• 13 year old looks at trees, makes solar power breakthrough in science
    130 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Cone;31826324]Improving and seeing fault is not specific to the task of engineering. Why u no see dis?[/QUOTE] I don't think the average person spends time improving things in his job
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;31826392]I don't think the average person spends time improving things in his job[/QUOTE] Analyzing is what smart people do. If I'm working spreadsheets five days out of seven, then it's my job to tell people whether or not we are being efficient, and how we can improve. No engineering there. Adapting and improving can be performed with anything. We have things here called "WiPs". They are modified based upon people's opinion of it. There's no engineering involved, just computers. See?
This isn't a very useful solution, the amount of energy you would need to create the body/trunk part of it would almost certainly be higher than the additional energy produced. Plus most solar power plants have the solar panels/mirrors change angle to optimize energy efficiency.
[QUOTE=Rapist;31826246]He's a smart kid, but I can see that there's a way this could be improved on.[/QUOTE] It better not have anything to do with raping people.
[QUOTE=Zycoses;31826501]This isn't a very useful solution, the amount of energy you would need to create the body/trunk part of it would almost certainly be higher than the additional energy produced. Plus most solar power plants have the solar panels/mirrors change angle to optimize energy efficiency.[/QUOTE] I do believe that they change angle as [B]programmed.[/B] As in, the person who programmed them didn't know that there was a more efficient way of angling them.
[QUOTE=Cone;31826464]Analyzing is what smart people do. If I'm working spreadsheets five days out of seven, then it's my job to tell people whether or not we are being efficient, and how we can improve. No engineering there. Adapting and improving can be performed with anything. We have things here called "WiPs". They are modified based upon people's opinion of it. There's no engineering involved, just computers. See?[/QUOTE] "Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of people."
[QUOTE=Zycoses;31826501]This isn't a very useful solution, [B]the amount of energy you would need to create the body/trunk part of it would almost certainly be higher than the additional energy produced[/B]. Plus most solar power plants have the solar panels/mirrors change angle to optimize energy efficiency.[/QUOTE] Solar panels do not just produce a certain amount of energy and thats it, they are a long term investment. It's impossible to say that the trunk would likely take more energy than you would gain from using this because it depends entirely on how long you use it for and the intensity of the light there.
wow. Smart boy.
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;31826531]"Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of people."[/QUOTE] Engineering doesn't apply to maths, does it? I can apply my knowledge to create a new mathematical theorem, or devise a method to go faster than light. That is adapting and improving, and it doesn't have anything to do with creating systems or making devices. Simply evolving to my situation.
[quote]The tree design takes up less room than flat-panel arrays and works in spots that don't have a full southern view. It collects more sunlight in winter. Shade and bad weather like snow don't hurt it because the panels are not flat. It even looks nicer because it looks like a tree.[/quote] So it's useful and more efficient in all the applications where it would never be used, and will not be used in the most appropriate applications because it's less efficient. [editline]20th August 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=trotskygrad;31826256]and improving something is more engineering than science science is more about discovering something new engineering is about applying knowledge and improving things[/QUOTE] the entirety of science is based on improving knowledge through observation [B]all disciplines ever conceived of require the application of knowledge[/B]
[QUOTE=Contag;31826660]So it's useful and more efficient in all the applications where it would never be used, and will not be used in the most appropriate applications because it's less efficient.[QUOTE/] [editline]20th August 2011[/editline] It's as efficient in summer as it is in winter. I do believe that's what they're getting at. Besides, solar power normally only gets in, like, 17% of the energy it should. This kid brought that up to 80%.
That is one of the most random situations ever that's caused a major scientific development.
[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;31826738]That is one of the most random situations ever that's caused a major scientific development.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't go that far, there have been so many. Like the guy who put a frozen chicken in his coat. I forget the whole story but he died.
Hell, just turn the whole thing into a solar panel covered cylinder with a rounded solar paneled top and it would be more powerful still.
[QUOTE=Cone;31826719][QUOTE=Contag;31826660]So it's useful and more efficient in all the applications where it would never be used, and will not be used in the most appropriate applications because it's less efficient.[QUOTE/] [editline]20th August 2011[/editline] It's as efficient in summer as it is in winter. I do believe that's what they're getting at. Besides, solar power normally only gets in, like, 17% of the energy it should. This kid brought that up to 80%.[/QUOTE] If you think that he improved the efficiency of solar panels up to 80%... I don't even know. That's so mind-bogglingly stupid. That efficiency increase is during winter, when they are partly covered in snow.
[QUOTE=Contag;31826794][QUOTE=Cone;31826719] If you think that he improved the efficiency of solar panels up to 80%... I don't even know. That's so mind-bogglingly stupid. That efficiency increase is during winter, when they are partly covered in snow.[/QUOTE] Read the damned OP.
