NY Senate Tells Frackers To Stop While The State Looks At Water Safety

A fracking tower (photo via flickr)

The film “Gas Land” has woken people up to the dangers of fracking–the drilling technique that uses millions of gallons of pressurized and chemically treated water to fragment rock to get to natural gas. The New York State Senate obviously has questions about fracking after they voted 48 to 9 last Tuesday to issue a temporary moratorium on the practice. …
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Slip rings handle up to 60 A

Electrical slip rings are ready to handle a variety of industrial applications up to 60 A and 5 MW. The electrical devices allow transmitting power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure. The devices configure easily for power or signal connections. The signal portion of the slip rings is compatible with Ethernet, Profinet, RS-232, RS-485, RS-422, CAN as well as generic analog or digital sensing and 24V control signals. A slip ring can be used in any electromechanical system that requires unrestrained, intermittent, or continuous rotation while transmitting power, data, or both. A slip-ring assembly is often a graphite or precious metal brush which contacts the outside diameter of a rotating metal ring. As the ring turns, electrical current or signal is conducted through the stationary brush to the metal ring making the connection. Additional ring-brush assemblies are stacked along the rotating axis for more electrical circuits. Catalog SR084 US, along with a Request for Quote form, assists in specifying a slip ring.

Deublin Co.

Deublin.com

Visit the original post at: Wind Power News

Slip rings handle up to 60 A

Electrical slip rings are ready to handle a variety of industrial applications up to 60 A and 5 MW. The electrical devices allow transmitting power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure. The devices configure easily for power or signal connections. The signal portion of the slip rings is compatible with Ethernet, Profinet, RS-232, RS-485, RS-422, CAN as well as generic analog or digital sensing and 24V control signals. A slip ring can be used in any electromechanical system that requires unrestrained, intermittent, or continuous rotation while transmitting power, data, or both. A slip-ring assembly is often a graphite or precious metal brush which contacts the outside diameter of a rotating metal ring. As the ring turns, electrical current or signal is conducted through the stationary brush to the metal ring making the connection. Additional ring-brush assemblies are stacked along the rotating axis for more electrical circuits. Catalog SR084 US, along with a Request for Quote form, assists in specifying a slip ring.

Deublin Co.

Deublin.com

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A few ideas for improving blade designs

Dr. Olivier Guillermin, Ph.D./Director of Product and Market Strategy, VISTAGY/Waltham, Mass./vistagy.com

Transitioning from manual to automated manufacturing is essential to reducing labor, tooling, and material costs and ultimately maximizing profits. Labor costs are obviously higher in well-developed economies. Hence, less established countries with lower expenses offer an alternative for cost cutting. However, access to proper skill sets is especially important in the area of composites, which use complex technology and require specialized training and knowledge. So product quality may suffer due to high turnover, lack of sufficiently sophisticated skills, and insufficient training for a low-cost workforce.

A master model is critical

A prerequisite to an efficient automated manu-facturing process is a product-development system that creates a complete and detailed digital master definition of a composite product within a commercial 3D CAD system, such as Catia, Pro/Engineer, or NX. It is vital that the digital composite model of a blade contain all the information required to properly manufacture the part—including definition of all laminates and plies, associated flat patterns, manufacturing sequences and steps, accurate definitions of the cored panels and interface definitions for all mating parts. This enables seamless collaboration between engineering and manufacturing.

Composite engineering software, such as VISTAGY’s FiberSIM, provides a detailed and accurate digital master model indispensable to automated manufacturing. The FiberSIM suite of software supports the unique and complex design and manufacturing methods necessary to engineer innovative, durable, and lightweight composite wind turbine blades.

Such a master model must also enable so-called producibility simulations, or simulations of the manufacturing process, be it curing of prepreg layups, dry layups for resin infusion, or some other manufacturing method. Producibility simulations let design and manufacturing engineers predict manufacturing issues, such as composite fabric wrinkling or bridging that may appear during layup operations due to deformations imparted to materials when laid up in blade molds. By accurately predicting such issues, simulation software allows an early resolution of manufacturing issues without making many costly prototypes that lengthen development operations.

