Industrial Times

Tariffs on China tubes

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2010-01-02T19:26:00Z

Anti-dumping tariffs on imports of Chinese tubular goods.

Chinese producers/exporters have sold tubular goods in the United States at less than normal value.

Photo from the INNOVO Corporation

This Dumpling of Tubular goods from China were valued at an estimated $2.6 billion in 2008.

This is the second time the Obama Administration has imposed tariffs on China. Back in September
they announced it would apply duties on Chinese-made tires to protect US industry,

From Yahoo finance & Washington Post

Unlimited clean energy

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-11-09T05:53:00Z

Japan has been working on an ambitious project to collect solar power in space and zap it down to Earth, using laser beams or microwaves, by the year 2030.

They have been working on this since 1998.

READ MORE…

Premiums going up for small business?

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-25T15:44:00Z

Small Business Faces Sharp Rise in Costs of Health Care

Small businesses are seeing increases in their premiums by an average of about 15 percent next year.

Medical costs are being blamed for the incredible rise in premiums. Bigger businesses are seeing a small increase because of their clout with large numbers of employees being insured.

Which demonstrates the need for universal coverage where a bigger risk pool should drop premiums or at least slow the growth of insurance premiums for individuals and small & large businesses.

In my opinion this should also be a big boost for the economy.
Read More From the New York Times

Vinyl Rectangle Tubes with four Notch Tabs on each side.

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-22T18:32:00Z

INNOVO Corporation

One of the leaders in the custom built tubular automated machine business.

Rectangular vinyl tube notching machine adds four notched tabs on both ends at a rate of up to 1200 tubes per hour.

This is our latest innovative vinyl tube project. The inserts had to be small and at the same time had to be sturdy to make it economical.

The actual design was work out on Solid Works and mock runs gave us a good idea of it’s strength. Saved us hours of trial and error designing.

Notching machine has easy to maintain removable head inserts for shorter down times.
Adds four notched tabs on both ends at a rate of up to 1200 tubes per hour.

Built solid and compact and will produce long runs for a real competitive edge.

This type of fence is usually found on a farm or ranch. Easy to assemble low cost vinyl fence that will last, with virtually no maintenance, for as long as you want it too.

Watch it run

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL TUBING

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-20T03:03:00Z

Tube and hose pumps-transfer, metering and filling

Watson-Marlow

Peristaltic pumps

The new technology, and the world's fastest-growing pump type.

{Watson-Marlow has over one million hose and tube pumps metering,transferring and dispensing
shear sensitive, abrasive and aggressivefluids in every industry such as

Higher pressure, Chemical resistance Tubing

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-20T02:39:00Z

Freelin-Wade offers a wide variety of plastic tubing options

If your requirements call for higher pressure, chemical resistance or something more unique, our specialty plastic tubing options have you covered. Freelin-Wade manufacturers a variety of tubing options including FEP, Kynar®, Weld Spatter Resistant, Static Dissipative and Multi-Bore. We also manufacture our innovative and industry leading Multi-Color Ribbon (MCR). In addition plastic tubing to our in-stock plastic tubing options, Freelin-Wade engineers are happy to work with you to create exactly the right tubing for your specifications.

One of our most popular specialty tubes is our FEP,Compare to Teflon® (a registered trademark of the DuPont company).Freelin-Wade is your one source for Teflon comparable tubing, braided hose and reinforced hoses. Contact Freelin-Wade today to learn more about the plastic tubing products we manufacture!

http://www.freelin-wade.com/index.php

Manufacturing Increases

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-18T16:39:20Z

From MWI.com

Steel segment gets boost from increased auto production

Pros also think outlook for long-term growth is good, mostly in 2011

CHICAGO | Panelists at a steel conference last week agreed the popular Cash for Clunkers gave a short-term boost to the automobile and steel industries.

But some analysts believe the long-term outlook for the industry -- and the flat-rolled steel products supporting it -- can be considered rosy as well.

AK Steel CEO James Wainscott said the uptick in U.S. manufacturing activity is translating into a modest increase in production for the auto steel business.

