White House Energy Summit focuses on advancing technology safety and low-cost energy
November 12, 2015
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Speaking at the White House Summit on Nuclear Energy on November 6, physicist Christina Back of General Atomics (GA), San Diego, highlighted the urgency of developing next-generation fast-gas reactors with new materials to enhance safety and ensure energy security.
As GA's Director of Nuclear Technologies and Materials, Back specializes in developing new heat-resistant ceramics to enable delivery of cost-competitive clean energy with unprecedented safety via the innovative gas-cooled reactor, the Energy Multiplier Module or EM2.
She participated as one of five expert panelists at a forum spotlighting the Obama Administration's commitment to advanced nuclear energy and maintaining U.S. technology leadership in the industry. Back emphasized during her remarks that nuclear energy is the dominant energy source that is sustainable, compatible with 21st century power grids and free of greenhouse gases.
Panelists featured nuclear energy industry leaders including John Kotek, Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy. The invited audience included leaders in academia, government, labor, environmental organizations, the nuclear industry, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and the investment community.
The panel focused on innovations in nuclear energy, with Back explaining that the design of EM2 draws on GA's 60 years of experience in designing and building safe reactors and aims to solve four big challenges: safety, waste, economics, and nonproliferation.
"Nuclear energy is important for the security of our country," says Back, noting that to turn new technology innovation into clean-energy reality, "We need investment and support from the DOE and Congress and the nation to understand what the challenges are, but also to understand what the huge payoff and benefits are for our country."
EM2 is a gas-cooled fast reactor designed to deliver low-cost nuclear energy by using a high-efficiency system, a "convert-and-burn" fuel cycle able to produce 265 megawatts-electric, in a compact modular design. It incorporates industry-leading safety and nonproliferation features and can run on nuclear waste.
The White House Summit on Nuclear Energy was billed by officials as a forum for highlighting the Administration's commitment to nuclear energy as a clean energy solution and "for maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear energy to realize economic competitiveness, national security and nonproliferation objectives."
GA continues to be a leader in fission and fusion focused on a wide range of energy solutions. The DIII-D National Fusion Facility, operated by GA for the U.S. Department of Energy, is the largest magnetic fusion device in the nation and one of the largest in the world. GA is also a leading manufacturer of precision technology for inertial confinement fusion.
Image caption — EM2 waste-to-energy fast-gas reactor being developed by General Atomics with unprecedented safety innovations.
Speaking at the White House Summit on Nuclear Energy physicist Christina Back of General Atomics highlighted the urgency of developing next-generation fast-gas reactors with new materials to enhance safety and ensure energy security.
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Ipsen furnace enables California Brazing to increase aluminum brazing capacity
November 11, 2015
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Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that California Brazing recently purchased its third vacuum aluminum brazing (VAB) furnace from Ipsen, to expand capacity and manufacture a variety of aluminum-brazed assemblies. These include cold plates, heat exchangers, waveguides, and antennas, for customers in the aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries.
The furnace features an all-metal hot zone with dimensions 38 x 40 x 62 inches. It has a 1500-pound load capacity, and it operates at temperatures of 500 to 1200°F, with ±5°F temperature uniformity. It is also equipped with a 35-inch diffusion pump and Ipsen's CompuVac control system.
Featuring multiple individually controlled heating zones, Ipsen's VAB furnaces provide fast cycle times and precise, uniform heating of the workload. In addition, joint-free heating elements eliminate resistance buildup and hot spots.
"There is a growing need for aluminum-brazed assemblies across multiple industries," says Jeff Ager, General Manager at California Brazing. "California Brazing is committed to meeting our customers' requirements by continuing to invest in brazing and machining equipment to further improve capabilities, lead times, and quality."
www.IpsenUSA.com/VAB
Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that California Brazing recently purchased its third vacuum aluminum brazing (VAB) furnace from Ipsen, to expand capacity and manufacture a variety of aluminum-brazed assemblies.
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Nucor to acquire Gerdau’s cold-drawn steel bar assets in Ohio and Georgia
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Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Gerdau Long Steel's Bright Bar assets located in Orrville, Ohio, and Cartersville, Georgia, which manufacture cold-drawn steel bars and have a combined production capacity of 75,000 tons per year.
"This acquisition advances Nucor's strong competitive position in cold-finished bar and increases our downstream participation in this important channel to market," says John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO, and President of Nucor. "This acquisition improves our geographic coverage and expands our range of products in this market segment.
Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the United States and Canada. Products include carbon and alloy steel – in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel pilings; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold-finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh.
Through the David J. Joseph Company, Nucor also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.
http://www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Gerdau Long Steel’s Bright Bar assets located in Orrville, Ohio, and Cartersville, Georgia, which manufacture cold-drawn steel bars and have a combined production capacity of 75,000 tons per year.
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Ambrell launches Ekoheat with VPA for improved induction processes
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Ambrell, Scottsville, N.Y., has launched a line of Ekoheat products featuring Versatile Performance Architecture (VPA), which enables a product to integrate into manufacturing systems, or to function as a stand-alone induction heating solution. The Autoscan capability includes easy-to-use functionality to scan a new application and auto-set the starting frequency, and then recommend RF setup parameters.
The products include soft-start circuitry, a safety feature that eliminates the risk of tripping up other equipment when a power supply is turned on. System power is tightly controlled on start-up to minimize transient spikes and electrical noise.
Ekoheat VPA includes a universal printed circuit board that can be used across the entire product line. This means fast availability of service repair and replacement parts, assuring business continuity and long-lasting product life. Regardless of system size and frequency, common PCBs are integrated into the designs. A single board-set addresses multiple systems, thereby minimizing inventory and eliminating model-specific versions.
These products are enabled for remote diagnostics and data collection with industrial Ethernet communication capabilities. In the industrial and automation environment, networking is fully supported using Ekoheat VPA's chosen gateway and includes CIPs (Common Industrial Protocols) such as EthernetIP, Modbus/TCP, and PROFINET protocols.
www.ambrell.com
Ambrell, Scottsville, N.Y., has launched a line of Ekoheat products featuring Versatile Performance Architecture (VPA), which enables a product to integrate into manufacturing systems or to function as a stand-alone induction heating solution.
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Air Force selects Northrop Grumman to build new long-range bomber
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The U.S. Air Force has selected Northrop Grumman Corp., Falls Church, Va., the company that developed and manufactured the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to deliver the new Long-Range Strike Bomber, which is also to be stealthy. The company has continued to develop stealthy systems, such as the stealthy X-47B unmanned aircraft.
"The Air Force has made the right decision for our nation's security," said Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Northrop Grumman. "We look forward to providing the Air Force with a highly capable and affordable next-generation Long-Range Strike Bomber."
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.
www.northropgrumman.com
The U.S. Air Force has selected Northrop Grumman Corp., Falls Church, Va., the company that developed the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to deliver the new Long-Range Strike Bomber, which is also to be stealthy.
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Titanium strength and ductility grow when large grains are added to microstructure
Source: ASM International
A team from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences announces that titanium strength and ductility are both increased when large grains are added to an ultrafine-grain matrix.
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Spray Tips: Powder Flame Spray Gun
November 10, 2015
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Powder Flame Spray Gun
The diagram illustrates a typical powder flame spray gun. Powders are fed either by gravity or from a powder feeder by a carrier gas. Nozzles generate the flame, introduce the spray material, and shape the spray pattern. In conventional flame spray guns, oxygen and fuel mix inside the nozzle, exiting through a set of holes in the face of the nozzle. Combustion occurs at the nozzle exit, and combustion gases are free to expand.
In some powder-fed gun designs, a constricting flow of air is fed through a concentric set of holes near the nozzle exit and is used to pinch the expanding gases, generating a higher-temperature combustion zone, and accelerating the molten powder.
Volume 5A, Thermal Spray Technology -> Thermal Spray Processes and Coatings -> Thermal Spray Processes -> Processing Characteristics
The diagram illustrates a typical powder flame spray gun.
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Lockheed Martin closes acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft
November 9, 2015
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Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Md., has closed its acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft, a world leader in military and commercial rotary-wing aircraft. Aligned under the Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training (MST) business segment, Sikorsky Aircraft is now known as Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.
"Today we are proud to welcome the Sikorsky team to Lockheed Martin," said Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president, and CEO. "Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky share a legacy of innovation and performance that has shaped the history of aviation for more than a century. Together, we are even better positioned to provide the best value for our customers, employees, and shareholders."
The acquisition advances Lockheed Martin's commitment to provide its customers with mission-ready solutions that are affordable and efficient, while expanding its core business into the growing areas of helicopter production and sustainment. Sikorsky's ability to leverage Lockheed Martin's scale will ensure that it remains a technology leader at the forefront of vertical lift.