FiberSIM addresses the entire composites engineering process, from conception, laminate definition, and ply creation through simulation, documentation, and manufacturing.

Data from a master model drives all downstream manufacturing operations. After creating the engineering master model and releasing it to manufacturing, all data sets necessary for production can be readily exported to the shop floor for manufacturing the parts. For example, all ply shapes will be exported to a nesting or cutting system for automated cutting. This can save a significant amount of time compared to manual cutting, and provide better repeatability and quality of the ply shape.

The simulation shows how fibers deviate from a specified orientation as a ply of composite material is draped over a tool for making NASA’s composite crew module. Areas highlighted in white indicate fibers with orientations that fall in an acceptable range from spec, while other colors indicate fibers that deviate slightly (yellow) or significantly (red). The software lets users understand the behavior of continuous fiber reinforced composite materials as they conform to complex curvatures, ensuring that it meets stiffness and strength requirements and validating that the manufactured part matches design intent.

Manufacturing flexibility

In the not-so-distant future, automated systems based on the robotic deposition of entire rolls of materials will be used to manufacture composite blades. Such systems will be fed data obtained from the master model to generate layup trajectories, spray the gelcoat, add adhesive beads, and finish the blades.

These systems will also need flexibility to handle hard-to-manufacture part areas, which will only work if the digital master model has been completed and prepared. Where a human can interpret and correct on the fly on the shop floor, a machine has to be fed accurate and appropriate information. WPE

Visit the original post at: Wind Power News

A few ideas for improving blade designs

Dr. Olivier Guillermin, Ph.D./Director of Product and Market Strategy, VISTAGY/Waltham, Mass./vistagy.com

Transitioning from manual to automated manufacturing is essential to reducing labor, tooling, and material costs and ultimately maximizing profits. Labor costs are obviously higher in well-developed economies. Hence, less established countries with lower expenses offer an alternative for cost cutting. However, access to proper skill sets is especially important in the area of composites, which use complex technology and require specialized training and knowledge. So product quality may suffer due to high turnover, lack of sufficiently sophisticated skills, and insufficient training for a low-cost workforce.

A master model is critical

A prerequisite to an efficient automated manu-facturing process is a product-development system that creates a complete and detailed digital master definition of a composite product within a commercial 3D CAD system, such as Catia, Pro/Engineer, or NX. It is vital that the digital composite model of a blade contain all the information required to properly manufacture the part—including definition of all laminates and plies, associated flat patterns, manufacturing sequences and steps, accurate definitions of the cored panels and interface definitions for all mating parts. This enables seamless collaboration between engineering and manufacturing.

Composite engineering software, such as VISTAGY’s FiberSIM, provides a detailed and accurate digital master model indispensable to automated manufacturing. The FiberSIM suite of software supports the unique and complex design and manufacturing methods necessary to engineer innovative, durable, and lightweight composite wind turbine blades.

Such a master model must also enable so-called producibility simulations, or simulations of the manufacturing process, be it curing of prepreg layups, dry layups for resin infusion, or some other manufacturing method. Producibility simulations let design and manufacturing engineers predict manufacturing issues, such as composite fabric wrinkling or bridging that may appear during layup operations due to deformations imparted to materials when laid up in blade molds. By accurately predicting such issues, simulation software allows an early resolution of manufacturing issues without making many costly prototypes that lengthen development operations.

FiberSIM addresses the entire composites engineering process, from conception, laminate definition, and ply creation through simulation, documentation, and manufacturing.

Data from a master model drives all downstream manufacturing operations. After creating the engineering master model and releasing it to manufacturing, all data sets necessary for production can be readily exported to the shop floor for manufacturing the parts. For example, all ply shapes will be exported to a nesting or cutting system for automated cutting. This can save a significant amount of time compared to manual cutting, and provide better repeatability and quality of the ply shape.

