Flat-plate solar array project. Volume 1: Executive summary

In 1975, the U.S. Government contracted the Jet Propulsion Lab. to develop, by 1985, in conjunction with industry, the photovoltaics (PV) module and array technology required for widespread use of photovoltaics as a significant terrestrial energy source. As a result, a project that eventually became known as the Flat Plate Solar Array (FSA) Project was formed to manage an industry, university, and Government team to perform the necessary research and development. The original goals were to achieve widespread commercial use of PV modules and arrays through the development of technology that would allow them to be profitably sold for $1.07/peak watts (1985 dollars). A 10% module conversion efficiency and a 20 year lifetime were also goals. It is intended that the executive summary provide the means by which one can gain a perspective on 11 years of terrestrial photovoltaic research and development conducted by the FSA Project

A General Correlation of Temperature Profiles Downstream of a Heated-Air Jet Directed Perpendicularly to an Air Stream

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the temperature profile downstream of a heated-air jet directed perpendicularly to an air stream. The profiles were determined at several positions downstream of the jet as functions of jet density, jet velocity, freestream density, free-stream velocity, jet temperature, and orifice flow coefficient. A method is presented which yields a good approximation of the temperature profile in terms of dimensionless parameters of the flow and geometric conditions

Geodiversity audit of Spireslack and Mainshill Wood surface coal mines

This report describes a geodiversity audit of the Spireslack and Mainshill Wood surface coal mines (SCM) carried out by the British Geological Survey (BGS) on behalf of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust (SMRT). For the present study, in order to place the geodiversity of the two SCMs in context, BGS records and published sources of the surrounding geology were reviewed, including digital geological maps and historic field slips, digital aerial photography, and published papers, memoirs and reports. Documentation for nearby sites already recognised as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and/or Geological Conservation Review (GCR) sites was also reviewed. Field assessments of sections within Spireslack were conducted in August 2015. Due to flooding restrictions, access to Mainshill Wood was not possible. Therefore, data from previous field visits and photography by BGS geologists are used within this report to document sites of geodiversity value there. Geoscientific merit of individual sites within Spireslack was evaluated in terms of the rarity and quality of the key features displayed at the site, according to well-established procedures. Spireslack and Mainshill Wood SCMs provide spectacular exposures of Carboniferous strata not otherwise seen naturally on anything approaching the same scale or completeness across the whole of Scotland, or further afield in the UK. As such, they are of national significance. A total of 18 sections were identified as candidates for recognition and protection as local geodiversity sections within Spireslack, whilst the whole of the remaining void within the south-western corner of Mainshill Wood is presented as a geodiversity site worthy of protection. The sections selected include the best examples of geological features within each surface mine and are considered to be representative of the diverse range of geological strata and structures that characterise the geology of these sites and the wider surrounding area. It is recommended that these sections within Spireslack and Mainshill Wood should be protected and preserved during any subsequent development of the surface mine workings. Many of the identified sections of local geodiversity value have the potential to be enhanced through interpretation on site to inform visitors and students at all levels about geology, and the links they have with the local economic and cultural heritage within East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire, and the Central Belt of Scotland as a whole. These sites also offer opportunities to the research community, to generate a wide spectrum of internationally significant teaching and strategic research activity. Whilst Spireslack and Mainshill can be considered as ‘flagship’ sites in terms of their spectacular exposures of complete stratigraphic sequences and unique structural geology preserved within them, they also form part of a subset of inactive and active surface mine sites across East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. Collectively, and in the longer term, this network could form the basis for a potential Geopark across the south-western Central Belt of Scotland