Articles tagged with Fuel
A cobalt-manganese-based nanocatalyst efficiently catalyzes the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide into liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The catalyst enables fuel production at lower temperatures than traditional methods without forming harmful byproducts.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of Arkansas developed a highly efficient catalyst for extracting electrical energy from ethanol. The catalyst steers ethanol down an ideal chemical pathway, releasing its full potential of stored energy, enabling applications such as liquid fuel-cell-powered drones.
Researchers have discovered a method to convert plastic waste into jet fuel using activated carbon as a catalyst. The process produces high-quality fuel with minimal environmental impact, offering a promising solution to the global plastic crisis.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an artificial process that converts carbon dioxide into fuel using visible light and electron-rich gold nanoparticles. The new process produces complex, liquefiable hydrocarbons from excess CO2 and sunlight, paving the way for green energy technology.
Researchers at McGill University have created a new class of hypergolic fuels that are significantly cleaner and safer than current options. These fuels use metal-organic frameworks to unlock energy, offering a promising solution for the aerospace industry.
Researchers create 'megasupramolecules' that can significantly reduce misting of fuel during high-speed impacts, reducing the risk of fire or explosion. The additives also enhance lubrication and flow through pipelines and hoses, and reduce soot formation in diesel engines.
Researchers at UTSA are working on new accident tolerant fuels (ATFs) that will limit overheating and reduce the risk of radioactive leaks. The goal is to replace conventional fuel with a more durable material, enabling nuclear plants to better withstand accidents.
Researchers at Oregon State University are studying the burning behavior of live fuels to better predict wildfire spread. The team aims to identify key factors driving differences in burning behavior, enabling more accurate fire models for Department of Defense managers.
Researchers have developed algorithms that enable connected and automated vehicles to adjust to driving conditions with little input from drivers. This technology aims to improve coordination of traffic patterns, save fuel, and reduce crashes.
Researchers at Osaka University developed a new method to efficiently heat plasma using high magnetic fields and relativistic electron beams. By guiding the beam along magnetic field lines, they achieved higher energy coupling rates than previous methods, making this approach more suitable for controlled nuclear fusion.
The Energy Secretary has recognized researchers from Argonne National Laboratory for converting a Ghana Research Reactor-1 Miniature Neutron Source Reactor to low-enriched fuel, eliminating a nuclear threat. The team's collaborative efforts reduced the risk of nuclear proliferation while maintaining scientific capability.
Chemists at Ural Federal University have created electrochemical cells for water electrolysis in the presence of carbon dioxide, demonstrating enhanced performance under 'hard' conditions. The study reveals that these cells can produce synthesis gas, a semi-finished fuel, with high efficiency and stability.
Sandia National Laboratories has built a scaled test assembly to mimic a dry cask storage container for spent nuclear fuel. The team is providing new data on how fuel temperatures change during storage and affect the integrity of the metal cladding surrounding the spent fuel.
Researchers are reevaluating lactate's role in metabolism and its potential as a treatment for various diseases. Lactate supplementation has been shown to speed recovery after injury or illness and is being explored as a tool to control blood sugar, fuel the brain, and manage inflammation.
A team of researchers has developed a framework to optimize fuel and resource usage in space travel. By considering multiple missions together, or campaigns, they can minimize launch mass and cost. The study also explores the use of propellant depots in space, which could significantly reduce fuel needs for future missions.
The Sandia transport triathlon tested the safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel by combining data from three modes of transportation: truck, ship, and train. The test yielded valuable insights into the stresses experienced by fuel rods during routine handling and transportation.
Scientists developed a model predicting methylmercury presence in small headwater ecosystems. They also discovered a new combustion strategy to increase gasoline-powered car fuel efficiency. Researchers successfully wrote precise metallic structures narrower than a cold virus for nanofabrication applications.
Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University are developing a technology to burn weapons-grade plutonium in high-temperature gas-cool low-power reactors, converting it into power and thermal energy. The process also enables the desalination of water, making it suitable for areas without large water bodies.
A University of Iowa study reveals how excess fat in the heart's mitochondria leads to impaired energy production and cardiac damage. Researchers found that lipid overload causes small, misshapen mitochondria that don't produce energy efficiently.
A new gene-editing technique has improved the efficiency of producing medicines, renewable fuels and food supplements from algae, increasing yields 500-fold compared to previous methods. The breakthrough could unleash the potential of the global algae industry worth $1.1 billion by 2024.