Wainscott, who spoke at the Third North American Steel Conference at the Fairmont Hotel, said the increases are linked to small economic improvement and service centers having worked down high inventory levels. He said he anticipated increased demand for auto steels through the end of the year.

Paul Scott, managing consultant of CRU's Steel Business Unit, said the increase in demand for flat-rolled products has come exclusively from the automotive sector, which is not being displayed in a majority of others. The products include hot-rolled sheet -- which can be manufactured into vehicle frame components, brake components and compressor shells -- cold-rolled sheet and zinc-coated sheet.

"Mills have responded by increasing output and relighting blast furnaces but supply has struggled to keep pace with demand," Scott said. "We've seen an extension in lead times and increases in (domestic) prices." As a result, Scott said steel sheet prices in the Midwest will be the highest in the world during the fourth quarter and import arrivals will increase sharply in the first quarter of next year.

Scott said consumption of flat-rolled products will be flat in the first quarter of 2010 and show limited growth in the rest of the year. Dramatic improvement in the sector isn't projected until 2011, he added.

Auto research firm IRN Inc. President Kim Korth said the Cash for Clunkers program, which helped move about 691,000 vehicles from dealer lots, showed there was a significant amount of demand for vehicles. She also said during the two-month period of the program, 70 percent of new vehicles bought weren't Cash for Clunkers transactions.

Signs the domestic automobile market may be returning is because of small growth in consumer confidence data and signs the housing inventory may begin declining and new home sales can go in the opposite direction, said Korth, of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based IRN.

Korth is also bullish about the industry's long-term outlook for the auto industry, which he said is bright if the population continues to grow. She estimated about 11.2 million vehicles will be produced next year in the United States, while many analysts aren't predicting more than 10.5 million vehicles.

Bowdeya Tweh - Times Staff Writer btweh@nwitimes.com, (219) 933-3316 | Posted: Sunday, October 18, 2009 12:00 am | No Comments Posted

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Manufacturing Increases

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-18T16:25:00Z

From MWI.com

Steel segment gets boost from increased auto production

Pros also think outlook for long-term growth is good, mostly in2011

CHICAGO | Panelists at a steel conference last week agreed the popular Cash for Clunkers gave a short-term boost to the automobile and steel industries.

But some analysts believe the long-term outlook for the industry-- and the flat-rolled steel products supporting it -- can be considered rosy as well.

AK Steel CEO James Wainscott said the uptick in U.S.manufacturing activity is translating into a modest increase in production for the auto steel business.

Paul Scott, managing consultant of CRU's Steel Business Unit,said the increase in demand for flat-rolled products has come exclusively from the automotive sector, which is not beingdisplayed in a majority of others. The products include hot-rolled sheet -- which can be manufactured into vehicle frame components,brake components and compressor shells -- cold-rolled sheet and zinc-coated sheet.

"Mills have responded by increasing output and relighting blastfurnaces but supply has struggled to keep pace with demand," Scott said. "We've seen an extension in lead times and increases in(domestic) prices." As a result, Scott said steel sheet prices in the Midwest will be the highest in the world during the fourthquarter and import arrivals will increase sharply in the first quarter of next year.

Scott said consumption of flat-rolled products will be flat in the first quarter of 2010 and show limited growth in the rest ofthe year. Dramatic improvement in the sector isn't projected until2011, he added.

Auto research firm IRN Inc. President Kim Korth said the Cash for Clunkers program, which helped move about 691,000 vehicles from dealer lots, showed there was a significant amount of demand for vehicles. She also said during the two-month period of the program,70 percent of new vehicles bought weren't Cash for Clunkers transactions.

Korth is also bullish about the industry's long-term outlook forthe auto industry, which he said is bright if the population continues to grow. She estimated about 11.2 million vehicles willbe produced next year in the United States, while many analysts aren't predicting more than 10.5 million vehicles.

Bowdeya Tweh - Times Staff Writer btweh@nwitimes.com, (219) 933-3316 | Posted: Sunday, October 18, 2009 12:00 am | No Comments Posted

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e-bikes

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-16T04:35:00Z

Will e-bikes be the new 'commuter cool'?

