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  • VIEWS & OPINION: more >>

  • LIGHTING: more >>

    • Selecting the correct LED driver

      Information from Tridonic

      Practical guidelines for resellers on how to select the correct drivers where LEDs are supplied without them. LEDs require LED drivers for proper operation. Most end-users are not aware of this as the LED driver is incorporated in the LED lamp or the luminaire. Selecting the correct driver for an LED solution is a common […]

    • How to use imaging colorimeters to improve OLED display quality

      Information from Radiant Vision Systems

      Organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology is promising for flat-panel displays, but image quality issues must be resolved for it to be commercially viable. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are emerging as the next wave of technology in the flat-panel display market. This is exciting because OLED displays promise improved display appearance at lower cost and […]

    • The relevance of temporal lighting artefacts

      Information from Tridonic

      Temporal lighting artefacts (TLAs) are undesired effects in the visual perception caused by factors including flicker and the stroboscopic effect. LightingEurope, the umbrella organisation of the European lighting industry, defines temporal lighting artefacts as follows in its position paper on flicker and stroboscopic effect: “TLAs are described as undesired effects in the visual perception of […]

  • SWITCHGEAR & DRIVES: more >>

    • UPS design: transformer-free vs transformer-based

      Information from ABB

      Why transformer-free uninterrupted power supplies (UPSs) meet the vast majority of power supply design requirements. The first double-conversion UPSs where born in the 1970s. The semiconductors available at the time were bigger and less compatible with voltage levels than they are today. As a consequence, UPS systems needed transformers to step up the voltage of […]

    • A guide to miniature circuit breakers

      Information from SAFEhouse

      The miniature circuit breaker (MCB) has replaced the fuse in incoming distribution boards since the 1960s, so increasing incoming protection by making it impossible to bypass blown fuses with nails or wire – a frequent and dangerous practice. Functioning of the MCB An MCB is a mechanical switching device able to make, carry and break […]

    • How arc fault detection devices minimise electrical fire threats

      by Jean-Francois Rey, Pierre Dominique Socquet-Clerc, Simon Tian and Zakaria Belhaja, Schneider Electric

      This article discusses a break-through in the field of electrical protection and identifies critical application areas where arc fault detection devices enhance safety. Although the terms, “arc fault” and “arc flash” look and sound similar, they are very different and are often confused. Electric arc faults occur when an electric arc current is generated in […]

  • MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY: more >>

    • Mitigating the harmful effects of noise: Machine and factory design

      by Prof EJ Richards, 1965

      From the ICMEESA Archive This article is based on a lecture on noise pollution and its harmful effects, delivered on 15 December 1965 at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London. A high standard of living in any society implies high productivity, which is accompanied by the use of machines of increasing power and speed, resulting […]

    • Rapid gearbox repair resolves design faults for steel mill procedure

      Information from Sulzer

      The purchase of what could be imitation products can make simple repair work complex and lead to maintenance costs that outweigh the initial low-cost benefit. Keeping lost production time to a minimum requires a combination of in-house engineering skills and a partnership with a well-resourced repair provider. This became evident for one steel mill when […]

    • Centralised control of conveyor systems

      by ML Brown, 1967

      From the ICMEESA Archive The use of transducers for control and alarm purposes and the economical transmission of information to control conveyor systems. Before the advent of the transistor, electronic devices using the thermionic valve were not really suitable for use in industries where tough physical conditions are encountered. The valves and many other components […]

  • INSTALLATION & CONTRACTING: more >>

    • Battery energy storage technologies for off-grid and transport applications

      by Dr Mesfin Kebede, CSIR

      Energy storage systems play a crucial role in off-grid applications globally. Although various energy storage systems exist, this article considers different battery technologies for their suitability for off-grid and electric vehicle applications. Off-grid electricity can be defined as a stand-alone power system or mini-grid to typically provide a small community with electricity without the support […]

    • Fire safety cables, Part 2

      by J Wiatr, Z Hanzelka, S Fassbinder and D Chapman, European Copper Institute

      This, part 2 of a two-part article on the selection and sizing of conductors for equipment that must remain functional under fire conditions, explores the protection of fire safety circuits; voltage stability; motor starting currents and the installation of fire safety cables. The protection of fire safety circuits is similar to that for other circuits […]

    • Halting harmful harmonics

      by John Mitchell, CP Automation

      This article discusses active and passive filtering techniques for harmonic mitigation. The rise of non-linear loads in industrial environments over the last two decades has resulted in the growing problem of harmonic currents and voltage distortion. Facing a lack of awareness, the industry has struggled to implement effective mitigation techniques. Voltage distortion caused by current […]