The European Commission has introduced a package of measures to reconcile ambitious environmental standards with increasing car industry competitiveness. The 2nd Mobility Package aims to restore citizens' trust in the automotive industry by promoting clean and affordable mobility for all.
Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago developed a multiscale model to study carbon dioxide conversion to carbon monoxide. The discovery could lead to efficient production of synthesis gas for large-scale energy applications.
Research suggests that ketone salts enhance fat burning but inhibit high-intensity exercise performance. The study found that power output decreased by seven percent when participants consumed ketone salts during a cycling time trial. The long-term impacts of artificially increasing blood ketone levels are unknown.
A new study reveals the US Office of Nuclear Energy's budget history, showing a lack of effective allocation of resources and failure to support innovative research. The researchers recommend a new approach with stricter programmatic discipline and transparent evaluation processes to identify promising reactor concepts.
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism by which AMPK senses glucose levels, enabling the switch to alternative fuels. This breakthrough has significant potential for understanding and treating diabetes.
Scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University create protective coatings for zirconium fuel rods to prevent explosions in nuclear reactors. The titanium nitride-based coatings can reduce hydrogen penetration, extending the life of fuel rods and protecting reactor safety.
Researchers have invented a 'bionic' leaf that uses bacteria, sunlight, water and air to produce fertilizer in the soil where crops are grown. The system produces biomass and liquid fuel yields that greatly exceeded natural photosynthesis.
A recent study by Lehigh University sociologist Kelly Austin finds that countries with higher gender equality have lower rates of solid fuel use and female exposure to indoor air pollution. The research highlights the importance of female empowerment in reducing this global health issue, which claims 4.3 million premature deaths annually.
Researchers at Indiana University have engineered a molecule that harnesses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into a carbon-neutral fuel source. The new molecule uses nanographene to absorb light and triggers a highly efficient reaction to produce carbon monoxide, a versatile raw material in industrial processes.
University of Michigan researchers use Stampede supercomputer to design fuel-efficient aircraft with morphing wings and composite materials. Their studies show that tow-steered composites can reduce structural weight by 10% and fuel burn by 0.4%, while morphing wings have the potential to burn 2% less fuel than current designs.
Astronomers observe IRAS 14348-1447, a gas-rich spiral galaxy merger, showcasing intense gravitational interactions. The galaxy's extreme infrared emission is fueled by massive molecular gas reserves.
A University of Houston engineer leads a multi-institution effort to develop monitoring techniques for stable fuel transport during transit and accidents. Researchers will study structural issues, risk analysis, and new sensing techniques to ensure spent nuclear fuel can be safely moved from temporary storage to permanent disposal sites.
Researchers will use geoneutrino detectors to measure the amount of nuclear energy inside Earth. By 2025, they expect to collect enough data to determine the planet's remaining fuel levels.
A new study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates that modern off-grid lighting could create 2 million potential new jobs globally. The transition to solar-LED systems would replace fuel-based lighting, providing better job quality and stability.
A UK study found that improved fuel efficiency leads to a 20% increase in driving due to cheaper fuel, eroding energy-saving benefits. The 'rebound effect' has significant implications for public policy and transportation planning.
Researchers develop technique to 'see' energy delivery in fast ignition, achieving record high efficiency. The new approach enables better understanding of energy flow and investigation of experimental designs.
A new study from the University of Washington and MIT found that US fuel economy improvements are on par with those achieved in the 1970s, but may not be enough to meet future climate commitments. The research suggests that automakers have been unable to deliver sufficient levels of innovation since the 1990s, highlighting the need for...
A new study reveals that Southern California wildfires have two distinct personalities, with Santa Ana winds-driven fires being more damaging due to faster spread, urban burns, and higher economic losses. Climate change is expected to fan flames for the region, increasing fire risk from hot summers.
Researchers aim to develop more efficient fusion reactions using laser technology, leveraging Sandia's Z accelerator and LLE's OMEGA laser facility to study intermediate-density plasmas. The goal is to improve techniques for compressing and heating fuel to increase efficiency and understand subsidiary processes.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison developed a nanogenerator that converts wasted friction energy into electricity, potentially increasing gas mileage by up to 10%. The device uses the triboelectric effect to harness energy from tire friction, providing an innovative way to reuse energy and reduce waste.
