Funding Enables Testing of Ceramic Turbine
The development of an efficient and clean-burning ceramic-bladed microturbine that incorporates the Wilson heat exchanger will soon be completed by Woburn, Mass.-based Wilson TurboPower, thanks to the receipt of a second round of funding. Final engineering and fabrication of a 300 kWe Wilson Microturbine prototype for onsite power generation will begin this year, with testing and refinement expected to be completed by late 2008 or early 2009.

The microturbine design uses the company's heat exchanger, ceramic components and a three-stage turbine to achieve high electrical efficiency, according to analyses by independent experts. Wilson says the improvement will benefit the energy economics of many industrial processes while also meeting current and planned regulations for harmful emissions.

"For some regions, the microturbine will be able to generate electric-only power at a cost less than local utility and be a profit center for its owners," says Bruce Anderson, a cofounder of Wilson TurboPower. "Reducing the energy intensity of power generation reduces the fuel consumed, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions," he added. In addition, when fueled by biomass or methane from waste gases, the microturbine is capable of achieving greater reductions in carbon emissions.

Finishing Line Combines
Convection, Infrared and UV Curing
A UV-curable powder coating allowed Baldor Electric to coat and cure fully assembled motors without damaging internal components. Infrared and convection zones melt and flow the powder before UV light crosslinks the coating.

Fun With Available Heat
It's useful for more than just finding combustion process efficiency.

Process Cooling Using a Closed-Loop System
If you need to maintain the temperature of your process fluid or rubber molding machines, consider a closed-loop water recirculating system.

Hot, Hot, Hot: Burner Design Spices Up Tortilla Chip Ovens
Burner material upgrades resulted in extended operating life and improved performance.

How Instrumentation Can Reduce Hazards to People and Plant
Peril in the plant can be avoided with effective instrumentation.

Oxygen Sensor Analyzer with Boiler Efficiency Feature
AccuMax is intended to enhance boiler, oven and furnace efficiency and reduce emissions. This new feature of the Rosemount Analytical X-Stream oxygen analyzer helps maintain accurate oxygen measurements. The technology includes an internal mechanical assembly that stabilizes cell temperature, increasing oxygen measurement accuracy. The analyzer also incorporates a diagnostic that identifies when the probe requires calibration.
Rosemount Analytical, Emerson Process Management, (800) 433-6076

Thermocouple Transmitters
Two-wire RTD and thermocouple transmitters provide accuracy as low as +/-0.05 percent of span. With FM, CSA and CE approvals, the T55 and T51 transmitters can be installed in a range of temperature-measurement applications.
Burns Engineering Inc., (952) 935-4400

Cleanroom Oven
No. 849 is used for drying glass and stainless steel parts. The 500°F (260°C) electrically heated oven offers 20 kW installed in Incoloy-sheathed tubular heating elements. A 1,000 cfm, 1.5 hp recirculating blower furnishes horizontal airflow across the workloads. The cleanroom oven has 4" insulated walls, a Type 304, 2B finish stainless steel interior with continuously back-welded seams, and stainless steel exterior.
Grieve Corp., (847) 546-8225

Recorder Software
Eyris software provides an easy-to-configure PC package for accessing the company's Data Mangement 5000/6000 Series graphic recorders. The software package provides a builder environment to connect to the recorders and a browser window for direct access to the recorder bridge sessions. An overview feature allows users to identify trouble spots and react quickly from any networked location. The scan auto-detects all Eurotherm 5000 and 6000 Series paperless graphic recorders over a company or wide area network.
Eurotherm, (703) 443-0000

Platinum RTD Probes
Sensing element is a thin-film platinum detector developed for fast response time and calibrated to DIN 43760. It is protected by fiberglass insulation and mounted in a 304 stainless steel, 0.197" dia tube. A mounting bracket with slots is press fitted to the tube to facilitate installation. A two-lead wire extension is supplied in 24 AWG insulated nickel wire.
Quantem Corp. , (609) 883-9191