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Interesting engineering news and general interest to get you through the week.

Environmental and Life Cycle

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Environmental and Life Cycle
No-one will deny that the environment is an important factor to consider when doing anything these days.  Engineers are the ones largely coming up with the solutions.

Oerlikon Solar Sues Sunfilm

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Yan Chu  
Oerlikon , a Swiss maker of thin-film solar production equipment, says Sunfilm is violating its patent for making tandem junction solar panels.
Oerlkon Solar, which develops and sells equipment for making thin-film solar panels, contends that Sunfilm is violating its patent for its micromorph tandem cell technology. Oerlikon, a Swiss firm and a leader in the market, acquired the technology from the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland in 2003.
Thursday 12 June, 2008 08:55 PM
 

The Greening of Lean Manufacturing

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Bob Smith  
Forging sustainable relationships within a supply chain, along with the conservation of established partnerships, can produce a positive impact on a bottom line as well.

Hanover, PA - Merging green ideals with lean principles can have an impact far beyond raw materials, water and renewable energy. Forging sustainable relationships within a supply chain, along with the conservation of established partnerships, can produce a positive impact on a bottom line as well. That's why McClarin Plastics, a leader in thermoforming and vacuum infusion of fiber reinforced plastics, has coordinated a cooperative lean certification session for their employees, customers and suppliers.
Thursday 12 June, 2008 12:46 AM
 

Cape Breton studies huge geothermal project

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Bob Smith  
Thousands of kilometres of unused mines in the former coal mining capital of Canada could be getting new life as a source of clean, renewable energy to heat schools and hospitals in one of the largest geothermal projects ever contemplated.
Wednesday 11 June, 2008 06:08 AM
 

Wind-power project thrives in Kansas schools

Clipped to the Drawing Board by jackson Browne  
TOPEKA | While Kansas may be slow to embrace its wind as an energy source, an unlikely group is pushing ahead — public schools.

This summer, five school districts plan to install small wind turbines . While the units won’t produce much power, they will serve as a teaching tool for students and communities. It is part of a national initiative to pair wind turbines with schools in six states.
Tuesday 10 June, 2008 12:44 AM
 

Understanding global warming

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Bob Smith  
Hill, of Blacksburg, is retired from the University of Maine's Department of Chemical Engineering and is the author of "Understanding Environmental Pollution."

The author of the May 19 commentary "Global warming or cooling? Who knows?" lacks an understanding of global warming. First, the absorption of infrared radiation from the Earth by water vapor and carbon dioxide is -- up to a point -- natural. Otherwise, Earth would be too cold for life. What is now happening is very different.
Saturday 7 June, 2008 02:28 PM
 

Wind turbine plan 'bonanza for shipbuilders'

Clipped to the Drawing Board by John William  
THE North East shipbuilding industry was last night urged to take advantage of a predicted “economic bonanza” sparked by a massive expansion of offshore wind farms.

The New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Blyth said identification by the Government of 11 offshore zones – including off the North East – as potentially suitable for wind farms was a “major wake-up call” for shipbuilders.
Saturday 7 June, 2008 04:21 AM
 

NaREC to Lead World in Wind Energy Development

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Administrator  
NaREC (The New and Renewable Energy Centre) , a leading UK-based independent R&D platform for new energy technologies, announced today that it will spearhead an aggressive initiative for developing sustainable and renewable energy by building the world’s largest wind energy research and development facilities. By dedicating a comprehensive range of independent facilities for wind R&D, the campus will provide the world’s only confidential platform for developing wind turbines above and beyond the current 5MW benchmark.

NaREC’s progressive proposition also includes the world’s largest blade testing facility which will be capable of testing wind turbine blades up to 100m in length, and full-scale on-and off-shore demonstration sites to support both developers of larger wind turbines and its associated supply chain. Engineering teams, manufacturers and operators will have the opportunity to utilize all of NaREC’s facilities and resident team of wind technology specialists.
Friday 6 June, 2008 12:54 AM
 

Our mission is to supply the world with clean, abundant, and inexpensive electricity

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Barot Casha  
MPI is developing breakthrough magnetic energy technologies including POWERGENIE™ (Power Generation of Electricity by Nondestructive Interference of Energy). Based upon proprietary discoveries in MPI’s labs, generators are being designed that operate continuously, without fuel, extracting electricity by converting an abundant, renewable, extremely dense, energy source that has never before been commercialized. The process will create no pollution. Variations will provide a permanent power supply that can eventually replace the need for batteries of all sizes. Conventional power costs are rising. The cost of electricity from these technologies promises to be less than any competing form of power generation today, or in the foreseeable future.
Thursday 5 June, 2008 06:30 AM
 

Manufacturing microbes

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Sean  
Why biofuel company SunEthanol thinks it’s worth $20 million in forthcoming Series B funding.

With the heat on the biofuel industry as a whole, Amherst, Mass.-based SunEthanol says it has a game-changing cellulosic technology with some impressive results.
Wednesday 4 June, 2008 06:23 PM
 

Solar power looks into a brighter future

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Yan Chu  
The world's largest maker of semiconductor production equipment, Applied Materials , is increasingly honing its focus on solar panels as semiconductor demand wanes.

The company recently announced the largest deal to date in the industry, worth $1.9 billion, in which it would build the world's largest solar-panel manufacturing plant.
Tuesday 3 June, 2008 04:02 PM
 

Tidal energy project gathers momentum

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Dillon Smatcher  
An energy farm harnessing the power of strong tidal currents at the entrance to the Kaipara Harbour in Northland looks likely to be the first new marine energy kid on the block by winning the government's initial funding package for a new field of renewables.

