Facts, Figures, and Findings from EPRI Research, Reports, and Other Sources
Wireless Power Transfer Is Booming Area of Innovation and Product Development
An EPRI study has found that "wireless power transfer" offers a potential technological cure for charging anxiety—which affects electric vehicle drivers, cell phone users, and traveling office workers with laptop computers. EPRI examined a range of innovations, navigating more than 300 companies offering about 800 products as of mid-2015, where technologies most used rely on inductive couplinginductive coupling and resonant couplingresonant coupling. EPRI's research provides a broad look at diverse technologies and applications, including:
An EPRI study has found that "wireless power transfer" offers a potential technological cure for charging anxiety—which affects electric vehicle drivers, cell phone users, and traveling office workers with laptop computers. EPRI examined a range of innovations, navigating more than 300 companies offering about 800 products as of mid-2015, where technologies most used rely on inductive couplinginductive coupling and resonant couplingresonant coupling. EPRI's research provides a broad look at diverse technologies and applications, including:
- Promising electric utility applications include power plant sensors, in-motion electric vehicle charging, and power ...
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Can Lessons from Google and Twitter Help Utilities Run the Grid?
As electric utilities rapidly deploy sensors, smart meters, and other hardware for more comprehensive awareness of the grid, they may have something to learn from Google and Twitter. With the daunting prospect of centrally processing a tsunami of data from these devices, EPRI researchers have proposed a distributed approach: Each device processes its data into much smaller, actionable "information bursts" and transmits them to grid operators in standard message formats—similar to the way texts, tweets, and photos are sent from smart phones. Operators could manage and integrate these messages ...
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As electric utilities rapidly deploy sensors, smart meters, and other hardware for more comprehensive awareness of the grid, they may have something to learn from Google and Twitter. With the daunting prospect of centrally processing a tsunami of data from these devices, EPRI researchers have proposed a distributed approach: Each device processes its data into much smaller, actionable "information bursts" and transmits them to grid operators in standard message formats—similar to the way texts, tweets, and photos are sent from smart phones. Operators could manage and integrate these messages ...
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Study: Film-Forming Products Can Mitigate Corrosion and Deposition of Contaminants During Power Plant Shutdowns
Film-forming products may soon become the trusted "throat lozenges" for power plant steam turbines. In a first-of-its-kind field study, EPRI demonstrated that these chemicals' ability to form a protective layer on metal surfaces can significantly reduce corrosion in low-pressure turbines during plant shutdowns and layupslayups. This finding supports their use in the steam/water cycle prior to shutdown. Plant shutdowns may alter steam chemistry in the phase transition zonephase transition zone ...
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Film-forming products may soon become the trusted "throat lozenges" for power plant steam turbines. In a first-of-its-kind field study, EPRI demonstrated that these chemicals' ability to form a protective layer on metal surfaces can significantly reduce corrosion in low-pressure turbines during plant shutdowns and layupslayups. This finding supports their use in the steam/water cycle prior to shutdown. Plant shutdowns may alter steam chemistry in the phase transition zonephase transition zone ...
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Scouting Technologies That Fly, Float, and Focus
Yes, it's true. Wind turbines can fly—or at least one prototype that is attached to a helium-filled blimp. EPRI Innovation Scouts are investigating the airborne turbine, along with concepts and technologies spanning diverse aspects of wind power generation, including:
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Yes, it's true. Wind turbines can fly—or at least one prototype that is attached to a helium-filled blimp. EPRI Innovation Scouts are investigating the airborne turbine, along with concepts and technologies spanning diverse aspects of wind power generation, including:
- Enhanced towers, foundations, blades, rotors, generators, and other turbine components
- Novel concepts for onshore and offshore turbines
- Wind measurement devices
- Turbine monitoring systems
- Systems to transport heavy components
- Offshore energy storage
- Wildlife protection
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Utilities can now use a new guide to respond to electric shock incidents. Many of these incidents occur at swimming pools, dairy farms, and locations with exposed metal. They are usually the result of exposure to stray voltage or contact voltage when people or animals physically contact energized objects or surfaces. In 2016, IEEE published a guide that defines stray voltage and contact voltage, and outlines standard detection, measurement, and mitigation practices that utilities can use when they address electric shock incidents. It's the result of a 10-year collaboration among utilities, equipment providers, and EPRI, with EPRI research helping to ...
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