Hydrogen
generated without a compressor
Japan’s largest general trading company, Mitsubishi
Corporation (MC), claims to have produced the world’s first high-pressure
hydrogen gas without a compressor through its prototype electrolyser
High-pressure Hydrogen Energy Generator (HHEG). HHEG, a Proton Exchange
Membrane (PEM) electrolyser, holds a cell stack in a high-pressure vessel,
which stores high-compressed hydrogen gas generated by electrolysis.
HHEG is different from other commercial electrolysers, because it can
produce high-pressure by itself. MC’s target markets include small
scale industrial applications, hydrogen re-fuelling stations for fuel
cell vehicles, back-up power units that incorporate stationary fuel
cells, and systems that link with renewable energy sources, such as
wind and the sun.
Eaton SymCom handshake
Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation and SymCom will
provide pumping control system solutions to the US oil and gas industry
in a strategic partnership. This partnership may enhance Eaton’s
interest in Coal bed Methane (CBM). According to Jim McGill, Vice President
and General Manager, Industrial Controls Division, Eaton, “While
CBM is a significant source of natural gas, extracting it requires a
sophisticated pumping process similar to what Eaton and SymCom deliver
for conventional oil pumping methods.”
SymCom provides single-sourced automated controls for new drilling programmes,
retrofits and wells. Eaton provides AC Drive technology designed exclusively
for the oil and gas industry. Products such as the BP9000 and BPX9000
AC Drives minimise energy and operating costs and maximise productivity.
Boeing’s
electric 7E7
The
Boeing Company, with airlines and its partners is working on the design
of the world’s first electric commercial jetliner – the 7E7.
According to the designers, E in 7E7 stands for efficiency. The salient
features of the plane include fewer computers than commercial jets,
lesser wiring and electrically powered systems, including the engine
start-up.
“Part of the idea of going to a more electric airplane is that
all these components that are used to generate pneumatic power are eliminated,”
said Mike Sinnett, Boeing’s Chief Engineer for 7E7 systems.
According to Mr Sinnet, operating an electric plane cuts costs radically,
consumes lesser power, has a lower weight and dramatically improves
the overall system efficiency in terms of fuel consumption and safety
considerations.
Mitsubishi
in China
Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries has received an order from the Chongqing Yuanda Environmental-
Protection Group, in Chongqing province, China for the design and supply
of major components of two large-scale flue gas desulphurisation (FGD)
systems.
The systems will be installed at the Guixi Power Plant in Jiangxi province.
The total value of the two FGD systems is estimated to be nearly ¥3
billion.
Mistusbishi will be in charge of the basic system design and supply
of key equipment, including absorber internals and agitators. The construction
of the absorber is slated to begin in November 2004. The order marks
Mitsubishi’s eighth FGD order in China in 2004.
Bhel
pumps Punjab
SIndia’s
engineering major, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel), has bagged
a major contract for supplying solar-powered water pumping systems in
the Punjab. The contract, which is valued at Rs 19 crore, is for supply,
installation, commissioning and aftersales service of 700 sets of solar-powered
water pumping systems to Punjab Energy Development Agency (Peda).
This is the single-largest order for solar photovoltaics won by Bhel,
which will supply the systems totalling 1.26 mega watt of power in the
latter half of 2004. The farmers in Punjab will use the pumps for providing
drinking water as well as for irrigation purposes.
The entire system will pump about 1,39,500 litres of water. Peda is
currently in the process of implementing the programme in association
with the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Government of
India.i
