評論
打印
Recording 2
錄音 2
We've talked recently about the importance of sustainable energy. We've also talked about the different theories on how that can be done.
我們最近談到了可持續(xù)能源的重要性。我們也討論了關(guān)于如何做到這一點(diǎn)的不同理論。
So far, our discussions have all been theoretical. Now I have a practical question for you all.
到目前為止，我們的討論都是理論性的?，F(xiàn)在我有一個實(shí)際的問題要問大家。
Can you run a 140, 000 kilogram train on just the steam generated by solar power? Well, one engineer, Tim Castleman, believes it's possible.
僅僅依靠太陽能產(chǎn)生的蒸汽，你就能運(yùn)行14萬公斤的火車嗎？工程師蒂姆·卡斯?fàn)柭J(rèn)為這是可能的。
And his home city of Sacramento, California should see the technology's first test.
他的家鄉(xiāng)加州薩克拉門托應(yīng)該會有這項(xiàng)技術(shù)的第一次測試。
As part of the upgrading of its rail yard, Castleman, who is an inventor and self-proclaimed steam visionary, is campaigning for a new steam train that runs without any fire and could run on an existing ten-kilometre line, drawing tourists and perhaps offering city commuters a green alternative to their cars.
卡斯?fàn)柭且粋€發(fā)明家，自稱在蒸汽方面有遠(yuǎn)見卓識，鐵路站場正在升級，他在推廣一種新型蒸汽火車，不用火，可以在現(xiàn)有的10公里長的線路上運(yùn)行，吸引游客，或許還能為城市通勤者提供一種綠色的汽車替代品。
Castleman wants to build an array of solar magnifying mirrors at one end of the line to collect and focus heat onto water-filled tubes.
卡斯?fàn)柭胍诰€路的一端建造一組太陽能放大鏡收集熱量并把熱量集中到充滿水的管道上。
This would generate steam that could be used to fill tanks on a small steam train without the use of fire.
這將產(chǎn)生蒸汽，可以不用火就充滿小蒸汽火車的水箱。
"Supplying power to trains in this way would offer the shortest distance from well to wheels," he says, "with the least amount of energy lost."
他說：“用這種方式為火車提供動力，將使井口到車輪之間的距離最短，而且損失的能源最少?！?/p>
According to Harry Valentine, a Canadian engineer who is researching modern steam technology, a special tank measuring 2 by 10 metres could store over 750 kilowatt hours of energy as high-pressure steam, enough to pull a 2-car train for an hour or so.
研究現(xiàn)代蒸汽技術(shù)的加拿大工程師哈里·瓦倫丁(Harry Valentine)說，一個寬2米、長10米的特殊水箱可以儲存750千瓦時的高壓蒸汽，足夠拉動一列兩節(jié)車廂的火車行駛一個小時左右。
Energy to drive a steam locomotive can be stored in other materials besides water.
驅(qū)動蒸汽機(jī)車的能量可以儲存在除水以外的其他物質(zhì)中。
For example, a team at Tohoko University in Japan has studied materials that can store large amounts of heat.
例如，日本東光大學(xué)的一個研究小組研究了可以儲存大量熱量的材料。
When heated, these materials turned from a solid into a liquid absorbing energy as they change phase.
當(dāng)這些材料受熱時，它們會從固態(tài)變成液態(tài)，并在相變時吸收能量。
The liquid is maintained above its melting point until steam is required, at which point the liquid is allowed to turn back into a solid, releasing its stored energy.
不需要蒸汽時，液體保持在熔點(diǎn)以上，需要蒸汽時液體才能變成固體，釋放其儲存的能量。
Another team at Nagoya University in Japan has tested calcium compound as an energy storage material.
日本名古屋大學(xué)的另一個團(tuán)隊(duì)已經(jīng)測試了可以作為儲能材料的鈣化合物。
Heating this chemical compound drives off carbon dioxide gas, leaving calcium oxide. The gas can be stored under pressure in a tank.
加熱這種化合物會排出二氧化碳，產(chǎn)生氧化鈣。氣體可以在壓力下儲存在儲罐中。
To recover the energy, the gas is fed back over the calcium oxide. "In theory," says Valentine, "this can create a high enough temperature to generate superheated steam."
為了回收能量，氣體重新與氧化鈣反應(yīng)。“理論上，”瓦倫丁說，“這可以產(chǎn)生一個足夠高的溫度來產(chǎn)生過熱的蒸汽?！?/p>
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.
請根據(jù)你剛剛聽到的錄音回答第19題到21題。
19. What has the speaker previously talked about?
19. 說話者之前談到了什么？
20. What is Tim Castleman trying to do in Sacramento?
20. 提姆·卡斯特曼在薩克拉門托想做什么？
21. What has a Japanese research team tried to do?
21. 日本的研究團(tuán)隊(duì)試圖做什么？