The 'GESTOIL' system enables significant fuel savings of up to 25% in troll fishing and 10% in purse-seine vessels. Energy audits on fishing vessels help optimize energy consumption through technical and operational improvements.
Scientists from Harvard University have developed a system that harnesses solar energy and converts it into a liquid fuel using bacteria. The 'bionic leaf' uses an artificial catalyst to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which is then converted by a bacterium into the liquid fuel isopropanol.
A new study from Harvard University compares the design of fuel systems for soft robots, assessing various types of pneumatic energy sources and their benefits for specific applications. The study provides a framework for configuring fuel systems in soft robotics.
Researchers at Optica have developed a hybrid approach that integrates laser-ablation propulsion with gas blasting nozzles, increasing thrust efficiency. This innovation enables supersonic speeds for launching small satellites and accelerating aircraft to Mach 10 and beyond.
A Scottish startup is scaling up its whisky waste-to-fuel process, converting draff and pot ale into ethanol and 1-butanol. The company has secured funding from the UK government and private investors to move towards a commercial plant.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released an updated compendium of experimental cetane numbers, which provides vital information for the development of new, low-carbon fuels and compatible engines. The update includes additional measurements on a larger number of compounds, along with data quality assessments.
Interdependent networks, such as energy production systems, are more vulnerable to cascading failures due to one-directional connections. The study found that redundancy in connections can impact robustness, with less reliable systems operating near critical thresholds.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed an efficient method for harnessing sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into formic acid, a potential alternative fuel. The process achieves nearly 2% energy efficiency, twice that of natural photosynthesis, and has the potential to store solar energy in fuel cells.
A recent study by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that using a rooftop cargo box can decrease fuel economy by up to 9% and driving with all four windows down can lower it by 4-8.5%. The study tested various configurations, including underinflated tires and towing a trailer.
Berkeley Lab researchers found that hybrid cars are significantly more fuel-efficient in India and China than in the United States. In India, hybrids use up to 47-48% less fuel, while in China, they use up to 53-55%. The study's findings have important implications for countries with growing personal vehicle markets like India.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have achieved an order of magnitude improvement in yield performance over past experiments on the National Ignition Facility. The boot-strapping process has been demonstrated to increase the rate of fusion reactions, producing more alpha particles and further heating the fuel.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories successfully reduced magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities by adding a secondary magnetic field created by a Helmholz coil to their experiments. This modification allowed the liner to compress fuel more effectively, potentially leading to controlled nuclear fusion.
Researchers have discovered that introducing plasma to combustion reactions can sustain flames in conditions where they would normally be extinguished. This technology could significantly improve the efficiency of military jets, passenger planes, and unmanned drones by conserving fuel and extending flight times.
The University of Texas at Arlington has been awarded $49 million in grants from the National Science Foundation for sustainable chemistry and engineering projects. Researchers Fred MacDonnell and Qiming Zhang are working on converting carbon dioxide to methanol using solar power and developing more efficient solar cell technologies.
Researchers found that biomass pellets released lower levels of mercury when burned, reducing environmental concerns. The study suggests that switching to biomass pellets could be an effective way to decrease mercury emissions in China.
Scientists have developed a new way to predict turbulent flow near walls, which could reduce drag by 30% and save the global economy billions in fuel costs. This breakthrough has the potential to optimize vehicle performance and reduce emissions.
Researchers at MIT are developing a ceramic compound called silicon carbide (SiC) as an alternative to traditional zircaloy cladding for nuclear fuel rods. SiC shows promise in reducing the risk of hydrogen production by a thousandfold, while also potentially allowing for longer use of fuel rods and reduced spent fuel volume.
A team of astronomers has spotted a distant galaxy consuming nearby gas, which fuels star formation and drives rotation. This discovery supports the theory that galaxies pull in material to grow and form stars.
The study aims to investigate how men's and women's hearts use fat for energy differently, with potential consequences for heart disease diagnosis and treatment. Changes in fat metabolism may affect insulin production and lead to diabetes, as well as cause stiffness in heart cells.
New simulations uncover flaw in using hollow cones to guide energetic electrons to fuel pellets for laser-driven fusion. Researchers at Ohio State University found that thicker cones hinder the process due to neutralizing effect of free electrons in dense plasma.