Story Highlights
Electric bikes can run either on pedal-power or their tiny motors
"It's like being in a flying dream ... it will blow your mind," says rider
E-bike commuters like saving gas and arriving at work without breaking a sweat
China has more than 100 million electric bikes -- four times the number of cars

updated 8:55 a.m. EDT, Thu October 15, 2009

Next Article in Technology »

By Steve Almasy
CNN

(CNN)-- Keith Felch is admittedly a big guy, but more than a few super-fit cyclists in Southern California have been left wondering how that dude just went flying by.

Keith Felch calls his electric bike a "hill eraser" because he can ride it to work without breaking a sweat.

And then his wife, Mary, comes motoring past.

"They stare, like how can a girl go past me," she says, laughing. It takes the other riders a few seconds but then they figure it out.

They have electric motors.

The Felches, who live in Aliso Viejo, California, used to drive everywhere, except when they used their bikes for recreation.

That changed when they got their new e-bikes, made by a company called Optibike. Now, they ride to go shopping and to go to breakfast -- but mostly they ride to work.

Keith Felch says the couple has cut 50 percent of their car-use since they started electric biking.

And there are other benefits. Keith Felch dropped 30 pounds and his blood pressure fell 10 points in the first six months he owned thebike, he says.

The Felches don't exactly classify themselves as "environmentalists," although Mary said it is important to have a positive effect on the planet.

"I learned that the worst amount of smog that you put out [in an automobile] is in the first mile, so ifwe can make even some of those shorter trips on our bicycles, it makes a big difference," she says.

Who wants one?

Brent Meyers, director of sales for Ultra Motor US, says electric bikes attract different types of buyers.

Many are looking to make a green imprint.

Split Flow Technology

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-16T03:25:00Z

New advances in die design improve extrusions, save time and compound.

This results in a stable and accurate finished product that will remain concentric regardless of extruder speed.

For years the rubber industry has extruded tubing using two standard die designs - inline and crosshead cross·head
n.
Inline designs have typically been used to form simple rubber tubing or profiles and crosshead designs have typically been used for applying a rubber jacket over a substrate - a wire or another tube.

Inline designs have used a spider die design, which has an inherent flaw: It generates weld or knit lines. These are lines of longitudinal weakness caused by the separation and rejoining of the compound at the die's legs, or supports. These are unavoidable because the spider is around flow passage - a tube - with three or four legs that hold a tip(also known as a mandrel )in place in the center. It is around this tip (or mandrel) that a molten compound flows to form the i.d. of a tube. A spider die design simply must have legs, and there is no way the compound's flow cannot be interrupted.

Like the inline design, the crosshead design has an inherent flaw. Typically, the compound flows into a helicoid a cylinder that deflects and distributes the flow of compound around a core tube, which slides into the helicoid and holds the mandrel. The helicoid, like the spider, must create a longitudinal weakness.

In the case of the crosshead, however, the substrate - the wire or already existing tubing - travels through the helicoid, which is typically tubulartthe compound enters the crosshead at 90 [degrees] to the production line and is channeled around the substrate by the helicoid. The problem is that the compound is deposited on the extruder side of the helicoid and must flow around it before adhering to the substrate. By the time the compound travels 180 [degrees] to the far side of the substrate, it is either thinner or thicker than it was on the extruder side. This unbalanced flow results in an uneven jacket and the use of excessive compound or extensive operator adjustment to achieve your minimum acceptable walls.

READ MORE...

Tube Notching Specialties

Removing Chlorine and Bromine Based Substances from Electronic Products

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-12T18:07:00Z

New Report out on the Greening of Electronic Products

Apple and Sony Ericsson are two of the Major Suppliers who are Leading the Industry in Removing Chlorine and Bromine Based Substances from Electronic Products

(New York / Gothenburg -- October 6, 2009)

Two leading nonprofit environmental organizations, Chem Sec and Clean Production Action, today announced a new precedent setting research report on companies that are leading the electronics industry by moving away from chemicals that can lead to health and environmental problems. The report: "Greening Consumer Electronics: Moving Away from Bromine and Chlorine" features seven companies who have engineered environmental solutions that negate the need for most -- or in some cases all -- uses of brominated and chlorinated chemicals.

