloud), Tehran, Iran (the Iranian capital with a population nearing 9 million is located in the northern part of the country about 70 miles south of the coast of the Caspian Sea. ISS had a nadir pass in clear weather at midday. As it tracked over the desert towards the Alborz Range, the crew was to look nadir for this sprawling urban area), and Wells Creek Impact Crater, TN (Wells Creek is an exposed impact crater in Tennessee. this target was close to nadir. Overlapping mapping images were requested. the crater is 12 km in diameter and is estimated to be about 200 million years old). Significant Events Ahead (all dates Eastern Time and subject to change): ————–Six-crew operations————- 07/08/11 — STS-135/Atlantis launch ULF7 (MPLM) – 11:27am 07/10/11 — STS-135/Atlantis docking ULF7 (MPLM) ~11:09am 07/12/11 — EVA (Garan & Fossum) ~8:50am, 6h30m 07/18/11 — STS-135/Atlantis undock ULF7 (MPLM) – 1:59pm 07/20/11 — STS-135/Atlantis landing KSC ~7:07am 07/27/11 — Russian EVA #29 08/29/11 — Progress M-11M/43P undocking 08/30/11 — Progress M-12M/44P launch 09/01/11 — Progress M-12M/44P docking (SM aft) 09/08/11 – Soyuz TMA-21/26S undock/landing (End of Increment 28) ————–Three-crew operations————- 09/22/11 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S launch – D.Burbank (CDR-30)/A.Shkaplerov/A.Ivanishin 09/24/11 – Soyuz TMA-03M/28S docking (MRM2) ————–Six-crew operations————- 10/25/11 — Progress M-10M/42P undocking 10/26/11 — Progress M-13M/45P launch 10/28/11 — Progress M-13M/45P docking (DC-1) 11/16/11 — Soyuz TMA-02M/27S undock/landing (End of Increment 29) ————–Three-crew operations————- 11/30/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S launch – O.Kononenko (CDR-31)/A.Kuipers/D.Pettit 12/02/11 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S docking (MRM1) ————–Six-crew operations—————- 12/26/11 — Progress M-13M/45P undock 12/27/11 — Progress M-14M/46P launch 12/29/11 — Progress M-14M/46P docking (DC-1) 02/29/12 — ATV3 launch readiness 03/05/12 — Progress M-12M/44P undock 03/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-03M/28S undock/landing (End of Increment 30) ————–Three-crew operations————- 03/30/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S launch – G.Padalka (CDR-32)/J.Acaba/K.Volkov 04/01/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S docking (MRM2) ————–Six-crew operations—————- 05/05/12 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) w/ERA – launch on Proton (under review) 05/06/12 — Progress M-14M/46P undock 05/07/12 — 3R Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) – docking (under review) 05/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-04M/29S undock/landing (End of Increment 31) ————–Three-crew operations————- 05/29/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S launch – S.Williams (CDR-33)/Y.Malenchenko/A.Hoshide 05/31/12 – Soyuz TMA-06M/31S docking ————–Six-crew operations—————- 09/18/12 — Soyuz TMA-05M/30S undock/landing (End of Increment 32) ————–Three-crew operations————- 10/02/12 — Soyuz TMA-07M/32S launch – K.Ford (CDR-34)/O.Novitskiy/E.Tarelkin 10/04/12 – Soyuz TMA-07M/32S docking ————–Six-crew operations————- 11/16/12 — Soyuz TMA-06M/31S undock/landing (End of Increment 33) ————–Three-crew operations————- 11/30/12 — Soyuz TMA-08M/33S launch – C.Hadfield (CDR-35)/T.Mashburn/R.Romanenko 12/02/12 – Soyuz TMA-08M/33S docking ————–Six-crew operations————- 03/xx/13 — Soyuz TMA-07M/32S undock/landing (End of Increment 34) ————–Three-crew operations————- 03/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S launch – P.Vinogradov (CDR-36)/C.Cassidy/A.Misurkin 03/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S docking ————–Six-crew operations————- 05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-08M/33S undock/landing (End of Increment 35) ————–Three-crew operations————- 05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S launch – M.Suraev (CDR-37)/K.Nyberg/L.Parmitano 05/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S docking ————–Six-crew operations————- 09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-09M/34S undock/landing (End of Increment 36) ————–Three-crew operations————- 09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S launch – M.Hopkins/TBD (CDR-38)/TBD 09/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S docking ————–Six-crew operations————- 11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-10M/35S undock/landing (End of Increment 37) ————–Three-crew operations————- 11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-12M/37S launch – K.Wakata (CDR-39)/R.Mastracchio/TBD 11/xx/13 – Soyuz TMA-12M/37S docking ————–Six-crew operations————- 03/xx/14 – Soyuz TMA-11M/36S undock/landing (End of Increment 38) ————–Three-crew operations————-

