High-Level Project Summary
Our team has conducted extended research and found that due to the lack of resources and representatives, marginalized communities are secluded into unideal lands. PM2.5 and various Greenhouse gases are transported by winds from industrialized developed countries to their neighbouring countries. So, to combat this issue, we have developed a prototype of an engine that can ionize air particles (specifically Helium), and convert them into Plasma. Due to the high potential energy stored in the plasma, and by applying the first law of thermodynamics, we can convert the potential energy into thermal, electrical or mechanical energy. This device can be modified such that it can purify the air.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
Plasma is the state of matter made out of ionized atoms (i.e. ions) and free electrons. Since the particles need to be energetic enough to undergo ionizing collisions, due to the first law of thermodynamics which states that energy can neither be destroyed nor created, only transferred, the huge amount of kinetic energy will transfer into potential energy, which will be stored inside the plasma. We can conclude that plasma will, thus, have a huge amount of energy stored into it, and will give out some light, as some photons will be released during the recombination phase. We can determine the energy in the photon, by observing the frequency of the electromagnetic wave. Plasma usually gives out a violet tone, indicating that it has a huge amount of energy stored in it.
Plasma is generated by electric power and can easily be switched on/off, making it, in principle, suitable for using intermittent renewable electricity. This device compresses extracted and purified air (specifical helium) and ionizes it with microwaves, generating plasma. If a plasma moves perpendicular to a magnetic field, an electromotive force, according to Faraday’s law, is generated in a direction perpendicular to both the direction of flow of the plasma and the magnetic field. This dynamo effect can drive a current in an external circuit connected to electrodes in the plasma, and thus electric power may be produced without the need for steam-driven rotating machinery. This process is referred to as magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) power generation.
We have rendered a 3D model Prototype of this engine using Blender. By using C++, we have determined that by using the Vlasov equation, we can describe the dynamics of a system of charged particles interacting with an electromagnetic field. We have also rendered a Fluid and Kinetic Model of plasma particles, to show the flow of energy. We have also used Daymet Version 4 Data Collection with Python and ArcGIS, to monitor the climatic conditions of Earth.
Space Agency Data
The following list provides details on the data used to create a prototype of the idea:
- Canadian Space Agency - Map on the land temperatures and conditions across the globe
- Canadian Space Agency - Graph and Map on the amount of PM(2.5) across various parts of Earth
- Sustainable Development Goals (1) - Real-time poverty estimates for nearly all countries
- European Space Agency - Change in Sea Surface Temperature
- United States Environment Protection Agency - EJSCREEN: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency - Land Use and Land Cover Map
Hackathon Journey
The Space Apps experience was a very innovative and modern way to meet new individuals with extraordinary abilities and ideas. Through this activity, we learnt how to collaborate with individuals and groups from all over the world and also how to respect others views and stands on various topics. We also gained knowledge on many new environmental concepts and their importance for the survival of living beings. Our group thought that this particular topic was the most relevant to the present situation of the marginalized community in regards to the climatic condition in which they live. Our approach to developing this project was very unique yet very accessible to all. The challenges faced were finding the appropriate and exact data, we overcame this challenge by researching as relevant web pages as we could and reading articles from ecological and scientific experts. We discussed and debated on the pros and cons of each topic put forward by our group mates and finally, we came to the most modern, relevant and unique conclusions for our and next generations. We would like to thank Simreen, the group leader and the other members, Saadhya, Dhriti, Mithush and Ganesh. We would like to express our humble gratitude towards the Space Apps Challenge to provide all of us with this platform to express our digital and scientific knowledge and creativity.
References
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsenergylett.8b00184 - Plasma Technology: An Emerging Technology for Energy Storage
- Blender - Rendered a 3D model Prototype of the project.
- Blender - Rendered aFluid and Kinetic Model of plasma particles, to show the flow of energy.
- UAE Space Agency (Khalifa University) - Low Energy Radiation Detection Devices
- earthdata.nasa.go - Sub-Orbital Order Tool (SOOT) Power User Interface
- C++ Code - To determine an equation for the dynamics of a system of charged particles interacting with an electromagnetic field.
- Daymet Version 4 Data Collection along with Python and ArcGIS - Used to monitor the climatic conditions of Earth.
Tags
#environment, #rightstohumanity, #science, #physics, #particlephysics, #chemistry, #plasmaforenergy
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.