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  • VIEWS & OPINION: more >>

  • LIGHTING: more >>

    • Tunnel-lighting checklist: a to-do list for professionals in the field

      by Michel Forst, Philips

      A checklist for lighting professionals to follow as they plan tunnel projects. Tunnel-building has become more popular in recent years as planners have grown more convinced of tunnels’ benefits. Not only does it shorten distances and make it possible to cross mountain ranges and bodies of water, but it also frees up ground area, a […]

    • Extending the efficiency and lifetime of LEDs Part 1

      Information from Vepac Electronics

      Thermal management compounds can improve bulk thermal conductivity by minimising thermal resistance. According to Forbes, the market for LEDs replacements for halogen, incandescent and fluorescent lighting systems for interior and exterior applications alone is expected to grow into a $70-billion industry by 2020. This growth is attributed to the advantages LEDs offer over traditional lighting […]

    • How electrochemical compounds protect LEDs from environmental conditions

      by Jade Bridges, Electrolube

      How protective compounds and thermal management are enhancing the performance and prolonging the life of LEDs. It is hard to ignore the phenomenal growth of the LED market, spurred on by new applications, advertisements for energy savings and company policies to switch to more efficient lighting systems. In conjunction with the design freedom and application […]

  • SWITCHGEAR & DRIVES: more >>

    • Choosing between VFDs and soft starters

      by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers

      The choice between a multifunction and single-function system can be made by analysing the needs of the motor. VFDs have advanced to the stage where virtually any required function can be programmed on devices. There is, however, a sector in the drives market that does not require this degree of flexibility but needs only a […]

    • Self-contained thermosyphon heat exchanger for power converters and enclosures

      by Bruno Agostini, Daniele Torresin, Timo Koivuluoma and Yong X. Wang, ABB

      Power electronics can generate much heat so ABB developed a two-phase compact thermosyphon heat exchanger. A heat exchanger for enclosure cooling was also developed with the same technology. The heat loss density in modern power electronics can exceed 100 W/cm2 at chip level and 30 W/cm2 at the heatsink base level. Water is a very […]

    • Cryogenic carbon capture for clean coal power generation

      by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers

      Several methods have been developed to capture carbon dioxide but all are complex and have high parasitic energy loads. Cryogenic carbon capture offers a simple method at a lower cost. Removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the flue gas at coal-fired power stations is essential for future operation of coal-fired power stations. Current methods in […]

  • MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY: more >>

    • The future of the glass industry

      by Sir Alastair Pilkington, 1974

      From the ICMEESA Archive The chairperson of Britain’s largest glassmaker (at the time of writing) describes advances in glass and the management philosophies which the glass industry must adopt. After five thousand years, glass has quite suddenly become one of the most versatile of all modern materials. It can be porous, flexible or even crystalline. […]

    • How to determine the true cause of premature bearing failure

      Information from SKF

      Premature bearing failure is often blamed on “white etching cracks”, but looking deeper for the true underlying cause will lead to a more effective solution. Modern manufacturing practices and techniques such as predictive maintenance have helped to make premature bearing failure a rare occurrence. However, it can still happen and, when it does, can have […]

    • Extending pump life expectancy

      by Chris Muscavage, Sulzer

      The importance of pump performance testing and how it can improve plant reliability. Feedwater pumps are at the heart of any steam generation process and, as such, they are considered critical assets. When viewed from the cardiologic perspective, feedwater pump criticality becomes patently obvious; without a healthy heart, the process will degrade and eventually cease […]

  • INSTALLATION & CONTRACTING: more >>

    • Little-known tax incentives boost business case for renewable energy

      by Chris Yelland, investigative editor at EE Publishers, and Mariam Isa, freelance journalist

      South Africa’s government, energy regulator and Eskom have often been criticised for obstructing the introduction of distributed, small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) which would help businesses to cut costs and ensure the stability of their power supply during load shedding. But in fact there are significant and far-sighted tax breaks which have been put in place […]

    • Case study: paper mill saves with IR window programme

      Information from R&C Instrumentation

      How the use of IR windows saved a paper mill almost $18 000 and paid dividends as early as mid-way into the second inspection cycle. Management at a South Carolina paper mill in the USA wanted to expend their successful infrared inspection programme. However, regulatory requirements were causing them to re-think their strategy as inspection […]

    • Wind power: the need for proper earthing and lightning protection

      Information from DEHN Africa

      The need for earthing and lightning protection at solar PV installations is known, but what about wind, and where is South Africa with this renewable option? In South Africa, most people tend to think of solar energy when they think of renewable energy sources, and certainly photovoltaic (PV) power is on the rise – the […]