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  • VIEWS & OPINION: more >>

  • LIGHTING: more >>

    • Generators, UPS systems versus individual emergency luminaires

      by Stirling Marais, Cosine Developments

      There are numerous cases where generators and UPS systems are installed instead of individual, self-contained emergency luminaires. The argument may be that these generators and UPSs still supply power to the light fixtures during a power failure. However, according to SANS 0114-2, emergency lighting shall not only operate in case of general power failures but […]

    • Extending the life of LEDs Part 2

      by Jade Bridges, Vepac Electronics

      Part 2 of this article highlights the use of LEDs in various environments and discusses how to specify appropriate protection under such conditions. Correct product selection is imperative to ensure LED performance and lifetime. In Part 1 of this article, we discussed the importance of proper thermal management, including the various ways to ensure maximum […]

    • 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 […]

  • SWITCHGEAR & DRIVES: more >>

    • Transforming condition monitoring of rotating machines

      by Ralf Gitzel, Benedikt Schmidt, Arzam Kotriwala, Ido Amihai, Guruprasad Sosale, James Ottewill; Marco Heese ; Diego Pareschi, ABB

      ABB has equipped less-critical equipment in a pilot plant with a solution based on inexpensive sensors, machine learning and software allowing advanced but affordable monitoring. In a typical industrial plant, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance are usually only applied to the most critical rotating equipment. For cost reasons, less-critical items are often only analysed on […]

    • 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 […]

  • MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY: more >>

    • Hoist speed controller and braking

      by I Butler and a team of Vaal Reefs engineers

      From the ICMEESA Archive The purpose of winder rope speed indicator, winder controller and controller deceleration cam tests is to ensure that the winder is safe under all conditions. The winder technician, under the direction of the electrical engineer, is subjecting the winders on Vaal Reefs to a series of brake tests. The engineers on […]

    • 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 […]

  • INSTALLATION & CONTRACTING: more >>

    • Safety for cable networks, remote signals, sound signals and interactive services

      Information from DEHN

      IEC 60728-11 calls for earthing measures in addition to equipotential bonding and lightning equipotential bonding of cable networks. Nowadays, conventional satellite and terrestrial antennas are almost exclusively installed on the roofs of buildings. The IEC 60728-11 (EN 60728-1) standard therefore calls for earthing measures in addition to equipotential bonding and lightning equipotential bonding of the […]

    • The science of solar geysers for domestic use

      by Erich Seeger, SABS

      The SABS explains the physics and testing procedures for solar water heaters. The concept of solar collection is not new at all; there are records of solar collection darting back to before the 1900s. One of the first solar water heater found was a tank painted black and mounted on a roof. Basically, white light […]

    • 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 put in place by National Treasury […]