Developments

The new oil-injection cooled screw compressor C 16 F (D) from sets new standards in the 11 kW performance class. Its excellent specific characteristics predestine the Boge C 16 F (D) compressors for achieving high energy savings. With its broad control range, it caters for widely fluctuating compressed air demand. A silenced intake filter and sturdy grey cast iron housing afford extremely quiet operation even when working at full capacity – enabling it to operate right at the workstation. The optionally available focus control 2.0 intelligent compressor control can be used with up to four compressors and lends itself to Industry 4.0 applications. It provides the highest free air delivery in the 11 kW compressor segment – despite its extremely low speed level. This is the result of using the Boge compact compressor aired from the effilence family which trumps with outstandingly low specific power consumption due to its high-efficiency IE3 motor. With this minimal power consumption rating and the extremely low flow losses, these belt-driven BOGE C 16 F (D) compressors achieve record energy efficiency. Their sound pressure levels also get top ratings – the C 16 F (D) is one of the quietest compressors in its class. The advantages of integrated frequency control are particularly apparent when compressed air demand fluctuates: The frequency converter provides continuous free air delivery in the roughly 25 – 100% control range. The free air delivery is constantly matched to the operating conditions. If the demand for compressed air drops off, compressor energy use also falls. Idling times are virtually eliminated in this way. Customers who use C 16 F (D) screw compressors achieve energy savings of up to 30 percent as a result. The design of the C series is both intelligent and simple. All maintenance-relevant parts are arranged for easy reach to minimise waiting times. Equipping these compressors with additional options […]

A 2016 research paper in the Journal Nature predicts a 40% shortfall of available water across the globe by 2030 with effects not just for drinking, food production, hygiene and public health, but also for 98% of global electric power generation. Presented at the Asia-Pacific Energy Leaders’ Summit in New Zealand the early findings of a new report, ‘The road to resilience – managing the risks of the energy-water-food nexus’ from the World Energy Council is calling for immediate action in order to secure resilient energy infrastructure. Supported by a task force of over 140 experts from across the world, the report makes five recommendations: • Improve understanding of the water footprint of energy technologies in order to mitigate the risks of stranded assets • Account for the price of water, particularly in areas of water stress • Consider a wider range of financial and insurance instruments to hedge short term risks such as adverse weather incidents and associated electricity price volatility • Give investors the confidence to invest by providing them a full risk assessment that includes different climate and hydrological scenarios in financial analyses • Provide a reliable and transparent regulatory and legal framework that takes into account water issues and competing stakeholders’ interest. Christoph Frei, Secretary General World Energy Council said: “The energy-water-food nexus poses a systemic risk which could impact the robustness of the energy supply and demand over many years to come. Power plants across the world could be affected by changes in precipitation patterns, which are combining with increasing competition between water users to adversely affect the resilience of energy services. “Clear co-ordination and integrated planning needs to take place now, or we will start to see the effects of water scarcity on energy supplies in the very near future. Assuming a water price […]

Researchers, from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute and Konkuk University in the Republic of Korea, coated cotton and polyester yarn with a nanoglue called bovine serum albumin (BSA). The yarns were then wrapped in graphene oxide sheets. Graphene is an incredibly strong one-atom-thick layer of carbon that is known for its excellent conductive properties of heat and electricity. The graphene sheets stuck very well to the nanoglue: so much so that further testing showed the fabrics retained their electrical conducting properties after 1,000 consecutive cycles of bending and straightening and ten washing tests with various chemical detergents. Finally, the graphene oxide yarns were exposed to a chemical reduction process, which involves the gaining of electrons. The reduced-graphene-oxide-coated materials were found to be particularly sensitive to detecting nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant gas commonly found in vehicle exhaust that also results from fossil fuel combustion. Prolonged exposure to nitrogen dioxide can be dangerous to human health, causing many respiratory-related illnesses. Exposure of these specially-treated fabrics to nitrogen dioxide led to a change in the electrical resistance of the reduced graphene oxide. The fabrics were so sensitive that 30 minutes of exposure to 0.25 parts per million of nitrogen dioxide (just under five times above the acceptable standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) elicited a response. The fabrics were three times as sensitive to nitrogen dioxide in air compared to another reduced graphene oxide sensor previously prepared on a flat material. The new technology, according to the researchers, can be immediately adopted in related industries because the coating process is a simple one, making it suitable for mass production. It would allow outdoor wearers to receive relevant information about air quality. The materials could also be incorporated with air-purifying filters to act as “smart filters” that can both detect and […]