SSS 2008-03-28
时间：2018-12-24 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(三)月
This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I’m Cynthia Graber. This will just take a minute.
One of the problems with large-scale solar power plants is that they require a huge amount of space. To rise above that problem Israeli researchers recently patented a system of solar collecting balloons. The helium-filled globes will be covered with thin-film flexible photovoltaic panels to capture sun’s rays. Designs have been proposed before that include floating or flying solar arrays. But this is a modular system tethered to the ground through a system of cables. Some cables will deliver helium to the balloons, others will carry the solar energy back to earth. The researchers are testing the arrays on a few sites in Israel. A benefit of this system is that the arrays won’t cover a huge parcel of land and the system can be easily expanded. Need more power? Hook up another balloon. Of course there are still challenges, such as reducing the weight of the balloons, dealing 1 with wind and designing the optimal 2 system for transporting the energy down to the surface. But developers say that thin-film solar energy advances every month and they hope their breakthroughs will make solar balloons realistic and economically viable 3 in the not too distant future.
Thanks for the minute for Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I’m Cynthia Graber.
- This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
- His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。