[QUOTE=Cone;31826719][QUOTE=Contag;31826660] It's as efficient in summer as it is in winter. I do believe that's what they're getting at. [/QUOTE] It [B]cannot possibly [/B] be as efficient as it is in summer, as it is in winter because of the significantly reduced daylight hours. That's like saying changing the way the seats in a car are positioned will substantially increase fuel efficiency.
[QUOTE=Cone;31826719]Besides, solar power normally only gets in, like, 17% of the energy it should. This kid brought that up to 80%.[/QUOTE] No, he brought it up to 20-25%, 20-80% of the [I]current[/I] output of the panels. You can't get more because of the physical limitations of the panel itself. If it hit 80%, we'd never have to worry about power forever.
[QUOTE=Cone;31826820][QUOTE=Contag;31826794] Read the damned OP.[/QUOTE] Use your god damn brain and not an ambiguous comment. A jump to 80% efficiency would not occur with normal solar panels by reorienting them.
[QUOTE=Contag;31826826][QUOTE=Cone;31826719] It [B]cannot possibly [/B] be as efficient as it is in summer, as it is in winter because of the significantly reduced daylight hours. That's like saying changing the way the seats in a car are positioned will substantially increase fuel efficiency.[/QUOTE] Snow's pretty reflective. And we're talking about emphasizing trees here, some of which can live through the winter. Edit: And yes, I did just take my own advice and read the damned OP. It's still a pretty big increase from around 17% to 50%.
[QUOTE=OpethRockr55;31826843]No, he brought it up to 20-25%, 20-80% of the [I]current[/I] output of the panels. You can't get more because of the physical limitations of the panel itself. If it hit 80%, we'd never have to worry about power forever.[/QUOTE] Exactly, you'd see this being broadcast over all news stations because that would be amazing. [editline]20th August 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Cone;31826869][QUOTE=Contag;31826826] Snow's pretty reflective. And we're talking about emphasizing trees here, some of which can live through the winter. And yes, I did just take my own advice and read the damned OP. It's still a pretty big increase from around 17% to 50%.[/QUOTE] Even 50% is pretty fucking revolutionary from reorienting it! Jesus fucking christ are you brain damaged? How many of those panels were pointing at the ground? Are you aware photos travel in straight lingesiuahsdkjasdhnfkjshdfkjbsndfkjasdkasagrh /ragequit
[QUOTE=Contag;31826876]Exactly, you'd see this being broadcast over all news stations because that would be amazing. [editline]20th August 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Cone;31826869] Even 50% is pretty fucking revolutionary from reorienting it! Jesus fucking christ are you brain damaged? How many of those panels were pointing at the ground? Are you aware photos travel in straight lingesiuahsdkjasdhnfkjshdfkjbsndfkjasdkasagrh /ragequit[/QUOTE] Did I just win? Or... what? My head hurts. What's going on? Why am I here? Have I been drugged?
When I saw the thread title I assumed it was likely to be a case of the kid not actually doing anything and only being vaguely related to the outcome yet being credited anyway, then I was pleasantly surprised, but then I was sort of disappointed again after reading his findings. Good for the kid I guess.
Kinda funny how an organism which thrives off absorbing a maximum amount of sunlight hasn't been studied further in solar energy. After all, trees have had a few million years head start in maximising their uptake. Congrats to the kid, I hope he patents the idea and makes a living from his idea.
If this gets more developed, i'd love to walk through a solar forest filled with power trees running a city :v:
I'd like to know the mechanics behind this phenomenologic observance. Are the panels reflecting light at each other or what is causing the gain in energy? [editline]19th August 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Contag;31826826][QUOTE=Cone;31826719] It [B]cannot possibly [/B] be as efficient as it is in summer, as it is in winter because of the significantly reduced daylight hours. That's like saying changing the way the seats in a car are positioned will substantially increase fuel efficiency.[/QUOTE] I think you missunderstand the concept of efficiency. Daylight hours do nothing about efficiency. The height of the sun on the other hand probably does.
Wait, how will hippies respond to this? Will they be chaining themselves to the artificial trees, demanding that they not be cut down to replace a broken panel? Or will they douchebaglets about it, and picket the placings of these magnificent panels?
[QUOTE=Shiftyze;31825649][b]Source:[/b] [url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/08/13-year-old-looks-trees-makes-solar-power-breakthrough/41486/]Linkage[/url] What a fucking winner[/QUOTE] Shit leaned on my mouse did NOT mean to disagree, this kid fucking RULES
[QUOTE=Contag;31826876]Exactly, you'd see this being broadcast over all news stations because that would be amazing.[/QUOTE] Or the kid would be killed by oil companies for ruining their profit.
[QUOTE=Brt5470;31827479]Or the kid would be killed by oil companies for ruining their profit.[/QUOTE] Oil companies are such dicks. When the oil finally runs out and we're forced to switch to alternate energy sources, I'll finally be able to laugh in their faces. Or, y'know, they become tycoons in those new energies. A boy can dream, right?
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