Sewage Pump Check Valve

Pump stations are characterized by pressure surges due to the sudden velocity changes associated with the starting and stopping of pumps. Specially engineered check valves or pump control valves are often needed on the discharge of the pumps to prevent slam and/or minimize pressure surges while surge relief and anticipator valves provide protection from excessive surges resulting from power outage or pump failure.

GA Industries provides a full range of water hammer and surge control solutions for water, wastewater and sewage pumping applications.  We can provide expert advice on the application of check valves, pump control valves, and surge relief valves for your next pump station project.

http://www.gaindustries.com/applications/pump-stations.html

Lithium–Titanate battery (LTO) Battery

http://www.batteryspace.com/Lithium-Titanate-Battery.aspx

Toshiba SCiB (TM)

Van de Graaff Generator

A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic generator which uses a moving belt to accumulate very high amounts of electrical potential on a hollow metal globe on the top of the stand. It was invented by American physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff in 1929. The potential difference achieved in modern Van de Graaff generators can reach 5 megavolts. A tabletop version can produce on the order of 100,000 volts and can store enough energy to produce a visible spark.

A Van de Graaff generator operates by transferring electric charge from a moving belt to a terminal. The high voltages generated by the Van de Graaff generator can be used for accelerating subatomic particles to high speeds, making the generator a useful tool for fundamental physics research.



The Van de Graaff generator was developed, starting in 1929, by physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff at Princeton University on a fellowship, with help from colleague Nicholas Burke. The first model was demonstrated in October 1929.  He got $100 from his department and built better generator. By 1931 he could report achieving 1.5 million volts, saying "The machine is simple, inexpensive, and portable. An ordinary lamp socket furnishes the only power needed." According to  patent application, it had two 60-cm-diameter charge-accumulation spheres mounted on borosilicate glass columns 180 cm high; the apparatus cost only $90 in 1931.

Van de Graaff applied for a second patent in December 1931 and got it. It was assigned to MIT in exchange for a share of net income.

In 1933, Van de Graaff built a 40-foot (12-m) model at MIT's Round Hill facility, the use of which was donated by Colonel Edward H. R. Green.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/vdg.htm



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Tutor Vista upload


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SpanglerScience TV upload

PLUG-AND-WORK MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS and INCREASE IN FLEXIBILITY

PLUG-AND-WORK MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS

Kai Furmans and Frank Schonung
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Kevin R. Gue
Auburn University, USA


Abstract - One disadvantage of automated material handling systems is their
relative inflexibility: once racks are installed and conveyors are laid, making even
minor changes to a system can be cumbersome and expensive. However, recent
progress in the capabilities and cost of basic system components, such as
controllers, drives, and sensors, has made possible a new class of material handling
systems having a much higher degree of flexibility.

The paper provides underlying design principles for such systems and describes some  prototype "plug-and work" systems, which provide ease of reconfiguration.



Smart Rack


The SmartRack is a rack with HF-RFID sensors in each channel or slot. Bins in each channel are equipped with the matching RFID-tags, which contain all necessary information about the parts as well as their origin and their destination. Bins in the rack have a unique ID, and the current status is transferred to a webservice, which allows the supplier to get current inventory and to control
production and resupply accordingly.  The design is simple, but effective:

The SmartRack is made modular because and more channels can easily be added if more part numbers must be stored. SmartRack integrates all functions necessary to create the decentralized, physical material flow via a micro-controller in each rack which allows information to be exchanged on a higher level between the user and the system.


Flexconveyor

The Flexconveyor is a modular, unit-sized conveyor, which can be combined with other modules to create a conveyor network. Each module is able to convey in the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west). The modules are connected by a serial connection, which is used to exchange all necessary information between adjacent modules. Each module uses light beams to detect any bins present and has an RFID reader, which identifies the bins and determines the destination.

