Engineering Environment Awareness 1

Engineering Environment Awareness Aims The effect of industrial change on the requirements of the workforce Objectives List factors that influence change in the engineering environment 2

Engineering Environment Awareness Factors that influence change in the engineering environment :- Market forces The global marketplace Advances in technology Environmental Skill requirements Reduced product demand 3

Market forces The trends of the current market has an influence on the engineering environmental issues. Can you name some ? 4

The global marketplace Similar to market force effects globally could influence our own marketplace. Global economy is in the midst of a radical transformation, with far-reaching and fundamental changes in technology, production, and trading patterns. Faster information flows and falling transport costs are breaking down geographical barriers and the boundary between what can and cannot be traded is being steadily eroded, and the global market is encompassing ever-greater numbers of goods and services. 5

Is it a Myth that Alternative fuels will come to the rescue? Fact: Many alternative fuels do nothing to fix local air pollution, merely substituting one noxious chemical for another. Others such as natural gas or ethanol are impossible to produce on the scale required. This leaves electricity and hydrogen, but as these are energy carriers rather than fuels they must themselves be produced using some other fuel, which just pushes the problem up one level. 6

Solar Energy For Solar energy can be captured by solar panels. There are 2 main types of solar panels which uses complete different technologies to make use of the energy from the sun: Solar Water Heating collectors: These panels absorbs the energy from the sun and transfer it to heat water. Photovoltaic or solar electric panels: These panels transform the solar radiation directly into electricity. 7

Solar Energy Against Solar energy in quantity requires huge installations. It has been estimated that an area of 60 square miles in relatively clear central Oregon would have to be covered with solar cells in order to meet the present electric needs of that State. About 10% of the cells have to be replaced each year. But the big problem is how to store significant amounts of electricity when the Sun is not available to produce it. That problem remains unsolved. The statement that "solar energy will not make next century's electricity" is probably right. And the end product is electricity--a very limited replacement for oil. 8

Hydro Energy For:- While relatively a new concept, the tidal process of the ocean utilizes the natural motion of the tides to fill reservoirs, which are then slowly discharged through electricity- producing turbines. Another method includes using buoy-like devices that created energy from the bobbing motion caused by the waves and tides. Hydro energy has been used in countries such as The Netherlands to great effect. 9

Hydro Energy Against:- Valuable lowlands, which are usually the best farmland, are flooded. Wildlife is displaced. Where anatropous fish runs are involved as in the Columbia River system with its 30 dams, the effect on fish has been disastrous. Also, hydroelectric power, if reservoirs are involved, as is the case of most such facilities, is not a renewable energy source. All reservoirs eventually fill with sediment, which means hydroelectric power is not truly renewable. 10

Tidal Power For :- The tide moves a huge amount of water twice each day, and harnessing it could provide a great deal of energy - around 20% of Britain's needs. Although the energy supply is reliable and plentiful, converting it into useful electrical power is not easy. 11

Tidal Power Against:- It takes a high tide and a special configuration of the coastline, a narrow estuary that can be dammed, to be a tidal power site of value. Only about nine sites have been identified in the world. Summary: Very few sites, ecologically damaging, not a significant power source. And, the end product is electricity. 12

Wind Energy For:- Like solar power, wind power has many applications for “distributed energy.” This term means that power can be made on a small scale near the consumer. Wind power uses turbines to created energy from moving air currents. No emissions are created, and like solar energy, batteries store energy for calm days without wind. Europe, in particular, has made a huge use of wind power. 13

Wind Energy Against:- The best inland wind farm sites tend to be where air funnels through passes in the hills that are also commonly flyways for birds. The bird kills have caused the Audubon Society to file suit in some areas to prevent wind energy installations. Wind can produce some electricity and be a small help in the total energy demand. But the end product is electricity, no significant replacement for oil. 14