"These seven companies demonstrate that there are less toxic and still cost effective alternatives to substances of high concern that do not compromise performance or reliability," said CPA Project Director Alexandra McPherson. "They are well positioned to gain competitive advantage in a marketplace and regulatory environment increasingly sensitive to the use of toxic chemicals in consumer products."

High volume uses of bromine and chlorine in flame retardant and plastic resin applications demonstrated their link to the formation of highly toxic dioxin compounds. Dioxin, a potent human carcinogen that is toxic in very low amounts, along with other problematic compounds, are unintentionally released into the environment during the burning and smelting of electronic waste.

READ MORE...

CARBON RECYCLING

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-12T17:35:00Z

CARBON RECYCLING:

An alternative to capture and storage

by Rowan Oloman

Company Profile:
Mantra Energy

The electro-reduction of CO2 (ERC) bench-scale prototype. ERC technology converts CO2 into materials for a broad use in commercial applications,including fuel for the next generation of fuel cells.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is being hailed by many as the answer to what is arguably the globe’s most pressing question: what to do with the 27 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted yearly from the burning of fossil fuels? Although touted as the most promising interim solution to deal with the greenhouse gas responsible for global warming, CCS remains unproven and costly, and will not be commercially available for another 10 to 20 years. Meanwhile, scientists are exploring alternatives to CCS by capitalizing on CO2 as a commodity instead of treating it as a waste.

Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are projected to reach 43 billion metric tons per year by 2030, an increase of 60 percent. A new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that growing energy demands from emerging giants like China and India, coupled with a lack of cost-effective alternatives to fossil fuels, means that 77percent of the world’s power will still be derived from fossil fuels by2050. “We will require immediate policy action and a technological transition on an unprecedented scale,” IEA executive director, Nobuo Tanaka, said in Tokyo, after releasing the report. Carbon capture and storage – the process of capturing carbon dioxide and storing it in deep geological formations, in the ocean, or as mineral carbonates – is being promoted by the IEA and others as the most promising technology to deal with fossil-fuel derived emissions. Not negating the role of alternative energies, the IEA is merely being “realistic” about the enduring use of fossil fuels and the urgent need to deal with the resulting CO2.

Conversion versus capture

On May 15th of this year, U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, announced at the National Coal Council that $2.4 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to expand and accelerate the commercial deployment of CCS technology. Part of the funds are to be used to train a generation of engineers and geologists to work in the field. Chu said, “To prevent the worst effects of climate change, we must accelerate our efforts to capture and store carbon in a safe and cost-effective way.” Governments in Canada,Europe, Australia and China are also strongly investing in the technology.

Nevertheless, several massive hurdles still stand in the way of full-scale CCS deployment. The UK-based Global Management Consulting Firm, McKinsey & Company, figures that adding CCS to the next generation of European power plants could lift their price as much as $1.3 U.S. billion each. Their thorough analysis (www.mckinsey.com) shows that the typical cost of a demonstration project is likely to be in the range of $80 to $120 U.S. per tonne of CO2 sequestered.

Legally, there are concerns over whether CO2 transport and long-term storage present human- or ecosystem-related risks, and who would ultimately be responsible if a leak occurs. While progress is under way in some countries, no country thus far has developed the comprehensive,detailed legal and regulatory framework that is necessary to effectively govern the use of CCS.

In fact, no full-scale CCS project that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power plant as yet exists. The IEA is hopeful that 10 full-scale demonstration plants will be up and running globally by 2015, meaning it may be 10 to 20 years before CCS technology is readily available.

Continue Reading...