The modules exchange information with each other on several levels. The first is topological—when each module is connected, modules pass messages to discover or update the existing topology. Next is routing information: During the message passing, each module executes an algorithm to update connections of its neighbors (and their neighbors, and so on), as well as the the distance (measured in modules) to each reachable module. This information is exchanged continuously between adjacent neighbors, leading quickly to complete routing information, which shows which direction an individual module should convey in order to send its bin to its destination most efficiently. When material from a bin is to be moved, a module reads its RFID tag and determines the target module. Based on the routing matrix, the appropriate port is selected, which is the link with the shortest distance to the destination. Then a “telegram” is sent to the respective port, asking whether the route towards the destination is available. The next module forwards this telegram to its neighbor, and so on, until the destination module is  reached. The destination then sends back a positive or negative answer to the origin module, which then takes the appropriate action (convey or not). The system is completely decentralized, and may be reconfigured in a matter of minutes. The Flexconveyor uses all the design principles described in the paper.  

Selecting Energy Efficient Centrifugal Pumps

Overview


Centrifugal pumps handle high flow rates, provide smooth, nonpulsating delivery,
and regulate the flow rate over a wide range without damaging the pump. Centrifugal
pumps have few moving parts, and the wear caused by normal operation is minimal.
They are also compact and easily disassembled for maintenance.

The efficiency of  pumping system depends on relationships between fluid flow rate, piping
layout, control methodology, and pump selection. Selection of a centrifugal pump is
based on  its application.


Centrifugal Pump Performance


Centrifugal pumps are generally divided into three classes: radial flow, mixed flow,
and axial flow. Impeller design variations can be used to design specific pumps that  perform efficiently under specified conditions that vary from low flow rate with high head to high flow rate with low head. The amount of fluid a centrifugal pump moves depends on the differential
pressure or head it supplies. The flow rate increases as the head decreases.

Manufacturers  provide information on  range of heads and flow rates that a particular pump model can provide.

Before you select a pump model, examine its performance curve, which is indicated by
its head-flow rate or operating curve. The curve shows the pump’s capacity (in gallons
per minute [gpm]) plotted against total developed head (in feet). It also shows efficiency
(percentage), required power input (in brake-horsepower [bhp]), and suction head
requirements (net positive suction head requirement in feet) over a range of flow rates.
Pump curves also indicate pump size and type, operating speed (in revolutions per
minute), and impeller size (in inches). It also shows the pump’s best efficiency point (BEP).
The pump operates most cost effectively when the operating point is close to the BEP.


Pumps can generally be ordered with a variety of impeller sizes. Each impeller has a
separate performance curve  To minimize pumping system energy
consumption, select a pump so the system requirement is within 20% of pump's
BEP, and select a mid range impeller that can be trimmed or replaced to meet higher or
lower flow rate requirements.Select a pump with high efficiency contours over your
range of expected operating points. A few points of efficiency improvement can
save significant energy over the life of the pump.

http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/05/f16/efficient_centrifug_pumps.pdf

Hydrogen Cars

19 November

Audi unveiled the A7 h-tron quattro with hydrogen fuel cell that will go over 300 miles between refuellings. At the moment it is only a demonstration car. But Audi says it can deliver production version whenever infrastructure is ready for hydrogen supply.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/19/7247281/audi-says-it-has-mastered-hydrogen-fuel-cells-and-is-ready-to-launch

18 November 2014

Now hydrogen cars available for commercial use.

Hyundai has been leasing the hydrogen-powered Tucson sport utility, which it describes as the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell car, since June, for a $2,999 down payment, and $499 a month. (That includes the hydrogen.)

Toyota is introducing a sedan called Mirai, which means “future” in Japanese.

The Mirai will go on sale in California this year for $57,500 — cheaper than the Tesla Model S.


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/science/earth/hydrogen-cars-join-electric-models-in-showrooms.html

News about Mirai
http://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/future-arrived-called-mirai-akio-toyoda-announces-name-fuel-cell-sedan-web-video/


Japan Launch Event for Mirai Fuel Cell Sedan
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Toyota Global News Room


Akiyo Toyoda on Mirai
2.4 minutes
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Toyota Global Newsroom

How fuel cells work?
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/fuel-cell.htm

Ten Types of Smart Engineering - 2013

Need‐of‐the‐Hour Engineering:
Improvised Engineering:
Strip‐Down Engineering:
Performance‐Boosting Engineering:
IntelliSys Engineering:  
Cross‐Pollination Engineering:
Smart‐Auxiliary Engineering:
Sustainable Engineering:
Nature‐Inspired Engineering:
Forward‐Looking Engineering:

Dr. Aloknath De, SrVP and CTO, Samsung India‐Bangalore

http://www.inae.in/newsletter/art2.pdf