Space bacteria

The MFC is not a new method of electricity generation. In fact, the idea of such a fuel cell was first performed in the year 1911 by M.C Potter. This cell converts organic compounds into electricity through bio-catalytic oxidation by using bacterias. However, not much improvement in terms of the amount of electricity generated with the help of bacterias has been achieved. At present this technique is mostly applied for waste water treatment and sewage plants. But the new finding could change all of this.

During the study, researchers found that BS bacteria can produce double electricity as compared to the other bugs. The researchers say that this bacteria could be harvested artificially and prove extremely beneficial for the people of developing countries to power their appliances. Inside the MFC, the bio-film coates the carbon electrodes of the MFC which produces electrons when the bacterias start feeding. These electrons then generate electricity while passing through the electrodes.

Via: Daily mail

ARAM

Envisaged as a vehicular system that helps in planting and harvesting of crops, the conception is named as ARAM. From the look of things, the mechanism seems simplistic enough to be used in the rural sector, by a significant part of our populace.

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ARAM

It has four-wheel electric motors.

The unobtrusive contraption consists of a singular seat at the front, for the driver/farmer. Around this main ‘cockpit’ seat, there are horizontal panels affixed to the chassis, which can be used for carrying and storage of seeding trays or plastic boxes. This guileless set up has been designed so as to offer an optimized level of comfort and freedom to the farmer, especially during hot and humid morning conditions.

Finally, coming to the ‘green’ power train, the ARAM is equipped with four separate electric hub motors. An overhanging embedded with photovoltaic cells will be harnessing the clean solar energy required for powering the vehicle.

Now, given the bantam scope of the whole conception, we are not sure if it will have the sufficient maneuvering capacity or overall power for large scale agricultural activities. However, if a local ambit of horticulture is considered, the ARAM may yet just be the low emission solution for a uniquely sustainable form of cultivation and farming.

Via: Coroflot

Integrated solar power tile

Named ‘Amrita Smart,’ the integrated solar tile can both harvest and store power on sunny days. The power can be used to recharge laptops, cell phones or to light up the house during nighttime. The product weighs in at 200 grams and it will be made available on the market in two years, says Vinod Gopal.

We have seen a variety of solar products that can only harvest power from sun. But, most often, for storing the power, extra battery will be required. It is here the Amrita Smart becomes unique. The invention is certainly noteworthy, because it will be inexpensive and efficient as well. In addition, it will be easy to set up given the fact that it is an integrated product.

The Amrita researchers showcased their invention at the International Conference, NANOSOLAR 2012. The solar conference was conduced by the Amrita Center for Nanosciences at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Erankulam, the industrial city of Kerala.

The integrated solar power tile is a notable invention. It can be used for home-based production of sustainable power. People can now embellish their rooftops with solar power generating-and-storing tiles. To an extent, it will bring the electricity bills down as well contribute much into the reduction of carbon footprint.

Via: EconomicsTimes

Forest Life’ / OOZE

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Forest Life

Their aim for ‘Forest Life’ was to create an eco-community.

The design focuses on effective integration of the existing landscape, the slope and the forest with the built architecture. With this is mind, Ooze has made provisions for a community cultural/sports center and a temple among the villas and the forest. The design is in conformance with strict client specifications pertaining to the overall infrastructure and residential units, imposing rectangular plots and north south orientation as per ‘Vaastu’ principles. The result is a spectacular matrix of built structures harmoniously integrated into the naturally occurring elements on site that is, the forest, the water and the topography. This urban design imposed intelligent interconnections between structures on the site ensuring that each part of the site is accessible by foot, cycle or car.

Each dwelling has a front access to a street and a back access to a green space. All this develops into a stunning network of part natural, part landscaped public green spaces permeating the built structures besides creating different zones for social interaction. The intertwining green spaces act as natural screens providing privacy to inhabitants. A climatic skin featuring the traditional ‘Jali’ (perforated stone or latticed screen) wraps around the living spaces, eventually transforming itself as per the positioning and privacy requirements of each dwelling unit.

The villa typologies typically reflect the idea of eco friendly living, in conjunction with nature, with intentionally blurred boundaries between the inner living spaces and the exteriors. Gardens are viewed as natural green extensions of the living room. Patios and balconies accommodate nature within the living spaces. Sustainable criteria have been put into the design of every unit focusing on different aspects of energy, water and waste management in different areas: the individual dwelling unit, the community and the neighborhood.

Via: ArchDaily

Foldable Electric Bike

According to the designer, the whole mechanism of TODO is based on simplicity of features, tailored for an average urban commuter in China. In fact, the context used for the collective endeavor is the slew of non user friendly, high emission vehicles produced by local manufacturers, which do not even meet the criteria of being visually pleasing.

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Foldable Electric Bike

It’s a foldable electric bike design, using in-wheel motor as the power source.

So, as a righteously ‘green’ solution, the facilely conceived Foldable Bike will cater to a wider section of city based consumers. Its simple power train consists of an electric hub motor, along with the usual pack of batteries and a small controller. Even structurally, the bearing is kept light weight, without the utilization of complex transmission related mechanisms.