Units for pilot plant & small scale production applications

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-11T16:31:00Z

Haskel International, Inc. - Product Announcements

	Company Profile

	Catalogs

	Product Announcements

	Technical Articles

	Distributors

	News

Custom Reactors and Pressure Vessels

Withboth standard and custom designed reactors and vessels we can offer5,10 & 20 gallon units for pilot plant & small scale productionapplications. Custom designed stirred reactors and non-stirred pressurevessels available in sizes from 10 mL to 4000 L and pressure ratings to150,000 psi (10,000 bar). PPI products available through HaskelInternational (read more)

Hydrogen Compressors Fuel Cell Refueling Stations

Diaphragmcompressors are the preferred compression equipment for applicationswhere the environment and safety are of primary concern. Their basicdesign provides leak tight and non-contaminating gas compression. PPIdiaphragm compressors, now available through Haskel International have been in operation in automobile hydrogen fuel cell refueling stations since 2001. (read more)

Diaphragm Compressors for cylinder filling

Diaphragm Compressors for cylinder filling or transfer of high purity ordangerous gases under pressure -- without contamination or leakage.This line of compressors, available through Haskel International, includessingle and multi-stage diaphragm compressor models with displacementsto 400 cfm (680 m3/hr) and pressures to 30,000 psi (2000 bar). (read more)

How to expand heat exchanger tubes efficiently

Expand heat exchanger tubes into tube sheets through the direct application ofhigh internal hydraulic pressure. Direct Hydraulic expansion with purewater produces clean joints. Minimize stress, crevice corrosion, andmetallurgical changes, avoid forcing lubricant into the tube surface& prevent surface flaking or spalling inside the tube. (read more)

HydroSwage®Hydraulic Tube Expansion Video

HaskelInternational offers a wide range of equipment designed for hydraulicexpansion of heat exchanger tubes into tube sheets through the directapplication of high internal hydraulic pressure. See a video demonstrating the application of this powerful system (read more)

Mini Gas Charging System

Thisaffordable and effective gas transfer and charging unit is ideal forindustrial gas charging & aircraft ground support. Applicationsinclude N2 shock absorber & accumulator charging, gas transfer,gauge calibration, pressure testing and purging. (read more)

New -50 Ratio Gas Booster

Frompaintball to injection molding, aircraft ground support to fire safetyHaskel's new air driven gas boosters meet the need of applicationsdemanding higher flow rates and faster fill times for a wide range ofindustrial and military applications. The boosters provide outletpressures up to 15,000 psi (1,034 bar) with built-in cooling. (read more)

Tube Fabrication

Double Insulation Tubing

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-11T16:02:00Z

Polygon Company -

POLYGON TUBE™ Double Insulation Tubing

For More Information

World's foremost supplier of double insulation tubing

PolygonCompany is the recognized world leader in the design and production of double insulation tubing for the power tool and appliance industry.With a production capacity beyond 50 million tubes annually, we competitively supply the world with "just in time" and "defect free"product.

Since its establishment in 1949, Polygon Company has stood as one of the world's premiere leaders in the development of advanced composite materials for many electrical in sulative applications. Polygon's production capabilities are among the widest in the world and range from the pultrusion process to filament winding,braiding and circ-winding. In addition, Polygon is known as the world's leading fabricator of composite materials. From advanced CNC lathes, to multiple automated milling machines and tight tolerance centerless grinding, Polygon can meet a wide variety of component fabrication requirements. But Polygon's service doesn't stop at fabrication — we also provide painting, sub-assembly and contact manufacturing services.

In addition to armature shaft insulators, Polygon Company also produces numerous products for the high voltage electrical distribution and controls market. Since the early 1950's, Polygon Company has be en producing fuse tubes, insulator stand-offs, lightening arrestor and torque tubes, cross bars and trip pins. Our processing capabilities include filament winding, braiding and pultrusion; this also includes all secondary machining and fabrication. In the ED&C industry we are the "one stop shop" for all electrical needs. Polygon is vertically integrated within the electrical industry and is creating a variety of engineered options.

Product Description

The Polygon Tube™ is the insulation sleeve that provides armatures of electric motors a secondary layer of insulation. This secondary insulation is needed to provide increased protection for operators of electrical appliances from shock. The use of the additional layer of insulation allows the appliance to be rated "Double Insulated" and the need for grounding of the appliance is eliminated. Even though an appliance is grounded by means of a three-wire power cord, it is still a good practice to provide a secondary layer of insulation. The information provided is to assist in the design and assembly of the Polygon Tube™into armatures of electric motors.

