Project / Leader: 2C - Prof. Perry Li (UMN)
Title: Compact energy storage.
Project Goal:
An accumulator can store energy like a electric battery. While a battery stores energy using chemicals, accumulator stores energy by using oil to compress a gas like a spring. This project will make accumulators smaller.
What is the problem?
Hydraulic accumulators can store energy more quickly than normal batteries, but accumulators take up much more space. If accumulators were smaller, then they could be used to store energy in more machines.
How to solve the problem?
Smaller accumulators could store energy in cars and trucks to reduce the amount of gasoline they use.
