Energy sector is a high tech industry. Though the basic procedure of extracting fuels and burning them to generate electricity, heat, light and work is quite systematic. However, the subject of concern for science and innovative modification is the resourcefulness of the procedure and the pollution it causes.
If you are seeking a career in the energy sector, then competency, knowledge and passion about new technologies are the prerequisites for a candidate. Following are some of the instances regarding research and development occurrence in the energy world:
One of the companies has invented a technology that uses algae to transform pollution into fuel. Algae absorbs nitrogen oxide and CO2 release from fossil plants. Algae flourish on these feed stocks in a power plant to reduce pollution. When the algae grow and dry, they can be used as fuel.
A significant rising pollution-control technology is evolved in which fuel is burnt without using a flame. Lately marketed Xonon combustor converts natural gas into energy, by placing it in contact with a catalyst. In this process, NOx is not formed which in turn prevents pollution.
Copper wire that we use for transmitting electricity causes resistance which results in almost 10 percent of the power loss. Efforts are ongoing to use high-temperature superconducting transmission lines instead of copper wires. These superconducting niobium-titanium alloy wires eradicate line losses, and thus ensure an efficient electrical supply.
Companies are interested in superior applications such as piezoelectric generators implanted in the sole of a soldier's boot to empower battlefield equipment. There is also a gasoline-powered car with a fuel efficiency of 10,000 MPG. Such remarkable efficiency is derived by using a tiny, one-cylinder engine, thin solid tires and light car body. However, it is not possible to use it in a commercial vehicle.
There is another technology for data transmission using electrical wires. Electrical wires can carry data along with the current. This technology is used for street lights for decades, and also recently this technology is used in home automation. Efforts are being taken to promote modems that are used to send and receive more complex data over electrical lines.
Battery technology is one of the concerns for the technological world because of its minimum duration of working. Companies are inventing better rechargeable lithium ion batteries for developing laptops and cell phones.
Companies are taking efforts to convert hydrogen economy into reality. However, a cheap source of free hydrogen is required for this. There are various hydrogen production techniques which are at developing stages including exploiting the sun to free hydrogen from pure sugar, and by means of high-temperature catalysis to separate split water into H2 and O2.