Possible paper topics -- suggestions
It has been brought to my attention that some studens still have
problems with finding a "good topic" for the term paper. It worries me,
because "time is running short". So, in order to help such students, I'm
posting a list of topics one may consider.
The topics are suggestions only. If you are still looking for a
topic, You may choose one from
the
list, but you may also thing of "your own" topic that better agrees with
your personal
preeferences and tastes. A direct convesation with Dr. Tom may also
help. There are no OHs next week (for obvious reasons), but on Monday
(Nov. 19) I have much time before and after our class meeting. A
"special appointment" can be arranged by e-mail.
(27 items listed so far)
SOLAR POWER
- Large scale: Photovoltaic Si solar panels, or Concentrated Solar Power(CPS --
a technique using mirrors to focus solar light on steam boilers, and then
using the steam for running turbines). Plusses and minuses ot these two
techniques.
- Solar power, medium scale (~10 kW). What's better --
Si panels, or a mirror with a
Stirling engine?
- Solar power, small (single household) scale. Are there other options than
Si panels
WIND POWER
- Large wind farms, inland and offsore: what is the reasonable % of
the net energy consumption that they will be able to cover?
- Household level: is it a realistic option to use wind energy?
- Can we harness winds for rendering services other than generating
electricity to us? Sailing boats -- were they only a beautiful episode
in our history, or would it make sense to start building such
"winged beauties" again? (a good topic for someone who has some experience
in sailing, even on small recerational boats only).
OCEANS AND SEAS
- Waves, tides, and sea currents -- how can they be converted to
electricity?
- Methods utilizning the temperature differnece between surface waters
and deep waters: are they a viable option?
- Methane hydride -- rsources and potential benefits,
but is it realistic to start underwater mining operations half a mile
below sea level?
TRANSPORTATION
- Electric cars (electric only)-- current status, future prospects.
- Plug-in hybride cars.
- Solar vehicles -- with much attention on the OSU students' car which took part
in a race in Summer 2008.
- Hydrogen powered cars: fuel cells, or Hydrogen-burning piston engines?
- Compressed air: a more-than-100-year-old technology, presumed dead, but who
knows? Resurection not impossible with newest hi-tech hi-pressure tanks.
NUCLEAR POWER
- Corvallis-designed "modular reactors"
- Breeders: a realistic option, or not?
- Thorium power: a nuclear energy bonanza, or wishful thinking?
- Nuclear fusion: the National Ignition Facility, annd the ITER project.
NOVEL CELL TYPES
- Lithium ion batteries, and supercapacitors -- do they offer a chance for purely
electric cars?
- Fuel cell -- not only for cars, but also about stationary units, and outer-space
applications.
- Thermoelctric generators: known for well over 100 years, but considered
good only for "peripherial" applications, like generating a few Watts of
power -- perhaps it's time to change
that opinion?
HYDROGEN AS A FUEL
- Advantages, and how are we going to produce vast amounts of it, if we decide to
implement the "hydrogen economy"?
BIOFUELS
- Alcohol -- how we make it, and how it is made in Brazil?
- Gasoline bio-substitutes other than alcohol.
- Bio-diesel (plenty of activity here at OSU!).
COAL: "CLEAN" TECHNOLOGIES"
- Other methods of using coal for energy production than just burning it --
and burning, but with CO2 sequestration.
GRAND SCALE PROJECT, POLITICS
- A project of eliminating 95% of fossil fuel usage in the US by the
year 2100.
- Possible developments in the next few decades in the US -- based on
President Obama's "Earth Day Speach" of April 21, 2009.