But the $1.85 million to help Crest Energy deploy three turbines in the main harbour channel immediately off the north head pales into insignificance against the $600m the company expects will be needed over the next decade.
Tuesday 3 June, 2008 08:53 AM
 

Falls puts hopes in ‘green’ hydropower

Clipped to the Drawing Board by jackson Browne  
When Globe Specialty Metals sets up shop in Niagara Falls next year, it will join established hydrogen producer Praxair, becoming the latest company attracted to the clean, plentiful hydropower of Niagara Falls.

As Globe and Praxair embrace the future of green technology, they showcase the power of the Falls as the ultimate green energy source. And who better to do so than two companies with such intense energy needs?
Tuesday 3 June, 2008 04:51 AM
 

The power of engineering

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Sean  
Find out what three mechanical engineers are doing to make the world a little bit greener.
Monday 2 June, 2008 06:37 AM
 

Bangladeshi Inventor Has Demonstrated Fuel Free Magnetic Power!

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Peter Wu  
Magnetic Power Inc . has become aware of a revolutionary achievement. After 17 years of research, a 37 year old inventor in Bangladesh has shown professors from an engineering university, as well as other scientists and electrical engineers, that he has created magnetic energy conversion systems that produce electricity without any need for fuel. The professors commented that this invention challenged fundamental principles of electricity and energy conservation
Sunday 1 June, 2008 04:28 PM
 

Asian location for second Signet Solar site

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Rose Shah  
Signet Solar, a leading manufacturer of silicon thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules and user of industrial and specialty gases, has announced plans to locate its second manufacturing site in the Sriperembudur Special Economic Zone near Chennai, India.
Saturday 31 May, 2008 12:50 PM
 

Solar City roundup, Abu Dhabi heats up

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Ali Hamoud  
Highlighting the news from Solar City this week was the announcement that Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates-based Masdar PV plans to invest more than $2 billion in thin-film photovoltaic solar technology in a three-phased strategy to produce thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules, and inked a deal (possibly $600 million) with Applied Materials for three of its SunFab thin film lines.
Saturday 31 May, 2008 11:56 AM
 

Suntech Announces Strategic Investment in Shunda and 7GW Wafer Supply Agreement

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Yan Chu  
SAN FRANCISCO and WUXI, China - Suntech
Power Holdings Co., Ltd
, one of the world's leading
manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced that
it has acquired a minority stake in Shunda Holdings Co. Ltd, a manufacturer
of solar wafers based in China, from Actis, a leading private equity
investor in emerging markets, and Waichun Investment Fund, for a total
consideration of $98.9 million.
Friday 30 May, 2008 08:09 AM
 

Research focuses on heat transfer and recovery

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Bob Smith  
As the latest EU funding for energy-related activities becomes available, new breakthroughs are already promising novel solutions to the issues of heat transfer and recovery. Sean Ottwell reports.

The seventh framework programme (FP7) for research and technological development is the EU’s main instrument for funding research in Europe and runs from 2007-2013. FP7 is also designed to respond to Europe's employment needs, competitiveness and quality of life.

FP7 is the natural successor to FP6, but is both larger and more comprehensive. A budget of E53.2b over its seven-year lifespan is the largest allocation yet for any such programme.
Thursday 29 May, 2008 11:01 AM
 

Ag boom hits manufacturers

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Adam Crighton  

Record commodity prices , along with profits from ethanol investments, have brought prosperity to many farmers in Kansas and the nation. Now those profits are fueling another boom in the agricultural economy -- record sales of new farm implements such as high-tech tractors, combines and balers.

At Agco Corp., which has its North American manufacturing headquarters in Hesston, chief executive Martin Richenhagen said 2008 is going to be a "very good year."
Tuesday 27 May, 2008 06:11 PM
 

From DUMP to PUMP

Clipped to the Drawing Board by jackson Browne  
Indianapolis-based engineering and consulting giant RW Armstrong has become lead investor in an upstart ethanol firm that would apply novel technology to make the automotive fuel without using corn as the key ingredient.

It would be the first big commercial plant in Indiana to make the alcohol fuel with so-called cellulosic material—the holy grail, of sorts, in the ethanol industry.

Not only that, but unlike plants using corn, it wouldn’t have to buy its main ingredient. Instead, the plant would get paid to accept it.

“We’re talking trash. We’re talking about a resource that’s been significantly underutilized,” said Zbigniew “Zig” Resiak, business development and preconstruction manager at Armstrong.
Tuesday 27 May, 2008 04:09 PM
 

How Green Hysteria Will Hit Home

Clipped to the Drawing Board by Ryan  
Let's call it the black box syndrome: making revolutionary changes or new products without any real handle on what has actually been created or the potential impact. No-one really knew what the risks were when the wizards of Wall Street launched the inscrutable credit products that led to the current financial bubble that is now imploding, rocking the world economy.

Now we have something akin to that bubble building in the environmental arena, in the inflated rhetoric on global warming rising inexorably from the environmental-political complex. Global warming is a fact. The great questions are not whether the environment is gradually warming but whether it will persist and if so what can or should be done about it--and at what costs.
Wednesday 21 May, 2008 04:44 AM
 
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"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible" - Freeman Dyson