However, the definitive feature of the bike is obviously its portable nature. The folding steps as mentioned by the designer includes the sliding of the seat along the inside axis, and then following it up by turning the handlebar and finally folding the rear wheel. The compact component can then be locked and carried across the traffic laden streets quite easily.

So, at the end of the day, TODO does have the potential to fuse the advantages of low emission commute along with convenient portability. The only question remains: can the sustainable scope be translated from paper to an actual scenario?

Via: Albert-Lu

Zero Electric Vehicle Service

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Zero Electric Vehicle Service

Animated Film 3d developed under the final project in Arqui300 academy.

First, let us describe the basic unit of this service system, the Zero Electric Car. This car is a single seater service vehicle, electrically powered, small in size that will further reduce in size while parking. The design of the car has been inspired by the Bit Car, designed by Franco Vairani at MIT Design Lab. When parking, the car will collapse; its rear wheels will move forward, while the front wheels remain in place to bring the components of the chassis closer for compactness.

The above would suitably permit stacking of cars in a row, similar to how you see shopping carts stacked in supermarkets. Replicating the same concept for public transport services, using these electric cars seems not just fascinating, but a practical solution for spatial planning as part of the infrastructure development for future. Car sharing systems could be modeled taking advantage of the various features of the Zero electric cars.

This concept is reassuring for thousands of commuters, who can simply avail a car for a given distance, using a card. It allows you to effortlessly visualize the city landscape that we are likely to witness sometime soon, redefining urban mobility.

Via: Behance

Catalytic Clothing

Tony Ryan, a chemist and Helen Storey, a professor in the London College of Fashion, have conceptualized clothing that’s sprayed with a catalyst that sucks volatile organic chemicals from the air.

The duo is slated to attend the International Science Festival in Edinburgh, scheduled to begin in March to showcase their creations. While Ryan will be sporting a catalyzed denim kilt, socks and sporran (a pouch around the waist which is a part of Scottish traditional clothing) and Storey will please the crowd in a Vivienne Westwood top and a ball gown.

The duo’s Catalytic Clothing line contains a coating of Nano-titania that is used in sunscreen lotions. The solution is said to be able to catalyze a reaction wherein light and oxygen are capable of ridding the air of nitric oxide by converting it into nitrate which can then be washed away. Nano-titania has also been used by chemists in China to produce self cleaning shirts.

According to Ryan, nitric oxide has the potential to cause asthma. We aren’t sure about how much effect Catalytic Clothing will have as a whole, but it’s a nice change to see fashion doing some good for the environment. If the entire process can be tweaked further to cut down whatever possible risks could arise from using Nano-titania, the human population may at last be able to counter its contribution to greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Via: Smartplanet

Wind Harvester

Wind energy, if harvested right, has the potential to power many homes. Designers have created various designs to capture wind energy from huge kites to rooftop installations. But there’s a commonality that most of these designs share i.e. they produce a lot of noise and can be an eye-sore for the nearby residents.

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Wind Harvester

Versatile Wind Harvester by Heath Evdemon

In an effort to put these problems to rest, Heath Evdemon has come up with a new style wind turbine. Called the Wind Harvester, it can be installed anywhere (not necessarily on rooftops that mar the skyline) and produces no sound. In addition, the turbine can also operate under different wind conditions.

The turbine features 1-meter horizontal airfoil blades and can operate even at just half a meter off the ground. This makes it ideal for use on outcrops, hillsides and virtually anywhere else. The Wind Harvester can act as a replacement for those bulky and inconvenient turbines that aren’t feasible to set up in problem areas.

Evdemon has based his creation on reciprocating motion where an airfoil is raised till it hits a certain point after which the blade’s angel changes and is forced downward. The process keeps repeating itself and unlike other turbines whose blades move at various speeds to the central point, the Wind Harvester’s airfoils move at the same speed. It’s believed that this makes the turbine capable of generating energy even at low wind speed. The small system can be scaled up to blades measuring 15 meters and its components can be broken down into small pieces to make installation easier.

Via: Gizmag

Power felt gives a charge

The Power Felt is developed by locking tiny carbon nanotubes in a flexible plastic material. The technology produces power with the help of the difference between the temperature of the body and atmosphere. Power Felt is a breakthrough technology that recaptures the dissipating energy from any object that ejects heat, claims Corey Hewitt, a graduate student in the Wake Forest.

The researchers propose Power Felt for various applications to gather spilling energy. The material can be used to embed in the lining of automobile seats, insulate water pipes that carry hot water, stitch inside sports wears or even to wrap inside a wound strap. In all these cases, some heat is produced, which the Power Felt can grab easily.

Is this technology really efficient? This question is truly important. In fact, thermoelectric technology has been there for a while. Scientists often refrained from using it to produce charge because of two major reasons; the high cost and underdeveloped technology .

Even the Power Felt that comes with 72 stacked layers of carbon nanotubes generates only 140 nano watts. This amount of power output is extremely low. Needless to mention, 140 nano watts is nothing to charge an iPhone or any other electronic devices.

But, what is promising is that the Wake Forest researchers are still continuing their experiments. In future, they will be trying to implement maximum number of nanotube layers to the material as well as to keep it as slim as possible. Indeed, we have much reason to be hopeful.

Via: WakeForest