OLYGON%20TUBE%E2%84%A2%20Double%20Insulation%20Tubing&gotoType=ExhibitsTocWebPage" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Full listing for Polygon Tube™ at PolygonComposites.com

tube fabrication

The patching machines

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-09T02:49:00Z

Patch King Asphalt Patcher

The Patch-King product line has almost 30 years service doing road maintenance and has an impressive record. Reducing crew size, saving on wasted material and providing better road repair all equate to prudent use of resources. The machines can be used for patching with hot mix asphalt, keeping mix hot all day and then storing left over material hot overnight for use the next day. If you use cold mix products for patching, just load the box the night before, set the thermostat and have warm workable cold mix to use the next day.

The Patch-King is available in several models. The PK-30H, PK-40Hand PK-80H models are for use in a dump truck and include hydraulic opening rear gates to dispense the asphalt to the pothole or to as hovel apron. The Rotary Discharge version of the Patch-King is available in two models, PK-35HSD or PK-40HSD. The Rotary Discharge will dispense the precise amount of patching material needed directly to the work zone via a discharge chute, eliminating the need for a dump hoist. These models are available as slip in units, or they can be permanently mounted to a truck for year round patching. The mode PK-30T, trailer mounted machine completes the product line. This unit has manually operated top loading doors and rear discharge gate. Itwill carry 4.5 tons of hot or cold mix material and keeps truck free for other uses like sanding.

Expressway in the desert

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-09T02:27:00Z

Algeria's roadlayer 'roll-out'

by Greg Whitaker on Aug 10, 2009

Be the first to comment

Machines have been working noon and night on the US $7bn project.

Onwinning contracts for the central and western sections of Algeria’s1216 km East-West Expressway, the CITIC Group and China RailwayCorporation (CRCC) consortium (CITIC-CRCC) turned to a roller firm toprovide a fleet of 53 tandem rollers and track pavers.

CITIC-CRCC were awarded the contract for the central and westernsections of highway (169 km and 359 km respectively) at a cost ofUS$451 million. To meet its tight schedule, punishing workingconditions and remote locations, the contracting consortium ‘rolledout’ the new road rollers.

The fleet comprises entirely of Dynapac models 20 x F141C pavers, 1x F182CS paver, 18 x CC624HF’s and 14 x CC622HF tandem rollers. Thefleet is being used to pave and compact the base course, binder courseand wearing course; almost the complete process of work. READ MORE...

The Future of Evacuated Tube Technology

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-04T16:48:00Z

The media, policymakers and even those in the industry have let evacuated tubes languish as a mere cousin to solar electric.

The Future of Evacuated Tube Technology

By Michael Humphreys, CEO Apricus

In the North American marketplace, solar thermal – and particularly evacuated tube technology – is currently facing an uphill battle for adoption and recognition. Consumers in the market have embraced photovoltaic technologies, what many would refer to as the ‘sexier’ of the common solar technologies, but have largely overlooked the many factors that make evacuated tube systems a prime choice for the moderate climates of North America and the many innovative emerging applications of solar thermal energy.

When looking to the future of solar thermal applications - hydronic space heating, hot tubs, saunas, and of course domestic hot water are only the applications that have seen widespread adoption so far. Wit h solar thermal dehumidification and absorption cooling on the horizon among a number of other potential functions, the increased operating temperatures created by evacuated tubes will be the technology of choice for these new applications. Evacuated tube collectors are uniquely designed to satisfy the additional demand for heat these loads require.

With all this in mind, it is even more perplexing that consumers and businesses have generally shied away from investing in evacuated tube technology. Evacuated tubes take up only about one tenth of the space of a comparable PV system and run about a quarter of the price in the majority of cases. Finally, an evacuated tube system can reach efficiency levels of up to 75% because their tube design creates superior passive tracking whereas PV systems, even at peak performance, often fall short of 20%.

So what has been holding evacuated tubes back? How can a cost- and environmentally-conscious consumer ignore the quicker rate of return and increased efficiency in absorption and usage of solar energy still opt for a photovoltaic system?

The answers are prominence and production.