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ethanol vote fuels subsidy doubts

July 1, 2011 By

1309506908 86 Ethanol vote fuels subsidy doubts

There are no longer any sacred cows when it comes to energy.

The Senate delivered a strong rebuke to ethanol tax subsidies Thursday, underscoring an uncertain future for both the corn-based gasoline additive and the broader set of cherished energy subsidies.

More than two-thirds of senators voted to immediately end an existing 45-cent-per-gallon tax credit for blending ethanol in gasoline that expires at the end of the year.

“I think we’re looking at everything now,” said Nebraska Republican Sen. Mike Johanns, a former governor and George W. Bush-era agriculture secretary. “Trying to figure out what to do with the budget has caused us all to come to grips with some things we’ve supported in the past, all of us.”

“I think the days of large subsidies like this are really over, and this is kind of the first vote on it,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who sponsored the subsidies amendment with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). “I think you’re going to see all kinds of subsidies go, because we’ve got so many problems.”

Senate Democrats immediately looked to broaden the ethanol vote, saying it means lawmakers shouldn’t be afraid to raise taxes on well-established energy players. The White House and Democratic leaders have sought to end various tax breaks awarded to Big Oil, an idea that 52 senators supported in may but is still opposed by Republicans as an unfair and selective tax increase.

“This is a landmark vote, and even if this provision does not pass the House, it is a signal that those negotiating the debt ceiling must heed the bipartisan majorities in the Senate that want to end ethanol subsidies and end oil subsidies for the Big five oil companies,” said Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).

Senate GOP conference Chairman Lamar Alexander suggested putting other energy incentives under the microscope. “If you look at Big Oil, we should look at Big Wind,” he said. “We should look at all that we do.”

The savings, Alexander said, could fund energy research, debt reduction and lowering marginal tax rates.

But Alexander threw cold water on the notion that Thursday’s ethanol votes had any larger symbolic meaning about energy subsidies.

“Every vote stands on its own,” he said. “This vote says that when you can lower food prices and lower the national debt with one vote, that’s a good vote. and if we have other opportunities to do that, we should do it.”

The vote could also have implications for deficit reduction talks Vice President Joe Biden is leading with bipartisan congressional leaders. “It should send a good signal,” Coburn told reporters. “We’ve got to do what’s in the best interest of the country, not what’s in the best interest of special interest groups.”

But 15 minutes after voting 73-24 to end the ethanol tax credit, only 40 senators supported an amendment that would end federal aid for ethanol blender pumps and storage facilities.

The split decision leaves a door open for ethanol backers to try to work out a deal to continue getting some federal help.

Ethanol friends and foes in the Senate are pledging to immediately resume talks aimed at a compromise to allow some federal assistance to continue.

According to Coburn, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) promised to allow another set of votes on the ethanol language in legislation that has a better chance of becoming law than the economic development bill currently on the floor.

Coburn said talks would resume Thursday with Feinstein and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.). those two farm-state lawmakers are leading a group of about a dozen Midwestern senators that has offered a plan to end the blender credit while allowing future help for blender pumps and other infrastructure to increase ethanol market viability and transition to greener, plant-based alternatives that can be grown in more areas.

The goal of those talks is “help on their blending problem and stuff on cellulosic,” Coburn said. “We’ll see when that will come up. That’ll come up in the next couple of weeks, I’m sure.”

“These are serious ongoing negotiations,” Klobuchar said. “We know that there is support for phasing out the current ethanol tax credits. We understand that at a time when our country is facing severe budget constraints. but the question . is not if we should do it – we will. it is when and how. . We need a glide path and not a cliff for the only alternative to oil.”

But it is clear the tide has been growing against ethanol assistance – which traditionally has broken down along regional rather than partisan lines. The House voted 283-128 on an amendment Thursday to an agriculture spending bill from Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to end the blender pump and storage facility aid.

