Dr. Pavlath stresses alternative energy resources
by George Ellerbach, Staff Writer
Dr. Attila E. Pavlath, the invited guest of the Iowa section of the American Chemical Society (ACS), spoke before invited ACS members and members of the Cornell community on Monday, April 13. His speech entitled "Alternate Energy Resources: Moderation and Common Sense," illustrated the danger of our current energy resources running out and the possible alternatives. Dr. Pavlath, along with being active in ACS activities, is currently a Physical Science Collaborator for the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.
Dr. Pavlath began his presentation by recounting an anecdote. While he worked for a private company in 1963, gasoline cost about $.19 per gallon. Someone in his department asked him if there was some way to convert oil into food because the world seemed to be "a world full of oil" with a shortage of food. In 1978, there was a national energy crisis, forcing people to wait in line at gas stations. At that time, U.S. agriculture was overproducing, and since that time, Dr. Pavlath has worked in the USDA to use agricultural products for the production of fuel.
Dr. Pavlath illustrated the current energy problems with a chart showing the amounts of remaining fossil fuels left in the world. The amount of petroleum, he said, is dangerously low, leading to a prediction that by the year 2050 the world will run out of oil. Some estimates put this date later, but only by 25 years. Dr. Pavlath also showed that overall energy use around the world is growing faster than population. These danger signals led Dr. Pavlath to only three remedies. One, there must be an increased effort of energy conservation. Two, there could be increased exploration for more fuels; and three, the world might increase efforts to use non-fossil energy resources. Quickly commenting on the first two options, Pavlath said, "Obviously, you have to conserve," and "Exploration is becoming a political question." Pavlath gave the example of the political opposition to drilling both in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and in offshore areas such as in Florida.
There were eight energy resources that Pavlath described as alternate energy resources: wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, biomass and nuclear power. The best area in the U.S. for wind power, Dr. Pavlath said, is in the Oklahoma panhandle. He showed the various turbine designs that can be used for wind power. There were a few downsides to wind power. Windmills must not be concentrated, or else they become less effective. Windmills also are not able to withstand higher storm winds such as those from tornados.
Hydroelectric power is also another potential energy resource. Pavlath described "thermal gradients" in the ocean, which are, in his words, like a "reversed refrigerator, based on the laws of thermodynamics." Like any other energy resource, there is a potential downside to using hydroelectric power; the hydroelectric plants have some environmental impact and can make a current in the ocean that interferes with ocean life.
Pavlath next took the audience to geysers like Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. It is possible to harness the temperature difference in the water of the geysers to create energy. A potential downside to this energy source is exemplified by Pavlath's home state of California, where the use of geysers has slowly increased earthquake intensity.
Solar power is another possible resource with its own limitations. One limitation is that solar cells are not able to take in 100 percent of the sun's energy. Even with improvements in the efficiency of these solar cells, many take in only 10 percent of the sun's energy, and at most up to 20 percent. Pavlath also noted the "not in my backyard" phenomenon that could limit solar power, as many people refuse to allow solar cells to be built near their house. Another possible adverse effect is that solar cells could change weather patterns if the panels become too concentrated.
He finally spoke about the possibility of nuclear power. He spoke about many people's fear of nuclear power because of its origin as a weapon of war. There is also the issue of radioactivity of spent nuclear fuel. In response to this danger, scientists have explored hydrogen fusion, which would not create radioactive materials. The main obstacle to this energy is building a reactor that will withstand the increased force of this reaction. A chamber that can withstand hydrogen fusion is currently in the early stages of study.
Dr. Attila Pavlath completed his presentation by reflecting on the "common sense" of the presentation's title. In order to have these various energy resources, Pavlath said, "You cannot have a narrow view. You have to use common sense." However, he concluded with a summary from his experiences, "Common sense isn't always common."
Volume: 129
Issue: 15
Section: News
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