#122 - Nova mentioned in Tenova newsletter

Nova mentioned in Tenova newsletter April issue.

Check us out on page 12.

http://www.tenovagroup.com/tenova-news.php

#121 - Boyan Slat’s Ocean Clean-up Idea

Gyres are large systems of rotating ocean currents. 

There are five major oceanic gyre systems on earth:

Indian Ocean Gyre

North Atlantic Gyre

North Pacific Gyre

South Atlantic Gyre

South Pacific Gyre

There are also several large floating garbage patches that are blighting this world’s oceans. The debris consists mainly of plastic particles, packaging, and containers of various sizes. Most of the garbage originates from land-based human activities and is washed out to the ocean by rivers and other flowing water-ways. Much of the debris eventually accumulates in the gyres mentioned above.

This problem has always annoyed me immensely because humankind has expended enormous amounts of time, energy, technology, and money extracting riches from the world’s oceans. For example, large fishing vessels roam the seas capturing marine life in giant nets. However, using the same or similar technology to clean up our oceanic garbage patches has always been deemed financially or technically prohibitive. The excuses always seem to sound hollow when you think about all of the ways that we can capably extract things from the water.

An ocean clean-up idea originating in 2011 from two students named Boyan Slat and Tan Nguyen offers some potential feasibility. Although the feasibility studies have not been completed, it is an idea that will at the very least stimulate good discussion and general awareness of this problem. One reason why awareness of this problem is low is that there are few visual images available. The garbage is spread out over millions of square kilometers and is not striking in terms of photographic imagery. Of course, there are many images and examples of shoreline pollution as shown above.

The clean-up concept consists of large anchored booms that can be placed in the radial path of the gyre current flows. The booms are arranged in a “V” shape which will funnel the floating debris into a collection platform. The gyres are very large, the general speed is low, and the collecting action is primarily at the surface of the water. It is therefore unlikely that marine life even down to the plankton level will be extracted or harmed along with the debris.

Feasibility studies are underway and they are making good progress on some preliminary results that look promising. A team of engineers, modelers, external experts, and students are in the process of testing some of the initial assumptions that were made. They are advising optimistic caution until more results are obtained.

Links

http://www.boyanslat.com/plastic/

http://www.boyanslat.com/TEDx/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_gyre

All pictures obtained from Boyan Slat’s website except for ocean gyres map from Wikipedia.

#120 - Rapid Train Loading Systems by Tenova Takraf

I’ve always loved trains. Perhaps it’s the scale and power of the equipment. Perhaps it’s the history and variety of the industry.

A couple of historical highlights that appeal to me are: *

Regarded by many as The Ultimate Steam Locomotive of All Time -
the vast "Niagara" 4-8-4 of the New York Central Railroad.

The first main line diesel-electric in North America (Canadian National),
No. 9000, built in 1929, and split into two units for operation
following trial running. 

The Hiawatha Express
Top: Class A 4-4-2 No. 1 near Dearfield, Illinois, 1939.
Above: Class F7 No. 101 darkens the sky over Milwaukee
as it pulls with Train No. 101, the streamlined
13-coach "Afternoon Hiawatha".

The Swedish rod-drive triple-unit Class "Dm3" electric locomotives can
produce more than 200,000lb of tractive effort.

Speaking of trains, Tenova Takraf makes loading systems for railway cars. Tenova TAKRAF Rapid Rail Loading Systems use the flask loading system to load particulate material into moving trains:

• loading at rates of up to 8,000 t/h.
• handling a variety of rail wagons of different capacities and types.
• loading with accuracies, which meet most countries’ statutory requirements.
• allowing for a variation in material size and bulk density.

The system pre-weighs each wagon load prior to depositing the load into the moving wagon. An optional extra is the integrated calibration system, which operates via a SCADA system. Flow of material outside the storage bin and weigh flask is controlled by single-pass radial gates. These are actuated hydraulically by a system that ensures that the gates close fully without jamming.

The Tenova TAKRAF Profile Chute system, through which material flows into the wagons, is self adjusting and allows for differences in the heights of wagons to ensure the correct profile of material in the wagons. The chute is designed to minimise potential dust emissions during loading.

The Profile Chute is fail-safe in the event of any electrical or hydraulic power failure. The Chute will automatically move out of the way of rolling stock entering the rapid rail loading system bay.

SELF LEARNING CAPABILITY

The Tenova TAKRAF Rapid Rail Loading System incorporates a programmable logic controller (PLC) and computer controlled measurement system, which has a learning capability.