While still enjoying solid support from Midwesterners in both parties, it’s also clear ethanol doesn’t have the political clout in Congress that it used to, when some of the most powerful lawmakers were firmly in its corner, like former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole and Tom Daschle.

“You’ve had key House members and key senators in key places that could either begin the programs or protect them,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) told POLITICO. “That’s no longer the case overall. John Boehner, Eric Cantor are not corn-state people. Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell. So you get down to the committee chairmen and ranking members, they’re just not in a stronger position.”

The White House opposed both Senate amendments, saying it would make it more difficult to meet President Barack Obama’s goal of reducing oil imports by one-third by 2025.

But with respect to biofuel incentives, the Obama administration “is open to new approaches that meet today’s challenges and save taxpayers money,” White House spokesman Clark Stevens said in an email.

Ethanol friends and foes in the Senate are pledging to immediately resume talks aimed at a compromise to allow some federal assistance to continue. According to Coburn, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) promised to allow another set of votes on the ethanol language in legislation that has a better chance of becoming law than the economic development bill currently on the floor. Coburn said talks would resume Thursday with Feinstein and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.). those two farm-state lawmakers are leading a group of about a dozen Midwestern senators that has offered a plan to end the blender credit while allowing future help for blender pumps and other infrastructure to increase ethanol market viability and transition to greener, plant-based alternatives that can be grown in more areas. The goal of those talks is “help on their blending problem and stuff on cellulosic,” Coburn said. “We’ll see when that will come up. That’ll come up in the next couple of weeks, I’m sure.” “These are serious ongoing negotiations,” Klobuchar said. “We know that there is support for phasing out the current ethanol tax credits. We understand that at a time when our country is facing severe budget constraints. but the question . is not if we should do it – we will. it is when and how. . We need a glide path and not a cliff for the only alternative to oil.” but it is clear the tide has been growing against ethanol assistance – which traditionally has broken down along regional rather than partisan lines. The House voted 283-128 on an amendment Thursday to an agriculture spending bill from Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to end the blender pump and storage facility aid. while still enjoying solid support from Midwesterners in both parties, it’s also clear ethanol doesn’t have the political clout in Congress that it used to, when some of the most powerful lawmakers were firmly in its corner, like former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole and Tom Daschle. “You’ve had key House members and key senators in key places that could either begin the programs or protect them,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) told POLITICO. “That’s no longer the case overall. John Boehner, Eric Cantor are not corn-state people. Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell. So you get down to the committee chairmen and ranking members, they’re just not in a stronger position.” The White House opposed both Senate amendments, saying it would make it more difficult to meet President Barack Obama’s goal of reducing oil imports by one-third by 2025. but with respect to biofuel incentives, the Obama administration “is open to new approaches that meet today’s challenges and save taxpayers money,” White House spokesman Clark Stevens said in an email.

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , ,

Vision axes flights to five cities, cites fuel prices

June 30, 2011 By

Vision axes flights to five cities, cites fuel prices

The fuel monster is devouring a few more routes, eating them up and spitting them out while leaving flyers to find other options. Five cities arrayed along discount airline Vision’s route structure are the victims.

Come July 17, Vision will do away with nonstop Huntsville, Savannah, Greenville/Spartanburg, Baton Rouge and Columbia flights to Destin/Ft. Walton Beach. from Ft. Walton, Vision connects flyers to other Florida destinations.

In a prepared statement, Vision Chief Operating Officer David Meers says, “We had high hopes for all the cities we serve. However, the demand in a few of these cities has not met our expectations.” Meers says a number of factors came into play in axing the routes, and that “with high fuel prices, it’s not prudent to continue to fly in markets that may take a very long time to develop.”

Even while eliminating flights from Huntsville, Savannah, Columbia, Greenville/Spartanburg and Baton Rouge to Florida, Meers says the airline is in the midst of “evaluating the addition of a number of new cities that have solid passenger flow to Florida, Las Vegas and the Caribbean.”

As for flyers who had passage booked on one of the discontinued routes, a company statement says they will be “given the option of a full refund or offered the opportunity to travel from a nearby city served by Vision Airlines.”

