Difference between revisions of "Electricity"

From Marspedia
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Undo revision 7602 by 193.145.102.237 (Talk) vandalism)
Line 6: Line 6:
 
Electrical energy can be produced directly in several ways.
 
Electrical energy can be produced directly in several ways.
  
Re: Making Myst for another plafrotm like the Wii  I'd really much rather see a full 3d remake of Riven using the kind of technology we have for the XBox 360 and PS3. Just look at games like Bioshock or  dare I invoke the name of the dreaded Square Enix  Final Fantasy XIII. Both visually stunning games in their own ways, and imagine how beautiful Riven would look done in such a way!
+
===Photovoltaics===
 +
The conversion of [[photons]] to electricity.
 +
* [[Solar panel|Solar Panel]]
  
 
===Mechanical Generators===
 
===Mechanical Generators===

Revision as of 16:36, 29 October 2012

Danger Icon

Electricity is the most versatile kind of energy used on Earth. It plays an important part in almost every modern technology. Electricity can be transmitted easily over a distance via cables. It can be transformed into several other energy forms. A settlement on Mars can hardly be imagined without electricity.

Generation

Electrical energy can be produced directly in several ways.

Photovoltaics

The conversion of photons to electricity.

Mechanical Generators

The interactions between moving magnets or electromagnets can be used to produce electricity.

Thermoelectric Generators

A thermoelectric generator produces electricity from differences in thermal energy between two or more areas.

Piezoelectrics

Piezoelectricity is the generation of electricity as a direct result of mechanical deformation.

Electrochemistry

Uses of Electricity

Electricity can be directly used to produce

  • Heat
  • Light
  • Movement of machine parts.

Electrical energy can be directly stored in capacitors and inductors, but only in very small amounts. Large amounts can be stored indirectly in other energy forms.

Significance for a Martian colony

Inevitabilities

For some settlement applications electricity can not be avoided. This is true for radio link and night time lighting.

Alternatives

Although there is some comfort in using electricity for a variety of applications, there are on the other hand some disadvantages to be considered. The storage of large amounts of electrical energy is a problem. Moreover, every transformation causes some loss of energy. The following alternatives may provide an advantage:

  • Movement of machine parts can alternatively be created by muscle work, pneumatics or hydraulics. Muscle work is, for a certain degree, always available. Combination with physical exercise should be considered. Compressed-air is an easy storage for pneumatic energy.
  • Heating can be avoided with a thick thermal insulation. At best the human metabolism and the lighting cause enough heat for a comfortable room temperature.
  • Automation can be implemented with pneumatics.

See Also