A high-voltage cable cross-section. The electrically conductive core is covered by a black protective layer, a white insulation layer of plastic and an additional black protective layer.
Researchers at Chalmers have discovered that the insulation plastic used in high-voltage cables can withstand a 26 per cent higher voltage if nanometer-sized carbon balls are added. This could result in enormous efficiency gains in the power grids of the future, which are needed to achieve a sustainable energy system.
The renewable energy sources of tomorrow will often be found far away from the end user. Wind turbines, for example, are most effective when placed out at sea. Solar energy will have the greatest impact on the European energy system if focus is on transport of solar power from North Africa and Southern Europe to Northern Europe.
“Reducing energy losses during electric power transmission is one of the most important factors for the energy systems of the future,” says Chalmers researcher Christian Müller. “The other two are development of renewable energy sources and technologies for energy storage.”
Together with colleagues from Chalmers and the company Borealis in Stenungsund, he has found a powerful method for reducing energy losses in alternating current cables. The results were recently published in Advanced Materials, a highly ranked scientific journal.
The researchers have shown that different variants of the C60 carbon ball, a nanomaterial in the fullerene molecular group, provide strong protection against breakdown of the insulation plastic used in high-voltage cables. Today the voltage in the cables has to be limited to prevent the insulation layer from getting damaged. The higher the voltage the more electrons can leak out into the insulation material, a process which leads to breakdown.
It is sufficient to add very small amounts of fullerene to the insulation plastic for it to withstand a voltage that is 26 per cent higher, without the material breaking down, than the voltage that plastic without the additive can withstand.
“Being able to increase the voltage to this extent would result in enormous efficiency gains in power transmission all over the world,” says Christian Müller. “A major issue in the industry is how transmission efficiency can be improved without making the power cables thicker, since they are already very heavy and difficult to handle.”
Read more: Carbon nanoballs can greatly contribute to sustainable energy supply
The Latest on: Carbon nanoballs
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Carbon nanoballs” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Carbon nanoballs
- The seafloor stores carbon, but trawling releases iton November 29, 2023 at 10:14 pm
A new study reveals that New Zealand’s huge ocean territory contains two billion tons of carbon, locked in the seafloor. If we want to fight climate change, it might be a good idea to keep it there.
- It’s time to limit how often we can travel abroad – ‘carbon passports’ may be the answeron November 27, 2023 at 4:45 am
In a report from 2023 that analyzed the future of sustainable travel, tour operator Intrepid Travel proposed that “carbon passports” will soon become a reality if the tourism industry hopes to ...
- New method verifies carbon capture in concreteon November 26, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Carbon capture is essential to reduce the impact of human carbon dioxide emissions on our climate. Researchers have developed a method to confirm whether carbon in concrete originates from the raw ...
- 'Regressive' carbon capture tax credit open to projects that extract more oil, climate experts sayon November 24, 2023 at 1:00 am
The federal government's proposed tax credit to incentivize companies to capture and store carbon dioxide underground doesn't exclude projects that also involve extracting more oil, according to ...
- Best Carbon Fiber 3D Printer in 2023on November 23, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Looking for the best carbon fiber 3D printer? You’ve come to the right place. From Formula 1 parts to road bike frames by way of aerospace applications, carbon fiber manufacturing techniques have come ...
- Carbon tax pause on home heating oil will cost federal government $755M: PBOon November 17, 2023 at 4:00 pm
The Parliamentary Budget Officer has costed out the Trudeau government’s suspension of the carbon tax on home heating oil and doubling of the rural rebate. Enjoy the latest local, national and ...
- Carbon Taxon November 16, 2023 at 4:00 pm
When you break it down, what is the common denominator that could bring relief to Ontarians time and time again; we arrive at the same answer, the federal carbon tax. The federal carbon tax has been ...
- Is the carbon tax worth fighting for?on November 3, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Even as they lament the increasingly bleak outlook for the survival of the federal carbon-pricing system, many of those who championed it as the cornerstone of Canadian climate policy are ...
- Carbon tax change has Canadians asking about the program. Here's how it's supposed to workon November 2, 2023 at 1:01 am
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to exempt home heating oil from the carbon tax has thrust the controversial policy back into the spotlight — and renewed calls from Conservatives for it ...
- Carbon price pause could become a wedge issue in Parliament. Here’s howon November 1, 2023 at 8:13 am
1:24 Pierre Poilievre calls for pause in carbon pricing for all home heating in Canada The political fight is heating up over Liberal plans to pause the carbon price on home heating oil.
via Bing News
