Clean Gallery

ITER fusion research reactor

ITER fusion research reactor, computer artwork. ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, is being designed to test the principles surrounding the generation of power from nuclear fusion, the energy source of stars. ITER comprises a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) chamber in which a plasma (pink) is contained by strong magnetic fields. A plasma is an ionised gas, and its ionisation makes it susceptible to electromagnetic fields. By magnetically compressing and igniting a plasma inside ITER, researchers hope to be able to study the best way of using it to generate electricity. Reactions are due to begin in 2016

© MIKKEL JUUL JENSEN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Elizabeth Arden Soaps advertisement, 1940

Advertisement for Elizabeth Arden Soaps. A little luxury a woman earned after a hard day during the Second World War. The advertisement reads: "Little luxuries - but what a big difference they make - after a hard day at the canteen or behind an office desk! Particularly grateful are you for the luxuries you feel you've earned. Elizabeth Arden Soaps are suave, fragrant, refreshing. Incidentally, they last for longer than any ordinary soap. They are prepared in many exquisite Elizabeth Arden perfumes; light, delicate, but enspiriting and subtly romantic." Date: 1940

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Solar panels in the sun

Solar cells are often electrically connected and encapsulated as a module. Photovoltaic modules often have a sheet of glass on the front (sun up) side, allowing light to pass while protecting the semiconductor wafers from the elements (rain, hail, etc.). Solar cells are also usually connected in series in modules, creating an additive voltage. Connecting cells in parallel will yield a higher current. Modules are then interconnected, in series or parallel, or both, to create an array with the desired peak DC voltage and current.The power output of a solar array is measured in watts or kilowatts. In order to calculate the typical energy needs of the application, a measurement in watt-hours, kilowatt-hours or kilowatt-hours per day is often used. A common rule of thumb is that average power is equal to 20% of peak power, so that each peak kilowatt of solar array output power corresponds to energy production of 4.8 kWh per day (24 hours x 1 kW x 20% = 4.8 kWh).To make practical use of the solar-generated energy, the electricity is most often fed into the electricity grid using inverters (grid-connected photovoltaic systems); in stand-alone systems, batteries are used to store the energy that is not needed immediately.Solar cells can also be applied to other electronics devices to make it self-power sustainable in the sun. There are solar cell phone chargers, solar bike light and solar camping lanterns that people can adopt for daily use

© Detlev van Ravenswaay