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Downloaded from orbit.dtu.dk on: Oct 11, 2021 Small molecules and medicine Nielsen, Thomas Eiland Published in: Engineering challenges Publication date: 2009 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link back to DTU Orbit Citation (APA): Nielsen, T. E. (2009). Small molecules and medicine. In H. Carsten Broder (Ed.), Engineering challenges : energy, climate change & helath (pp. 200-209). Technical University of Denmark. DTU research series General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. 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Engineering challenges energy, climate change & health Engineering challenges energy, climate change & health Previous publications in the DTU research series: Bridging from technology to society (2004) Engineering challenges energy, climate change & health Editor Photos of authors Carsten Broder Hansen Carsten Broder Hansen, DTU, Klaus Holsting, Jesper Scheel Text editing Artwork David Breuer Glynn Gorick: pages 148/149, 154, 155 NASA: pages 138/139 Project supervisor Helge Elbrønd Jensen Graphics Møllers Tegnestue Project manager Tine Kjær Hassager Layout Grethe Kofoed/Artcome Photographs Carsten Broder Hansen: pages 6/7, 12, 18/19, 22, 40/41, 52/53, 62/63, Printing 72/73, 76, 77, 82/83, 86, 88, 94, 96, 98, 99, 116/117, 128/129, 134, Svendborg Tryk A/S 160/161, 170, 184, 200/201, 222/223, 230, 244/245 Carsten Dam-Hansen: page 56 Colourbox: pages 86, 99, 106/107, 115, 125, 180/181, 183 DTU: pages 135, 192, 198 EFDA-JET: page 102 Lauritzen Group: page 10 Lisbeth Holten: page 26 Th omas Fryd, courtesy of Grønttorvet København: page 182 Th omas Glasdam Jensen, Guisheng Zhuang: page 242 Printed in Denmark Google Earth: page 35 ISBN 978-87-985544-4-8 Klaus Holsting: page 66 ©2009 by the Technical University of Denmark Brian MacKenzie: page 153 All rights reserved Ninell P. Mortensen and James P. Nataro: pages 190/191 NASA: pages 97, 132 NASA/ESA/AURA/Caltech: page 165 For more information, contact: Nicky Pløk/Uni-fl y: pages 30/31, 37 Technical University of Denmark Bjarne W. Olesen: page 79 Anker Engelunds Vej 1 Peder Skaft e-Pedersen, Joanna Lopacinska, Martin Dufva: page 239 DK-2800 Lyngby Søren Skou Nielsen, Pelle Ohlsson, Th omas Glasdam Jensen: pages Denmark 232/233 Tel. +45 4525 2525 Detlef Snakenborg: pages 232/233, 235 Fax +45 4588 1799 Nikolaj Vynne: page 198 Web: www.dtu.dk 2 TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK Preface Action, Boldness & Creativity Action, boldness and creativity are the ABC of engineering. Th e refuge of academia, around which we all must stand guard, is a prerequisite for the free fl ow of thought, the critical solitary refl ection and the inner secluded contemplation from which new ideas are born. Ideas of the individual that must be integrated with the ideas of others to form groundbreaking trains of thought, not only lift ing the spirit of humanity but also bettering the hu- man condition, indeed giving promise of a better future for humankind. Th e academic refuge can of course be abused in wasteful daydreaming, idle pastimes or even academic arrogance. All of us who detest such abuses must, in our defense of academic freedom, continuously fi ght to secure its ideals. However, even uncompromised, academic freedom cannot ensure the delivery of what academia can off er society, neither to the academic society nor – more importantly – to the society at large. Especially in science and technology, more, much more, is required. Th is “much more” is not to be solicited from society; we must solicit it from ourselves in the form of dedicated action. Passive refl ection must be paired with active observation; interaction between theory and practice must be promoted; iteration between building models and experimen- tal design must be employed; and dialogue between deduction and induction must be practiced. To be constructive, these endeavors require not only the abilities of the professionally trained re- searcher and the eager curiosity of the natural-born scholar but also a certain boldness. If limits are not tested, if well-known truths are not challenged, if mental faculties are not exercised vigorously, then the challenging questions posed – even the most important ones – are reduced to being solely academic. Scientifi c independence, a sibling to academic freedom, is an intellectual ideal very sensitive to its circumstances, and it may similarly wither away if it is left to self-indulgence and vain pride. Science and technology as research fi elds must responsibly and ethically live up to the highest standards of academic freedom and scientifi c independence to remain the justly admired disci- plines they are. Nevertheless, the intercourse between science and technology bears a much larger promise. Adding genuine creativity to action and boldness brings us to the pinnacle of engineering. Perhaps the fascinating wonders of engineering can only be grasped if the ABC ingredients are recognized and understood in this context. Further, perhaps this insight is also the key to realizing why the wonders of engineering harbor the only possible answer to the pressing challenges posed by today’s mounting problems and the only credible hope for a sustainable and livable future on this planet. I hope the readers of this book will be impressed, as I have been, by how DTU researchers actu- ally unfold the ABC of engineering. We will join forces with colleagues from all over the world to meet the engineering challenges of tomorrow, especially those related to energy, climate change and health. Lars Pallesen President DTU 2009 3 Contents Page Marine structures: consuming and producing energy .............................................................................. 6 Preben Terndrup Pedersen & Jørgen Juncher Jensen Sustainable energy – catalysis is part of the solution ............................................................................. 18 Ib Chorkendorff Wind energy research: crucial for takeoff .................................................................................................. 30 Erik Lundtang Petersen & Jens Nørkær Sørensen Fuel cells and electrolysis for converting renewable energy ................................................................ 40 Mogens Mogensen & Søren Linderoth Photonics engineering in a new light ......................................................................................................... 52 Lars Dittmann & Paul Michael Petersen Power plants: energy and environmental issues ..................................................................................... 62 Anker Degn Jensen & Peter Glarborg Buildings: consuming and conserving energy .......................................................................................... 72 Bjarne W. Olesen & Carsten Rode Biorefi neries: converting biomass into valuable products ..................................................................... 82 Irini Angelidaki & Kim Pilegaard Computer simulation: dynamical systems and multiscale modeling .................................................... 94 Per Christian Hansen, Jan S. Hesthaven & Jens Juul Rasmussen Waste and climate – energy recovery and greenhouse gases ............................................................... 106 Th omas H. Christensen Forecasting and optimizing transport ........................................................................................................ 116 Oli B.G. Madsen & Otto Anker Nielsen Towards a new grid infrastructure: Denmark as a full-scale laboratory .............................................. 128 Jacob Østergaard 4 TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK Page Changing energy systems to prevent climate change ............................................................................ 138 Kirsten Halsnæs & Hans Larsen Can we sustain fi sheries as the climate changes? .................................................................................. 148 Brian R. MacKenzie & Keith Brander The adventurous journey of Spaceship Earth .......................................................................................... 160 Henrik Svensmark Process design and production of chemicals, food ingredients, fuels and pharmaceuticals: multidisciplinary chemical engineering ..................................................................................................... 170 Anne S. Meyer, John M. Woodley & Rafi qul Gani Nutrition, genetics and health ..................................................................................................................... 180 Inge Tetens & Ulla Vogel Microorganisms – the good, the bad and the indispensable .................................................................. 190 Lone Gram & Frank Aarestrup Small molecules and medicine ..................................................................................................................... 200