The simulation shows how fibers deviate from a specified orientation as a ply of composite material is draped over a tool for making NASA’s composite crew module. Areas highlighted in white indicate fibers with orientations that fall in an acceptable range from spec, while other colors indicate fibers that deviate slightly (yellow) or significantly (red). The software lets users understand the behavior of continuous fiber reinforced composite materials as they conform to complex curvatures, ensuring that it meets stiffness and strength requirements and validating that the manufactured part matches design intent.

Manufacturing flexibility

In the not-so-distant future, automated systems based on the robotic deposition of entire rolls of materials will be used to manufacture composite blades. Such systems will be fed data obtained from the master model to generate layup trajectories, spray the gelcoat, add adhesive beads, and finish the blades.

These systems will also need flexibility to handle hard-to-manufacture part areas, which will only work if the digital master model has been completed and prepared. Where a human can interpret and correct on the fly on the shop floor, a machine has to be fed accurate and appropriate information. WPE

Visit the original post at: Wind Power News

A few ideas for improving blade designs

Dr. Olivier Guillermin, Ph.D./Director of Product and Market Strategy, VISTAGY/Waltham, Mass./vistagy.com

Transitioning from manual to automated manufacturing is essential to reducing labor, tooling, and material costs and ultimately maximizing profits. Labor costs are obviously higher in well-developed economies. Hence, less established countries with lower expenses offer an alternative for cost cutting. However, access to proper skill sets is especially important in the area of composites, which use complex technology and require specialized training and knowledge. So product quality may suffer due to high turnover, lack of sufficiently sophisticated skills, and insufficient training for a low-cost workforce.

A master model is critical

A prerequisite to an efficient automated manu-facturing process is a product-development system that creates a complete and detailed digital master definition of a composite product within a commercial 3D CAD system, such as Catia, Pro/Engineer, or NX. It is vital that the digital composite model of a blade contain all the information required to properly manufacture the part—including definition of all laminates and plies, associated flat patterns, manufacturing sequences and steps, accurate definitions of the cored panels and interface definitions for all mating parts. This enables seamless collaboration between engineering and manufacturing.

Composite engineering software, such as VISTAGY’s FiberSIM, provides a detailed and accurate digital master model indispensable to automated manufacturing. The FiberSIM suite of software supports the unique and complex design and manufacturing methods necessary to engineer innovative, durable, and lightweight composite wind turbine blades.

Such a master model must also enable so-called producibility simulations, or simulations of the manufacturing process, be it curing of prepreg layups, dry layups for resin infusion, or some other manufacturing method. Producibility simulations let design and manufacturing engineers predict manufacturing issues, such as composite fabric wrinkling or bridging that may appear during layup operations due to deformations imparted to materials when laid up in blade molds. By accurately predicting such issues, simulation software allows an early resolution of manufacturing issues without making many costly prototypes that lengthen development operations.

FiberSIM addresses the entire composites engineering process, from conception, laminate definition, and ply creation through simulation, documentation, and manufacturing.

Data from a master model drives all downstream manufacturing operations. After creating the engineering master model and releasing it to manufacturing, all data sets necessary for production can be readily exported to the shop floor for manufacturing the parts. For example, all ply shapes will be exported to a nesting or cutting system for automated cutting. This can save a significant amount of time compared to manual cutting, and provide better repeatability and quality of the ply shape.

The simulation shows how fibers deviate from a specified orientation as a ply of composite material is draped over a tool for making NASA’s composite crew module. Areas highlighted in white indicate fibers with orientations that fall in an acceptable range from spec, while other colors indicate fibers that deviate slightly (yellow) or significantly (red). The software lets users understand the behavior of continuous fiber reinforced composite materials as they conform to complex curvatures, ensuring that it meets stiffness and strength requirements and validating that the manufactured part matches design intent.

Manufacturing flexibility

In the not-so-distant future, automated systems based on the robotic deposition of entire rolls of materials will be used to manufacture composite blades. Such systems will be fed data obtained from the master model to generate layup trajectories, spray the gelcoat, add adhesive beads, and finish the blades.

