Battery-powered Vehicles To Be Revolutionized By New Technology

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ScienceDaily (May 11, 2009) — Thousands of small electric scooters, bicycles and wheelchairs throughout Europe and Asia are powered by LifePO4 –- a material used in advanced lithium-ion batteries developed by Université de Montréal researchers.

"It's a revolutionary battery because it is made from non-toxic materials abundant in the Earth's crust. Plus, it's not expensive,'" says Michel Gauthier, an invited professor at the Université de Montréal Department of Chemistry and co-founder of Phostech Lithium, the company that makes the battery material. "This battery could eventually make the electric car very profitable."
The theory will soon be tested, since the 100 percent electric Microcar that's set to debut in Europe this year will be and powered by the LifePO4 battery.
Phostech Lithium's production plant in St. Bruno, Quebec, produces the black LifePO4 powder, which is shipped across the world in tightly sealed barrels.
"The theoretical principle behind the battery was patented by a University of Texas professor in 1995. However, without the work of local chemists such as Nathalie Ravet, we couldn't have developed it," says Phostech Lithium engineer Denis Geoffroy.
Süd-Chemie, a leading specialty chemistry company based in Germany, first invested in Phostech Lithium in 2005. Now, just four years later, Süd-Chemie's total Canadian investments have reached $13 million and it stands as the 100% owner of Phostech Lithium. Phostech's St. Bruno plant began to produce LiFePO4 in 2006 with 20 employees and a 400 metric-ton capacity. Since then, Phostech has nearly doubled its staff.
"It is a battery that is much more stable and much safer," says Dean MacNeil, a professor at the Université de Montréal's Department of Chemistry and new NSERC-Phostech Lithium Industrial Research Chair in Energy Storage and Conversion. "In addition, it recharges much faster than previous batteries."
The NSERC Research Chair, funded in part by Phostech Lithium, will help investigate ways to improve the LifePO4 battery.
For Gauthier, Phostech Lithium is the product of academia and the business world coming together. "Even if we knew that lithium, iron and phosphate were theoretically promising materials, we had to make them efficient. We had to find the right voltage and maintain the right charging and discharging properties. This is where the university played a major role."
Adapted from materials provided by University of Montreal.

Acoustic Sensor Being Developed In New Anechoic Chamber

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071030103916.htm

ScienceDaily (Nov. 4, 2007) — The University of Alabama College of Engineering is developing a new acoustic sensor to be tested in UA’s new hemi-anechoic chamber. This new sensor could one day be used to help locate individuals trapped in collapsed buildings, such as after natural or man-made disasters.

Typically, multiple microphones are used to measure the location of an acoustic source, but this project is aimed at developing a single sensor that performs the same task. Its applications will be useful in aiding the military, homeland security and emergency rescue efforts.
“It’s exciting to work on a project that could dramatically change the effectiveness of emergency response teams,” said Dr. Steve Shepard, associate professor in mechanical engineering. “For instance, if a building collapses, our sensor could locate the noises made by victims trapped under debris and help rescue those victims more quickly. The sensor could also be used for security purposes, such as monitoring the location and motion of vehicles.”
Once a prototype is developed, the sensor will be tested in UA’s new hemi-anechoic chamber, which is one of the largest in the Southeast. The chamber is a room that is isolated from external sounds. The walls and ceiling are covered with a very-thick, foam-like material that eliminates all acoustic reflections. Shepard stated that being in the chamber is, “like standing in a very large quiet field. You can almost hear your own heartbeat.” This isolation allows for detailed acoustic measurements on a wide range of structures.
Visually, the chamber resembles a high-tech recording studio. The chamber walls are covered by 2-foot thick, gray, triangular-shaped foam wedges. The 8-inch thick metal walls are filled with insulation made from recycled denim material. Additionally, the entire chamber and the supporting concrete floor, all 150,000 pounds, float on springs to prevent outside vibrations from interfering with acoustic testing. The entire chamber is located in the AIME Building, which has 18-inch thick exterior concrete walls, another sound barrier.
“This chamber gives UA unique acoustic testing capabilities that most research organizations simply don’t have,” said Shepard. “This is true particularly when it comes to testing large machines, structures, and even automobiles. We can now take acoustic measurements on a machine and not worry about the effects of reflections or outside noise. Our ability to better understand how that machine radiates noise – and develop ways to make it quieter – has been greatly extended.”
Shepard said there are several areas researchers hope to explore, including:
reducing noise through powered systems and soundproofing
health monitoring of machines
heating and air conditioning system components
Gear, bearings, motor and engine noise
Consumer product noise and vibration
Shepard was awarded the $120,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop the new sensor. UA’s College of Engineering is partnering with Tuskegee University, where researchers received an additional $100,000 grant for their contribution to this research project. Throughout the project, UA and Tuskegee faculty and students will have an opportunity to use the chamber to evaluate prototypes for the acoustic sensor.
Adapted from materials provided by University of Alabama.

Fausto Intilla

www.oloscience.com