Focus on Germany Allan Hall reports from Berlin

NEWS

TECHNOLOGYSPOTLIGHT

Advances in technology across industry

Electricity generated from gravity

Mexican entrepreneurs have developed a system capable of using the vehicular flow to generate electric energy. This development has the potential to produce sufficient electricity to power up a household through a device that ‘catches’ the force of the moving cars.

“This is a technology that provides sustainable energy and could be implemented at low prices, since it’s a complement to already existing infrastructure: the concrete of streets and avenues,” Héctor Ricardo Macías Hernández, developer of the system, said. The technology consists in a system that integrates a ramp-step (elaborated with polymeric material similar to the ones used in the manufacture of tires) that elevates to five centimetres above the level of the street. When receiving the impact of the vehicle, this ramp exerts pressure over a bellows.

This artifact contains air that is expelled at a certain pressure through a hose; later, this element travels to a tank where it is compressed and relaunched to an electricity generating turbine. Macías Hernández also said that the accumulation of electric energy is proportional to the flow of cars over a determinate spot; however, in places with low vehicular flow, several ramp-steps could be placed to multiply the impact of every individual vehicle. For further information, please contact: JoséGotésjose@invdes.com.mx

Storing heat from the Sun

Together with the company SchwörerHaus the Research and Test Centre for Solar Systems (TZS) of the Institute for Thermodynamics and Heat Technology (ITW) of the University of Stuttgart, in the framework of the project ‘Solspaces’, are developing a new heating concept in the building, combining solar heating with the long-term heat storage. After many years of development, this concept is to be tested for the first time now in a residential house. For this purpose a new type of building of the type ‘Flying Spaces’ from SchwörerHaus was supplied to the University of Stuttgart in Stuttgart-Vaihingen.

Whilst everybody is talking about solar energy in terms of electricity, the provision of heat is doomed to a shadowy existence. One reason for this lies in the fact that the heat generated on sunny days needs to be stored for cold periods. Up to now this has been done in water storage tanks requiring a great deal of space. The heating concept pursued in the project ‘Solspaces’, in contrast, is based on a thermal solar system in connection with a sorption heat storage tank. This technology is characterised by energy density three to four times higher than water and enables a compact and almost loss-free heat storage. Visit: www.itw.uni-stuttgart.de

Multifunction active aerodynamic system developed for new supercar

Aunique, multi-function active aerodynamic system has been developed by Prodrive Automotive Technology for use in a 200+mph supercar. The system uses both front and rear actuation systems to control vehicle downforce, providing features that enable the vehicle to continually modify aerodynamic forces to maintain optimum vehicle performance. Uniquely, the rear aero system is able to offer a variable lift and pitch position, providing the ability to increase downforce for optimum handling or decrease downforce in a Formula 1 style ‘DRS’ mode for higher straight line speed. The front and rear systems can be used in conjunction to balance the vehicle downforce.

Delivering the complex, multi-disciplinary solution drew on Prodrive’s expertise in mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems, as well as its experience working on time-critical programmes for major vehicle manufacturers. “The application was a very demanding, safety critical system,” explained Prodrive’s programme manager, Peter Tibbles. “The system had to withstand extreme aerodynamic loads, meet rapid deployment targets, while the packaging envelope and weight target were very tight.” Visit: www.prodrive.com