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: Camera Eye Photography)

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , , , ,

The Case For Biofuels

June 4, 2011 By

1307211309 37 The Case For Biofuels

The internal combustion engine is well-established around the world as crucial for transportation, and those engines require fuel. it is pointless to deny that fact. although conservation always can and should play an important role in reducing the use of transportation fuels, that use cannot go to zero. therefore, a steady supply of fuel for engines that power cars, trucks, farm equipment, and airplanes is essential to be able to succeed in the global economy and to maintain an acceptable standard of living.   

Approximately 60% of the world’s known oil reserves are in the Middle East, and almost every industrialized country imports at least some oil from that region of the world. further, since oil is a highly fungible commodity, the decisions on the volume of production of oil by the oil cartel have a major impact on its price. by adjusting production appropriately, Middle Eastern oil producers can exert a lot of control over the supply of oil, and therefore its price. it follows, then, that energy independence is possible only if we either increase the supply of our own oil or find alternative means of producing a suitable substitute.

Enter biofuels. Defined as any fuel-solid, liquid, or gas-derived from recently dead biological material (as opposed to biological material that has been dead for millions of years), biofuels offer a path to increased energy dependence. Biofuels are renewable, sustainable, and domestically-produced. indeed, since it is from agricultural feedstocks that biofuels are overwhelmingly derived, one can think of biofuels as a type of solar energy. Through photosynthesis, plants use energy from the sun to grow and accumulate fermentable sugar raw materials and oils.

Using plant sources we can produce two biofuels now in large enough quantities to have an impact on the market for transportation fuels: bio-ethanol and biodiesel. although ethanol is only about 60% as good a fuel as gasoline based on energy content, and has other draw backs including its inability to be transported through the existing pipeline infrastructure, it can be blended into gasoline up to about 15% without requiring any modifications to most existing car and truck engines.

Biodiesel is entirely another story. Produced from plant or animal fats, biodiesel can be blended in substantial amounts with traditional petroleum-derived diesel or in some cases used directly as a transportation fuel. Unlike ethanol, biodiesel is a good fuel, and it has the added advantage that it is cleaner-burning than diesel. Its problem is that there is nowhere near enough plant-sourced oil to produce more than a 5-10 percent of our diesel needs. 

Since ethanol can be produced now in vastly larger quantities using existing technology than can biodiesel, it is the only biofuel currently available that can meaningfully reduce our demand for foreign oil. although ethanol is certainly not the most desirable biofuel, there is simply no other option currently.

That must change if biofuels are to realize their potential as a replacement for petroleum-derived gasoline in transportation fuels. There are three important developments to look for in the near future in the USA. The first is the switch from corn to cellulosic waste as the source of fermentable sugars for biofuel production. Cellulosic pilot plants have already been built and processes are being tested, so this switch will likely begin to happen at the commercial level over the next 2-5 years. Once this shift is complete, the diversion of land and agricultural products from food uses to biofuel production will be essentially eliminated, and the upward pressure on food prices will abate. The second important technological shift will be toward the production of better biofuels such as butanol and hydrocarbons and away from ethanol.

Both butanol and hydrocarbons such as terpenes are much more gasoline-like, have higher energy content, and posses none of the drawbacks of ethanol as a transportation fuel. we already see a heavy investment in research and development in these areas. Once the technology is well-enough developed to be commercially viable, cellulosic-derived, more practical biofuels will enter the marketplace that are ideal replacements for oil-derived fuels. The third breakthrough will be the use of algae as a source of oil for biodiesel production. Technological improvements in the efficiency of growing algae and recovering the oil are needed for algal biodiesel to be economic, but steady progress toward those goals is being made. Once these three developments are in place, we will have taken decisive steps toward energy independence and relief of cartel-imposed price controls. 

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , , , ,

How will we power aircraft when the oil runs out?

May 28, 2011 By

1306610113 75 How will we power aircraft when the oil runs out?

The world economy runs on cheap transportation. Within a continent, we can replace gas with electricity if we have a good power source. Between continents, we need to fly at jet speeds, or commerce becomes much slower. And that means a power source that is not only portable, but produces a huge amount of thrust to keep a very heavy object in the air. what will replace the portability and explosive power of petroleum-based jet fuel?

Synthetic fuels could always be employed – but don't expect cheap air-fares. Hydrogen has been proposed but it has so little energy for the stuff you have to drag along to use it.

The "market" always adjusts to conditions – but it is discriminatory because sooner or later the more valuable something becomes the smaller the population who can afford it becomes.

