Archive for June, 2010
New technologies for using thermal energy in environmentally friendly ways
The Sato Laboratory is doing research to help making society more friendly to nature, through technologies for using thermal energy based on thermophysical properties of fluids. The researchers are designing energy and environmental systems that conserve energy while helping to answer the question: How can people exist in harmony with the natural world? Q. “First of all, were considering how we can combat global warming. Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are used very little. Were considering how to change the structure of society so renewable energy can be utilized more. Specifically, we consider questions like what to do about air-conditioning, which uses energy. How can we create a comfortable environment without using unnecessary energy? Were suggesting a variety of machines and facilities for doing that.” At present, most of the energy we use is heat and electric power. But using these forms of energy inevitably generates waste heat, and CO2 as well. This causes heat islands in cities, and global warming, too. How can we create a society that exists in harmony with nature? In this context, the Sato Lab is looking at temperature control using vegetation. The leaves of a tree absorb solar energy, but dont become hot themselves. This is because the tree releases energy without increasing the temperature of its surroundings, through transpiration, where water is taken up by the roots. The Sato Lab has taken a hint from this process to construct …