Solar Aided Combined Cycle Power Plant

Integrated Solar Combined Cycle, ISCC, power plants can result in more efficient use of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum. The waste heat from the exhaust of the gas turbine can be used along with the solar energy to raise steam and drive a steam turbine. 

The world record for obtained power for less fuel was accomplished in April, 2011. Siemens setup a 580 MW power station with combined cycle operations of steam and gas turbines. The gas turbine blades were made out of crystalline nickel. The inlet gas turbine temperature was1400–1500°C. The boiler weighs 7000 metric tons and the heat exchanger has an area of 510,000 m2. Combined cycle power plant in China operates at efficiencies of about 59.7% recorded at a 430 MW power plant in operation. Thermo-economic analysis and 4E analysis – Energy, Exergy, Environment and Economic Analysis, second law costing methods can be used to confirm the feasibility of increases in thermal efficiency from 30% to ~60-75%. There is potential for power plant with higher combined cycle efficiencies in this country, United States from the current levels reported at ~40%. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lasers are used in Nanostructuring, Microarray Analysis and Surgery

Lasers are used in nanostructuring operations that are depositional, epitaxial and lithographical in nature, in surgery, confocal scanners in microarray analysis and next-generation sequencing, and number of research applications. Atoms can be trapped using lasers and affect lower temperatures. Laser cooling may lead to agglomeration of atoms. Chu and Philips obtained the Nobel Prize in 1997. Nanoprisms can be generated using laser ablation techniques. The market for nanotechnology products is expected to exceed 1 trillion later this year. 

The break-down by industry type are about $340 billion from nanomaterials, $300 billion from electronics, $180 billion from pharmaceuticals, $100 billion each form chemicals and sustainability and $70 billion from transportation. Genominomics cost has decreased dramatically over the past 10 years. This may lead to a wider use of genome sequencers. Confocal scanners are used during microarray analysis. Cost of lasers may also be driven down by increased demand. Materials that went into the first semiconductor lasers can be used to make miniature lasers that are lower in cost, smaller in size. Alferov and Kromer were given the Nobel Prize in 2000 for their development of semiconductor physics. Both light source and energy supply are placed in mirrors in one mm sized crystals. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>