Dan Schultz has been named president of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company. Mr. Schultz led the integration efforts for Lockheed Martin leading up to the closure, and he previously served as the vice president for Lockheed Martin's Ship & Aviation Systems line of business within MST.
"Dan is a former Marine helicopter pilot and has decades of experience in the rotary-wing segment, including leading Lockheed Martin's helicopter system integration business," Ms. Hewson said. "He brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep understanding of our international customer base. I am confident he is the right person to lead Sikorsky at this pivotal time."
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, will retain its headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut. The line of business employs nearly 15,000 employees in 11 countries. Its helicopters are used by all five branches of the U.S. armed forces, along with military services and commercial operators in 40 nations.
www.lockheedmartin.com/sikorsky
Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Md., has closed its acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft, a world leader in military and commercial rotary-wing aircraft.
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Oerlikon SinplexPro plasma spray gun allows standardizing coating parameters
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Oerlikon Metco, Switzerland, offers its SinplexPro plasma spray gun, which brings the benefits of cascading arc technology to existing plasma spray systems, and allows applicators to standardize coating parameters across multiple spray systems.
Other benefits include significantly higher throughput and improved coating repeatability, which save time and cost using atmospheric plasma spray.
Customers have also found it is much easier to standardize their coating processes using SinplexPro to achieve the same coating quality and structure across different plasma spray system platforms — an endeavor that is considerably more challenging with legacy plasma spray guns, but long desired by the industry.
"For our customers operating multiple plasma systems within a single facility, as well as our multinational and global customers operating plasma systems at a number of facilities, this is a very important and appealing argument for making the switch to cascading arc technology," says Omar Sabouni, Oerlikon Metco Product Line Manager. "We have a substantial number of customers who purchased an initial SinplexPro spray gun and are now standardizing their coating parameters across different system platforms with additional purchases; some of those being operated on competitor platforms."
SinplexPro creates the ability for customers to introduce and benefit from advanced plasma spray technology. They can then easily duplicate those benefits on often different control platforms; thereby providing a cost-effective route towards process standardization with very minimal development effort.
SinplexPro, along with TriplexPro, comprise the company's cascading arc spray gun portfolio. These spray guns are employed by customers in aerospace, printing equipment, automotive, power generation, oil and gas, and a number of other industries for a wide range of coating applications.
www.oerlikon.com
Oerlikon Metco, Switzerland, offers its SinplexPro plasma spray gun, which brings the benefits of cascading arc technology to existing plasma spray systems, and allows applicators to standardize coating parameters across multiple spray systems.
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Nontoxic aluminum electroplating process is based on ionic liquids
November 8, 2015
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Engineers from the National Energy Technology Lab and Carnegie Mellon University, both of Pittsburgh, have developed an ionic liquid solvent that enables a more cost-efficient, environmentally responsible method of electrodepositing aluminum on steel. The technology, which produces no toxic vapors, is based on a plating solution containing ionic liquids (salts in liquid state) in open vessels.
Aluminum is less toxic than most anti-corrosion coating materials, but it cannot be plated in the presence of water, making it much more difficult to apply. In addition, conventional technology for aluminum coatings requires an inert atmosphere and a toxic chemical called toluene at elevated temperatures as a solvent, requiring it to be carried out in sealed vessels. In the new process, aluminum is electrodeposited by standard equipment available in most electroplating shops.
The innovation has been licensed by LumiShield, a Pittsburgh-based CMU spin-off company based on the new technology. LumiShield specializes in corrosion-resistant metal products that are less expensive and less environmentally harmful than current approaches. In addition, the process can be altered to produce a variety of properties and finishes that meet specifications for a range of applications.
LumiShield's Hunaid Nulwala, one of the technology's inventors, said that the technology has great potential for reducing the costs of protecting products from corrosion while eliminating some difficult environmental hazards.
www.lumishieldtech.com
http://energy.gov/fe/articles/netl-technology-safer-cleaner-corrosion-protecting-metal-coatings-licensed-pittsburgh
Engineers from the National Energy Technology Lab and Carnegie Mellon University, both of Pittsburgh, have developed an ionic liquid solvent that enables a more cost-efficient, environmentally responsible method of electrodepositing aluminum on steel.
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