These systems will also need flexibility to handle hard-to-manufacture part areas, which will only work if the digital master model has been completed and prepared. Where a human can interpret and correct on the fly on the shop floor, a machine has to be fed accurate and appropriate information. WPE

Visit the original post at: Wind Power News

Indian Parliament to Go Green with Solar Panels and Biomass Plant

The Indian Parliament building, Sansad Bhavan, will soon be installed with solar PV systems, solar heaters and a biomass plant in an attempt to promote renewable energy technologies.

On the behalf of the Parliament, the Punjab Energy Development Agency has invited bids for installing 80 kW solar PV system. The power system would not only provide battery back up for the Parliament building but more than 50 percent of the generated power would be fed to the grid.

Some of the major companies submitting bids for this project are Reliance Industries’ Solar Energy Group, Wipro Ecoenergy and construction giant Punj Lloyd. This is a novel initiative by the Indian government which is trying to initiate a massive country-wide solar energy revolution which could eventually result in ballooning of the total installed capacity to 20,000 MW in the next 12 years. (more…)

Visit the original post at: Energy News

Indian Parliament to Go Green with Solar Panels and Biomass Plant

The Indian Parliament building, Sansad Bhavan, will soon be installed with solar PV systems, solar heaters and a biomass plant in an attempt to promote renewable energy technologies.

On the behalf of the Parliament, the Punjab Energy Development Agency has invited bids for installing 80 kW solar PV system. The power system would not only provide battery back up for the Parliament building but more than 50 percent of the generated power would be fed to the grid.

Some of the major companies submitting bids for this project are Reliance Industries’ Solar Energy Group, Wipro Ecoenergy and construction giant Punj Lloyd. This is a novel initiative by the Indian government which is trying to initiate a massive country-wide solar energy revolution which could eventually result in ballooning of the total installed capacity to 20,000 MW in the next 12 years. (more…)

Visit the original post at: Energy News

Prayer and Health
There has always been a desire in the spirits of human beings to hope and sometimes believe in the effects of prayer in healing. Belief and the subsequent proof has always been hard to find or to do. Findings from a new international study of healing prayer suggest that prayer for another person’s healing just might help — especially if the one praying is physically near the person being prayed for. Candy Gunther Brown, an associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Indiana University Bloomington, led the study of proximal intercessory prayer for healing.
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Genetically Modified Rape Taking Over North Dakota

Image: joeshlabotnik, Flickr

Back when the bright yellow flowers were still known as Rape or Oilseed rape, Brassica napus produced a bitter oil, unsuitable for human consumption and used mainly to lubricate machines. Canadian researchers bred an edible hybrid known as “Canadian Oilseed, Low-Acid” — or Canola, for short. Today, Canola oil claims to be one of the healthiest cooking oils, with high Omega-3 levels. Increasing use of C… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger

Genetically Modified Rape Taking Over North Dakota

Image: joeshlabotnik, Flickr

Back when the bright yellow flowers were still known as Rape or Oilseed rape, Brassica napus produced a bitter oil, unsuitable for human consumption and used mainly to lubricate machines. Canadian researchers bred an edible hybrid known as “Canadian Oilseed, Low-Acid” — or Canola, for short. Today, Canola oil claims to be one of the healthiest cooking oils, with high Omega-3 levels. Increasing use of C… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger

Iranian Researchers Show Dilute Acid Hydrolysis Process for Production of Furans from Rice Straw

Visit the original post at: Transportation News

Iranian Researchers Show Dilute Acid Hydrolysis Process for Production of Furans from Rice Straw

Visit the original post at: Transportation News

Deep in the Forest, an Eco-Fashion Exhibit Visually Links Textiles with the Environment (Photos)

‘Portable Pelt’ 2009 by Tara Baoth Mooney, one of the curators of CCANW’s Fashion Footprints exhibition. Photo: Sean Michael

In an effort to highlight the major social and environmental impacts of the fashion and textile industries, the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW) and graduates from the MA Fashion and the Environment at London College of Fashion present “Fashion Footprints: Sustainable Approaches,” which opened this weekend at CCANW’s Project Space, in the heart of Haldon Forest Park (Exeter, Devon, UK).

The interact… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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