Prominence we have addressed in part above. Popular media has been quick to embrace photovoltaic technology and its vast potential, and there is little argument against the fact that PV technology will be an integral part of the future of the world’s renewable energy mix.

But the media, policymakers and even those in the industry have let evacuated tubes languish as a mere cousin to solar electric. It is an effective technology without a champion and even internationally we see the same thing; best demonstrated by the omission of solar thermal from the International Energy Agency (IEA) report to the G8 group of countries published about renewable energy in June 2008.

This is in part because electricity is easy for people to understand and easy to measure. What is strange though is that electricity consumption, depending on who you ask, only accounts for 20%-30% of our energy requirements, and heating and cooling make up almost double that. It is clear that more emphasis needs to be placed on the thermal requirements of the market.

But perhaps the simpler explanation is that consumers have a child-like fascination with novelty. Consumers queue up for hours to have a new iPhone, but would never do the same thing for a proven and reliable standard issue device. Solar thermal is tried and tested – a hurdle in a market of consumers entranced by the newest shiny things

There are attainable solutions to these dilemmas though, and the burden fortunately or unfortunately falls on those who manufacture and install these systems. As the marketplace evolves as solar technology as a whole sees a spike in adoption, evacuated tube professionals have to shift the messages that are being delivered to the public.

The days of marketing on marvel – wowing the consumer with the novelty of it all – are behind us. The next frontier in promoting evacuated systems will turn away from system photographs and statistics about the total square footage installed nationwide to the innovative applications and the benefits it provides the consumer – guilt-free showers and baths, radiant floor and wall heating, and the immense savings and quick payback period.

But as new applications emerge and the prominence of thermal rises, the last hurdle for evacuated tubes becomes apparent, and that is monitoring production.

Solar thermal, unlike PV, is not easy to quantify, and this has traditionally made it harder to meter. Where photovoltaic production is measured simply in kilowatt hours, heat is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), and sometimes less desirably in the even more uncertain meters squared of installation.

The result of this is that these systems are often regarded – at least at the policy and regulation level – as energy saving or energy efficiency systems rather than actual power production. This lack of metering has been a major hurdle to the inclusion of solar thermal as a source of RECS and has limited its inclusion in other legislation. And most concerning of all is that when thermal is lumped in with efficiency measures, its price comparison is off the charts and seems unapproachably expensive when compared to double pane windows and spray-on insulation.

The first utility to adopt metering for solar heating in the US marketplace was Lakeland Electric in Florida. They have established a unique program where Lakeland purchased and installed the thermal systems so that the power provider could generate and collect the RECs produced to sell on the open market while the consumer benefited from reduced heating bills and the ability to purchase the system over time. The operation was small at first, but has continued to grow over time.

Vacuum Heat-Treatment

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-04T16:37:00Z

All About Vacuum
by Daniel H. Herring
September 2, 2009

ARTICLE TOOLS

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Figure 1. Typical vacuum furnace system (Photograph courtesy of VAC AERO International Inc.)

This is the first of a series of articles in our Vacuum Heat-Treatment Series. It is designed to explore the nature of vacuum, how it is used throughout the thermal-processing industry and the processes and applications that benefit most from its use. Design features, operational issues and maintenance practices will be covered, all of which are necessary to produce quality component parts in captive and commercial heat-treat shops servicing the aerospace, automotive and industrial markets.

Enlarge this picture

A vacuum system (Fig. 1) provides a space in which the pressure can be maintained below atmospheric pressure at all times. The primary advantage of vacuum heat treatment is its versatility. In almost all cases it provides a “safe” environment with respect to the surface of the components being treated, is self-contained and uses cycles/recipes that can be reproduced consistently. When not in use, like an electric light, it is simply turned off. When turned back on, minimal conditioning time is required.

A principal difference between vacuum heat treating and all other forms of heat treatment is the absence of or the precise control of surface reactions. In addition, vacuum processing can remove contaminants and, under certain circumstances, degas or convert oxides found on the surface of a material.