Deep in the Earth are coal caves.I'm seeing that granite turns to coal at such a depth.Water flows in at a high pressure.The temperature might be high and I suspect radioactivity.The water in the cave is now oil etc.(my findings)

Well, most of our electricity is currently generated from oil.

Anyway, I'd think hydrogen. Ref above, the equipment to use liquid or gas hydrogen for combustion is not heavy & it is far more explosive than jet fuel, which is actually the problem. You can check out the NASA work with solar, but that's unreasonable for high speed air transport with heavy loads. There were early experiments with nuclear powered bombers, but those were abandoned because the large heavy reactors & shielding were problematic, and you really don't want one of those things crashing, but technology has & will continue to move forward to a point where that may be an option. I guess in the shorter term you could operate on highly refined alcohol from sugar/soy/corn/etc. Piston aircraft could start that now if you can get the economics in line alongside ethanol for cars. Jets are more of a problem, but you could generate a usable fuel fairly easily I think, it's just kerosene anyway.

Perhaps we'll come up with a kind of vegetable oil that a jet could burn, but we would need lots of canola for that, let me tell ya.

None of us will be alive when "the oil runs out", so why do you even care? Airplanes as we know them know won't even exist..hell, for that matter, PEOPLE might not even exist.

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , , , ,

Fuel Fix » SCAPEGOATING IS NOT LEADERSHIP

April 28, 2011 By

1304004633 97 Fuel Fix » SCAPEGOATING IS NOT LEADERSHIP

President Obama has recently sent a letter to Congress urging them to take back $4 billion in subsidies to oil companies–they make enough money because of high prices–and invest the money in clean energy.  his letter was prompted by the need to appear to be doing something about high gasoline prices.

Scapegoating and demagoguery have become a high art form with this Administration.  the claim that oil companies somehow get special treatment is pure nonsense.  Critics, including some in the White House, point to depletion allowance, intangible drilling costs, the manufacturing tax credit, and the treatment of foreign source income.  the last two are provisions that apply to all businesses, not just oil companies.

Incentives to create jobs here when unemployment is close to 9% are hardly inappropriate right now, although a case could be made that they distort market forces.  the treatment of foreign source income is designed to avoid dual taxation of income earned overseas that has been taxed by the host country.  the Administration fails to point out that the US corporate tax rate is the second highest in the developed world.

The depletion allowance was taken away from major oil companies decades ago.  It now only applies to small producers of which there are about 18%.  Raising their costs is certainly not away to increase domestic production.  although intangible drilling costs– ground clearing, surveying work wages, fuel, repairs, supplies, drilling muds–can be written off in the first year of an exploration project, in subsequent years taxable income is higher.  there is no evidence that the government is losing tax revenue from them.  in fact, it is just the opposite.

Before more money is thrown at alternatives like wind and solar, and biofuels, someone should take a close look at the experience of such investments in elsewhere.  Countries like Spain and Germany have wasted large sums on these alternatives only to see their electricity prices go up along with their financial problems.  the push for greater biofuel use is simply a political ploy to further enrich agricultural interests. the route proposed by President Obama is simply another case of trying to force technology before it is commercially viable.  And like past efforts, it will fail but impose higher costs on consumers in the process.

Blaming oil companies for high gasoline prices is like cursing the darkness.  It does nothing to shed light.  some of the reasons for high crude prices are beyond the President’s control–volatility and uncertainty in the Middle East.  Others, he is responsible for or is a contributing factor.

A weak dollar and an uncertain fiscal situation lead to higher crude prices since oil is denominated in dollars.  in the last 5-6 months, the dollar has lost about 10% in value to the Euro.  Uncertainty over our debt and deficit have lead to greater uncertainty about an economic recovery and its strength.  That has led to investors seeking what appear to be safer and better investments–commodities including oil.  Coming to grips with our deficit and debt problems would strengthen the dollar and boost the economy both of which would take some of the steam out of speculation.

A rational energy policy would promote more domestic production, removing the barriers to investment in domestic energy.  While such a policy would not lead to large production increases quickly, it would send a strong signal to the market and that would begin to alter expectations as investments were made in exploration, refinery upgrades, and infrastructure.  While no one can know how much oil prices would drop, there is no doubt that they would drop and so would gasoline prices.

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts