A Hi Rocky Relationship Is it Not? Water & Electricity!

A Hi Rocky Relationship Is it Not? Water & Electricity! 

Mixing water and electricity doesn’t usually end well, but marine engineering group Knud E Hansen A/S sees this rocky relationship as a challenge.

According to the Handy Shipping Guide, the company has designed a new ferry capable of making an entire voyage on electric power. 

Many shipbuilders are following suit, looking for ways to create more eco-friendly, sustainable seafaring options, but all-electric propulsion systems come with their own unique issues especially in terms of maintenance; how do engineers and operators make sure their boats stay afloat?

Slow & Steady:

The new ferry comes in at 35 meters in length with a beam of 11 meters, capable of carrying 170 passengers and 12 cars from Nolsoy island to Torshavn and back again on single battery charge. 

It can also withstand waves of up to three meters high and was designed with energy conservation in mind, featuring both batteries and a heat recovery system. 

It won’t win any speed records, since it’s nowhere near the 100 km/hr or better ships designed to run on liquid natural gas (LNG), but the ability to run entirely on battery power and survive a potentially rough sea crossing is no mean feat. 

Simply put, the Knud E Hansen A/S ferry speaks to function more than form—and eschews traditional fuel-based thrust for clean and reliable electricity. 

Emerging Issues:

According to a Hitachi white paper, on board electrical propulsion systems come with a number of advantages including reduced noise and the integration of both power and thrust systems, but they aren’t without issues: Electric systems come with a higher initial cost, increased energy conversion loss and large overall “footprint” owing to more total component parts. 

Water infiltration can cause serious issues, anything from short circuits to total system failure.For example, Cruise Critic reports that last year a Carnival Cruise ship was forced to cut out a port of call after an electrical transformer malfunction, which limited the ship’s overall speed. In the case of a complete electrical drive system, such a short could be disastrous.

The New Maintenance:

What does this mean for shipping companies and marine organizations? That in an era of clean power, new maintenance tools are needed. 

Marine Insight argues that on board engineers must now be able to tackle challenges such as electrical motor overhauling and shore power supply connection, in addition to having complete knowledge of an engine’s automation system. 

Scale deposits also pose an issue, potentially inhibiting electrical connections and leaving a ship dead in the water; regular and precise descaling is required to keep engines in top shape.

The rise of Eco-friendly ship propulsion systems means less waste and better ROI for companies, but also comes with unique maintenance challenges—even the best electric system generates no profit in dry dock. 

Dealing with Scale Deposits in Maritime Environments:

Within ocean water, dissolved solids lead to lime scale deposits in offshore equipment systems.

Build-up of lime scale (calcium carbonate) deposits present problems, particularly in water cooled engine jackets as well as heat ex changers for production of hot water service for crew and passengers. In ship waste water piping, scale deposits will block off lines and scale up tanks as well causing adverse effects on pump seals and valves.

Boilers, steam turbines and ballast systems are also vulnerable to scale build-up of and subsequent problems of overheat, shut down or blockages.

Lime Scale deposits in these equipment systems can be effectively remedied by the use of inhibited acid descaling. 

Descalers quickly dissolve calcium, lime, rust, lithium carbonate and other types of deposits from passages in water cooled or heated equipment as described.

Hi Future Power Technology Magazine: Clean Energy Edition!.

Hi Future Power Technology Magazine: Clean Energy Edition!. 

April 2012!.

 Click Here Or Any Image To Download The Full Magazine Edition Or View & Save Below;

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Hi A Dark Side of Solar Power!!!

Hi A Dark Side of Solar Power!!!

The harshest criticism for fossil fuels has always been the horrible effect they have on the environment. Not only does retrieving the resource (coal, petroleum, natural gas) do irreparable damage to landscapes and ecosystems, but transporting it can be quite dangerous. And once the fuel has been spent, harmful byproducts clog the atmosphere and have far-reaching effects that scientists have only recently begun to quantify.

You know this, and I know this. And I know that you know that we all know this. This isn't going to be a recital of facts we know, ya know? But what about the negative environmental impacts our cultural shift to renewable energies, namely solar power, produce? There is a side to solar (PV) power that's rarely considered and not well understood.

Energy Payback Time (EPBT):

EPBT is the amount of time it takes a solar panel to collect the same value of energy that was expended in the panel's creation. It used to be that panels virtually never recaptured the amount of energy which was needed to create them, but that belief faded in the 1990s as the technology improved.

A significant amount of energy is spent producing, processing, and purifying materials for PV panels, as well as for the manufacture, transportation, and installation of the panel. The mathematical formula (.pdf) for determining the EPBT looks like this:

Rather than break down figures for areas with my limited text space, I'll just spoil the conclusion: the effectiveness of solar panels is severely affected by material efficiency and the location of the panel. In most of the United States, it takes almost two years before the panels begin to reduce emissions. At what latitude do solar panels stop making sense?

Environmental Waste:

Not surprisingly, China has been the leading manufacturer of PV panels worldwide by nearly fourfold. Despite this robust production rate, they're only second in PV power production (18,400 mW compared to Germany's 36k mW). What gives?

Frankly, China doesn't care about its environment and has little oversight on how companies dispose of industrial waste. And in consideration of the profit the industry is making, what regulations do exist are overlooked. U.S.-based PV panel manufacturers have a hard time disposing of toxic materials used in the production process. Chinese companies don't have the same difficulty, choosing to bury chemicals or flush them in public waterways. The result is a panel which was cheaper to produce and ship abroad.

Really, we're just burying the problem someplace else, hoping that a super-solution from future geniuses materializes in the meantime.

Wildlife Impacts:

The Ivanpah solar plant in utilizes 174,000 heliostats to reflect sunlight onto a centralized solar tower. The tower collects the sunlight, transfers it to heat, and boils water to begin the electricity production process. The plant is located in the Mojave Desert, away from population centers.

Human population centers, at least. While the imagery of a desert solar plant probably conjures images of dust and tumbleweeds, the area where the plant lives is much more lush than you might expect. When the plant was first announced, it incited considerable backlash because it was building on habitat that belonged to the endangered desert tortoise. The plant's construction was ultimately changed to help curtail its effects.

Now that the plant is up and running, an unforeseen consequence has occurred: an excessive number of bird deaths. Birds are lured to the area by insects or migration patterns, but once in the vicinity of the plant they're almost assured a hellish death. Estimates of up to 28,000 bird deaths a year have been attributed to the concentrated solar arrays, which blind and even ignite birds midflight. Officials are considering how to proceed with a megawatt and mega-money facility that may drive the extinction of entire species on its own.

The point isn't that solar power is harming our environment. Without a doubt, nearly any energy harvest strategy will conclude with negative environmental effects. But it shows that a long, long road of development must be traveled before our technology creates the sustainable utopia we envision. For now, we should probably maximize the efficiencies of the energy sources we have.

(Hi) Cross flow HEMF from IPS provides clean process water and reduces downtime!.

(Hi) Cross flow HEMF from IPS provides clean process water and reduces downtime!.

According to Industrial Purification Systems, process water users can achieve effective water filtration by installing Cross flow HEMF and at the same time save on operating costs by reducing downtime.

The technology filters water down to levels below 1.0 micron, reliably producing a supply of clean water not only free of solids contamination such as sand, grit and iron but also with reduced bacteria, phages and spores such as cryptosporidium.

By reducing the total biological and organic loading from water, chemical dosing is more effective as there is less of a challenge.

 This in turn often results in significant chemical use reduction, which is better for the water user, better for the environment and reduces operational costs.

The company said that industries that have installed this technology have reported a return on investment in less than six months, with some achieving payback in three.

Click on the following link here to download the Cross flow technical information sheet.

Key benefits;

• Filtration of process water down to 0.45 micron with efficiencies up to 99 per cent.
• Filtration of up to five times more water than a conventional filter achieving only 20-micron filtration.
• Longer ‘on line’ filtration time.
• Acceptance of solid challenges in excess of 200ppm.
• Short backwash times.
• More effective chemical treatment with fewer chemicals.
• Maintaining heat-transfer efficiencies for life of a system.
• Cleaning up older, already contaminated systems and improving performance.
• Reducing backwash loss by up to 95 per cent.
• Reducing costs by reducing loss of chiller and or heater kW input during backwash.
• Inlet pressure of only 1.0barg to operate.
• Minimum energy losses for pumping and processing through high flow, low pressure.

Industries and applications that benefit;

• Plastic moulding shops.
• Oil and gas exploration.
• Power generation.
• Paper manufacturing.
• Automotive manufacture.
• District heating/cooling.
• Pollution control.
• Data centres, banks, hotels, universities.
• UPVC extruders for pipes and windows.
• Potable water production.
• High-performance heating cooling loops.
• Brick, marble stone cutting.
• Brewing and distilling.
• Manufacturing.
• Nuclear power and processing.

Case study: Sheffield Homes uses Cross flow HEMF from IPS for efficient water filtration:

- 'Efficient water filtration is a hot topic for Sheffield homes’

Sheffield Homes manages the continual improvement of council homes across Sheffield. 

The company has a network of boilers and district heating pipework running throughout the city, which supplies heating and hot water to council properties. 

It is crucial that the water flowing through the pipework is kept as clean as possible to maintain flow rates and in so doing achieve maximum energy efficiency. 

Some sections of the pipe network are more than 35 years old. Over time, the pipes have collected debris and particles in the water, which have caused restrictions in the flow rates to some properties and led to problems maintaining an efficient district heating system.

Expensive pump and boiler parts and replacements are often required due to these issues. 

It was therefore felt there was a strong business case to introduce a filtration system to help clean and prolong the life of the heating systems as well as reducing maintenance costs.

Sheffield Homes chose the Cross flow HEMF advanced media filter from Industrial Purification Systems.

Click the following link here to download case study Or view & save below; 

*Click the following link here for further supplier information and company manufacturer brochure download or visit the company homepage by clicking the following link here. 

Watch Below, Introduction Video Clip:

Hi Top 8 Recommendations For Keeping Your Cooling Tower Clean.!

Hi Top 8 Recommendations For Keeping Your Cooling Tower Clean.!

It’s time to start thinking about cooling tower maintenance again. The top two reasons we bring up this topic at least yearly is because a dirty cooling tower; 

1) affects system performance and 2) can affect occupant health.

We often discuss the seriousness of Legionnaires’ disease, and a cooling tower’s role in the transmission of Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria that causes the disease.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends visual inspection and regular maintenance as the best ways to control the growth of organisms in a cooling tower. 

The organization discourages the use of water quality measurements (total bacterial counts, total dissolved solids and pH) to monitor Legionnaires’ disease bacteria (LDB) levels.

Here are more of OSHA’s top recommendations for keeping your facility’s cooling tower clean and free of LDB:

1. Use chemical biocides to control microorganisms.
2. Keep sump water around 68°F or lower.
3. Inspect the cooling tower equipment monthly.
4. Clean and disinfect your facility’s cooling tower quarterly or twice a year if the unit is not in operation year-round. It’s important to clean it at the beginning of each cooling season and after it’s shut down in the fall.
5. Systems with high levels of LDB may require more cleaning.
6. Clean and disinfect systems any time they are out of service for an extended time.
7. Clean and disinfect new systems to remove any construction material residue.
8. Keep detailed records showing all dates and details of operations and maintenance, a description of the operating system, and procedures for operation and maintenance including the use of any corrosion inhibitors, biocides, or other chemicals.

You can read the complete list of cooling tower maintenance recommendations from OSHA here.

- "The process of cleaning your facility’s cooling tower used to require a total shut down, but that’s no longer the case. All cleaning may be completed while the tower is still online."

Click Here To View Mesan Group Cooling Towers Homepage.

Hi 100 Top Pollution Sites!.

Hi 100 Top Pollution Sites!.

1. Friends of the Earth
   Friends of the Earth is a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the planet from environmental degradation.
2. Clean Air Council
   A member supported, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting Pennsylvanians' right to clean air.
3. Environmental Defense
   Environmental Defense is a not-for-profit environmental advocacy group with four main goals: (1)Stabilizing the Earth's climate, (2) Safeguarding the world's oceans, (3) Protecting human health, and (4) Defending and restoring bio diversity.
4. Scorecard
   Scorecard combines data from over 200 different state and federal databases to profile local environmental problems and the health effects of toxic chemicals.
5. Pollution.com
   The latest nuclear power and pollution news.
6. EPA: Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
   OWOW provides tons of information to raise public awareness and encourage involvement in water quality issues.
7. Clean Up Australia
   A very successful Australian organization that works to cleanup environmental pollution and to teach citizens how to lead greener lives.
8. Worldwatch Institute
   Worldwatch is dedicated to fostering the evolution of a society in which human needs are met in ways that do not threaten the health of the natural environment.
9. Greening Industry
   New ideas in pollution prevention.
10. EPA: Acid Rain Program
    The goal of the Acid Rain Program is to significantly reduce electric utilities emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the pollutants responsible for acid deposition.
11. EPA: Water Management Division
    Includes fact sheets, tips, definitions of key terms, state-by-state quality reports and more.
12. Greenpeace: Ozone Crisis
    Details Greenpeace's "Protect the Ozone Layer" campaign and up-to-date news and resources.
13. Toxics Release Inventory
    EPA's guide to toxic chemicals that are being used, manufactured, treated, transported and released into the environment.
14. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    NOAA guides our use and protection of ocean and coastal resources and conducts research to improve our understanding and stewardship of the environment which sustains us all.
15. Union of Concerned Scientists
    The Union of Concerned Scientists works to ensure that all people have clean air and energy, as well as safe and sufficient food.
16. Enviro$en$e
    Single repository for pollution prevention, compliance assurance, and enforcement information and data bases.
17. Save Our Seas
    The mission of SOS is to preserve, protect and restore the world's oceans for the future of all life forms on the planet.
18. The Nature Conservancy
    The Nature Conservancy purchases and protects millions of acres of threatened natural habitats.
19. Capitol Reports/ Environmental News Link
    Provides environmental news and research aids on a number of issues, from pollution to climate change.
20. Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine
    One of the nation's oldest and foremost centers for research into the health effects of environmental pollution.
21. Climate Institute
    The Climate Institute works to protect the balance between climate and life on earth by facilitating the dialogue among scientists, policy makers, business executives and citizens.
22. Clean Water Action
    A national citizens' organization working for clean, safe and affordable water and the prevention of health-threatening pollution.
23. The Southwest Network for Zero Waste
    This web site will provide you with tools and resources to help you identify money saving options to reduce pollution.
24. Environmental News Network
    ENN covers breaking environmental news, including pollution issues.
25. EPA: Office of Transportation and Air Quality
    Protecting public health and the environment by controlling air pollution from motor vehicles, fuels, and nonroad equipment, and by encouraging travel choices that minimize emissions.
26. Environmental Working Group
    A leading content provider for public interest groups and concerned citizens who are campaigning to protect the environment.
27. GREEN: Global Rivers Environmental Education Network
    An innovative, action-oriented approach to education, based on an interdisciplinary watershed education model.
28. NIPR--New Ideas in Pollution Regulation
    A site for researchers, government officials, and citizens interested in understanding and improving control of industrial pollution, especially in developing countries.
29. Living on Earth
    This weekly NPR radio program covers a variety of environmental issues, including pollution, sustainable development and transportation challenges.
30. Environmental Bureau of Investigation (EBI)
    Dedicated to the protection of public resources through the application and enforcement of environmental laws.
31. Noise Pollution Clearinghouse
    Efforts include building a library of resources and tools concerning noise pollution, establishing links to other groups that have similar collections, establishing networks among local noise activists, assisting communities and activists who are working to reduce noise pollution, and monitoring and advocating for stronger noise controls.
32. Natural Resources Defense Council
    NRDC uses law, science, and the support of more than 400,000 members nationwide to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.
33. Pacific Rivers Council
    A nonprofit organization passionately committed to protecting our streams and the species that inhabit them.
34. Sierra Club
    A leading environmental organization with chapters in all 50 states and Canada.
35. World Wildlife Fund
    Information on the WWF's global campaign to reduce the use of toxic chemicals.
36. U.S. Water News Online
    Find the latest news concerning water and water issues, including water supply, water quality, conservation and more.
37. Burning Issues
    Facts, news and the latest research on air pollution.
38. Earth 911
    Green shopping tips and ideas on how to reduce water pollution and air pollution, as well as energy conservation and real-time beach water quality information, are all available through Earth 911.
39. Center for Sustainable Systems
    Seeks to facilitate sustainability through education on pollution prevention.
40. Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change
    Earthshots is an ebook of before-and-after Landsat images showing recent environmental events of the last 27 years.
41. DOE Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse
    A centralized source of US Department of Energy Pollution Prevention information that assists with valuable P2 resources outside of the DOE.
42. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee council
    Updated pictures, publications, policies, news, and more regarding the restoration of the Exxon Valdez spill.
43. Keep America Beautiful
    Non-profit organization that educates individuals about litter prevention and ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and properly manage waste materials.
44. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network
    Collects data on the chemistry of precipitation for monitoring of geographical and temporal long-term trends.
45. IPEN-The International POPs Elimination Network
    The mission of IPEN is to work for the global elimination of persistent organic pollutants, on an expedited yet socially equitable basis.
46. 20/20 Vision
    Advocates for pollution reduction, sustainable development, and other environmental issues.
47. American Rivers
    The American Rivers' mission is to protect and restore America's river systems and to foster a river stewardship ethic.
48. Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand
    Provides a forum for discussion of environmental issues and to facilitate contacts between environmental practitioners.
49. Earth Force
    Earth Force helps youth discover and implement lasting solutions to environmental problems in their communities.
50. CEEI: America's Threatened Streams
    An index of comprehensive studies on water quality-limited streams.
51. Office of Air and Radiation
    Deals with issues that affect the quality of our air and protection from exposure to harmful radiation.
52. The International Ozone Association
    The IOA serves as a central gathering and disseminating information point on a variety of ozone issues.
53. SETAC
    Develops and applies multidisciplinary approaches to solving environmental problems.
54. Marine Conservation Biology Institute
    Tackles numerous marine conservation issues head on, including the effect of pollution on marine life.
55. National Response Center
    The NRC is the sole federal point of contact for reporting oil and chemical spills.
56. Oregon Environmental Council
    OEC's mission is to restore and protect Oregon's clean water and air, now and for future generations.
57. UTK - The Energy, Environment and Resources Center (EERC)
    The Energy, Environment, and Resources Center (EERC) at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville finds real-world solutions to problems related to the environment, energy, economic development, and technology.
58. Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center
    The P2RIC provides access to pollution prevention information from and about EPA Region 7.
59. Pollution Prevention
    Pollution prevention programs and information from the EPA.
60. Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention
    Pollution prevention resource from Canada.
61. Australian Water Association
    IAWQ is a professional membership association dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of water pollution control and water quality management worldwide.
62. Water Environment Federation
    A not-for-profit technical and educational organization whose goal is to preserve and enhance the global water environment.
63. Clean Car Campaign
    Help reduce air pollution and global warming by letting automakers and policymakers know that consumers want clean cars.
64. Air Cycle Corporation
    Air Cycle Corporation offers recycling services and transportation throughout all of North America to assist facilities in properly disposing lamps, ballasts, batteries, and computer hardware.
65. ATSDR
    The ATSDR's mission is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances present in the environment.
66. International Water Law Project