The word vacuum comes from the Latin “vacuus” meaning empty or “vacare” meaning to be empty. When we think of an empty space, what comes to mind is something entirely devoid of matter. Such a space does not exist, nor can it be produced. In practical terms, a vacuum must be considered a space with a highly reduced gas density. In heat treating, gas molecules and contaminants are removed from a vacuum vessel using a pump. Air (Table 1) is the most important of all gases to be eliminated since it is present in every system.

Common Vacuum Units

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In vacuum applications, pressure is commonly measured in torr (U.S.) or millibar (Europe and Asia). A torr is 1/760th of atmospheric pressure. In other words, atmospheric pressure – the pressure all around us – at standard temperature (0ºC) and pressure (sea level) is 760 torr or 1013 mbar.

One of the mystifying things about vacuum and vacuum furnaces, especially in the U.S. heat-treating industry, is the confusing way in which vacuum units are used. Devices installed on furnaces often measure in different units, which force us to speak in terms of microns, torr, millitorr, millimeters of mercury, millibar, bar, Pascal, inches of water column and inches of mercury! This is extremely confusing, especially to those who are not familiar with vacuum terminology. If at all possible, try to stay with one unit of measure, converting everything to that common base. Conversions between common vacuum units (Table 2) are available from a number of sources.

low cost of hydrocarbon transport

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-04T16:12:00Z

ELASTOPIPE™ FOR lowers cost of hydrocarbon transport

Trelleborg Offshore has launched ELASTOPIPE™ FOR (Fire & Oil Resistant), an upgraded version of its successful synthetic rubber-based flexible piping system. ELASTOPIPE™ FOR is specially engineered for transport of organic media, extending the use of the already-established, unique ELASTOPIPE™ technology into hydrocarbon processing and other utility services.

ELASTOPIPE™ FOR incorporates a specially-developed polymer-based lining material developed to achieve exceptional resistance against degradation by hydrocarbons, and achieving a 30-year lifetime performance. The product has been more than ten years in development.

Proven advantages over metal pipe systems

ELASTOPIPE™‘s proven advantages over conventional rigid pipes have already made it an established solution for seawater-based deluge and sprinkler systems due to its corrosion-free and fire resistant performance with minimal maintenance and lower installation costs. ELASTOPIPE™ achieves 24/7 availability with considerably less need for testing, and reduced maintenance costs.

ELASTOPIPE™FOR offers significant weight advantages over steel. Its ease and speed of installation make it suitable for fixed and floating platforms, for transfer to and from support vessels and onshore oil & gas installations. ELASTOPIPE™ FOR is suitable for H2S ventilation lines, produced water, open and closed drains, waste dump lines, and many other applications.

Qualified through extensive testing

“ELASTOPIPE™ FOR avoids the replacement problems of corroding steel pipework, achieving a higher grade of safety, and much lower total installation and maintenance costs. It makes economic sense in both new or replacement installations,” comments Jan-Hugo Nilssen, Sales & Marketing Manager for Trelleborg Offshore Norway AS.

ELASTOPIPE™ FOR has been fully qualified by Trelleborg R&D over more than two years with accelerated testing between -30˚C and +100˚C/ -22°F and +212°F. Testing was conducted in cooperation with Statoil-Hydro and Shell on a range of organic chemicals.

Reduces cost of installation

ELASTOPIPE™ FOR is explosion, impact and jetfire resistant, has reduced weight compared to steel systems, and is maintenance free. Like all ELASTOPIPE systems, ELASTOPIPE™ FOR is quick and easy to install, even in confined spaces and requires no hot work so reducing the hazards associated with welding and metal cutting. Parts of the system can be pre-fabricated onshore, to save costly installation time offshore. Operating temperatures range from -30˚C to +70˚C/22°F to +212°F.

For more information, please go to the ELASTOPIPE™ microsite:
www.clearlyflowassured.com

or,
www.trelleborg.com/offshore

Press Service:

This press release is available for download in English. If you reproduce information from this release please give contact details as:
www.trelleborg.com
E-mail: news@trelleborg.com

English [doc]

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This article relates to the following industries:

Energy and power
Oil and gas

Last updated 2009-09-11 | Print this page | E-mail this page

Testing and Quality

rgking66@tubenotching.com (TubeNotching.com) — 2009-10-02T19:37:15Z