    Provides information and links on international water law and policy and related water pollution and conservation topics.
67. Fostering Sustainable Behavior
    Offers information on effective strategies for engaging people in the behavior changes required to reduce waste, increase water and energy efficiency, and alter transportation patterns.
68. Air & Waste Management Association
    The A&WMA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional organization that provides training, information, and networking opportunities to 12,000 environmental professionals in 65 countries.
69. Skepticism: Clean Air
    Challenges EPA clean air regulations.
70. Pollution Equipment News
    Online source for product news and information on hazardous waste, water, air and wastewater.
71. The Great Lakes Information Network
    GLIN offers a wealth of data and information about the Great Lakes region's environment and economy, tourism, education and more.
72. Canadian Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (CPPIC)
    An online database and comprehensive resource that provides Canadians with the information they need to put pollution prevention into practice.
73. Green Car
    The clean car campaign.
74. One World News Service: Pollution
    Provides news regarding pollution issues.
75. PEER
    The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) group provides uniquely valuable services to government employees charged with safeguarding the nation's natural resources.
76. PPRC
    The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center is a leading resource for promoting a cleaner environment through pollution prevention.
77. Chem-Tox.com
    Researching the effects of chemicals and pesticides on health.
78. National Environmental Technology Institute
    NETI focuses on the design and modification of processes and materials "upstream" to minimize pollution prior to ultimate treatment and disposal.
79. Bureau of Reclamation
    The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.
80. Water Partners International
    Works to ensure safe drinking water for developing countries.
81. Water Online
    The most convenient source of technical, operational, product, management and regulatory information available for the water industry.
82. Water Recycling
    Explore an ecological waste water recycling system in Chatham County, North Carolina.
83. The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
    CDIAC's scope includes potentially anything and everything that would be of value to users concerned with the greenhouse effect and global climate change.
84. Health and Energy
    News and information on pollution, energy efficiency, renewable energy, global warming and more.
85. No Butts About It Litter Campaign
    No Butts About It is a campaign to help rid the earth of cigarette butt litter.
86. Basel Action Network
    An international network of activists seeking to put an end to the export and dumping of hazardous wastes from rich industrialized countries to poorer, less-industrialized countries.
87. Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI)
    "ZERI seeks to create a new paradigm of sustainable industry by targeting zero gaseous, liquid and solid emissions, and by making zero emissions a world-wide industry standard."
88. Coalition for Alternative Transportation
    Supports better travel options to reduce the amount of pollutants.
89. EMPACT
    The Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking program.
90. Nonpoint Source Pollution Homepage
    Clearinghouse for information related to Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, which occurs when rain or snowmelt wash pollutants into waterways, wetlands and underground water.
91. GASP: Group Against Smog and Pollution
    GASP has been working to prevent air pollution on local, state, and national levels since its creation in 1969.
92. Flush Gordon's Dirty Water Page
    Information on water pollution and how to prevent it.
93. Ocean Pollution
    Basic information about the problem of ocean pollution and how it affects human health and resources.
94. Tracking and Analysis Framework
    The TAF is an integrated modeling framework developed to assess, inform, and guide U.S. regulatory policies on emissions of precursors to acid rain.
95. Pollution Engineering
    Provides broad, balanced coverage of technical news and features to meet the information needs of environmental professionals with multiple pollution control responsibilities: air, water, solid and hazardous waste.
96. National Pollution Prevention Roundtable
    The largest membership organization in the United States devoted solely to pollution prevention.
97. RCO On-Line
    Promoting environmental sustainability through waste minimization and resource conservation.
98. Healthy Communities Environmental Mapping
    Empowers local communities to build smarter and healthier neighborhoods.
99. Cleaner Production in China
    The site is designed to provide information in English on Cleaner Production, on China's Cleaner Production policy and legislation, and on existing and planned activities to implement Cleaner Production in China.
100. Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste Center of Expertise
     Brought to you by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.