As the first few wagons are loaded, the system assesses the effect of the loaded material’s density and flow characteristics; the latter is affected by particle size, moisture, temperature, etc. The system automatically accounts for prevailing conditions and loads subsequent wagons to a high level of accuracy.

CONTROL SYSTEMS

Tenova TAKRAF Rapid Rail Loading Systems are equipped with user friendly computer control, information and records systems.

The accurate loading capability avoids penalties because:

• individual wagons are not overloaded.
• axle distribution requirements are met.
• wagons are loaded to the correct height.

The control system is based on client specified hardware and Windows™ based software allowing:

• overall SCADA control of the operation.
• automatic validation of truck numbers as they are entered into the SCADA system.
• visual monitoring of operations through closed circuit television systems.

Several optional facilities can be supplied, including:

• uninterrupted power supply for computer systems.
• communication networks to the other computers, PCs or mainframes.
• communications with other weighing equipment on the plant to control reclaim operations.
• built-in mass calibration systems to simplify calibration.

Tenova TAKRAF

Tenova Mining & Minerals (Pty) Ltd

1 Kramer Road

Bedfordview

Johannesburg

PO Box 75996

Gardenview, 2047

South Africa

phone +27 11 201 2300

fax +27 11 455 4547

enquiries.TMM@za.tenovagroup.com

TAKRAF GmbH

Torgauer Straße 336

04347 Leipzig

Germany

phone +49 341 2423 500

fax +49 341 2423 510

sales@takraf.com

Nova Analytical Systems
1-800-295-3771

sales at nova-gas dot com

websales at nova-gas dot com

http://www.nova-gas.com/

https://twitter.com/NOVAGAS

http://www.linkedin.com/company/nova-analytical-systems-inc-

http://www.tenovagroup.com/

* Scanned from The Illustrated Directory of Trains of the World by Brian Hollingsworth © Salamander Books Ltd., 2000. Excellent rail resource with pictures and short summary of historic and modern locomotives worldwide.

#119 - Nikos A. Salingaros’ Fractal Cities

The modern concepts of automotive travel, maximization of flow, absolute consumer convenience, and even ‘big box’ marketing may be contributing factors to the affliction of ‘core syndrome’ in many modern cities. The reduction of vitality in city cores is often lamented by inhabitants and perpetrated by planners and marketers. What conditions contribute to the ‘health’ of urban spaces?

Nikos A. Salingaros is a professor of mathematics at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is regarded as one of the world's leading urbanists and architectural theorists. His work is admired by many, including myself. Dr. Salingaros’ insights into ‘living’ cities are most intriguing.

Imagine an active network comprised of many nodes, but only few of the largest nodes are actually meaningfully connected. If this state were to exist in the human circulatory system, it would be lethal. If only a few major arteries had access to the heart’s output, and the smaller veins & capillaries did not, the majority of the body would be oxygen-starved. The distribution of sizes in the human circulatory system follows an inverse distribution of smallest to largest – there are many small and few large.

Dr. Salingaros proposes that these ideas and others also apply to cities and urban spaces. In many modern cities, the automobile routes (large arteries) have severed or displaced the walking routes (smaller veins and capillaries). This condition has been driven by a desire to maximize automobile flow. However, it has lead to a demise of vitality and human interaction as nodal connectivity is severed on these scales. The significance of all of this has increased recently because in 2008, for the first time, half of the world’s population lived in urban areas.

Have you ever visited a ‘walking city’? This refers to a city where walking and other small scales of human functionality dominate. Many old European cities fit this profile because they were built before the advent of the automobile. Last summer, I visited a mock-up of the old European city schema. The Blue Mountain Village is located in Ontario Canada and is a 90 minute drive from Toronto. The Blue Mountain Village is a planned community whereas old cities grew ‘organically’ over time. Despite being somewhat contrived, the emergent effects of human interaction resulting from automobile exclusion are definitely evident in the Blue Mountain Village.

Places like this always remind me of Dr. Salingaros’ work. If you are interested in urban planning, lively city spaces, network phenomena, and emergent properties in general, you might enjoy his ideas. There is much more that can be said about Salingaro’s work. Once you internalize the ideas, you can come closer to an understanding of the state of your own local urban dynamics.

Nova Analytical Systems

1-800-295-3771

sales at nova-gas dot com

websales at nova-gas dot com

http://www.nova-gas.com/

https://twitter.com/NOVAGAS

http://www.linkedin.com/company/nova-analytical-systems-inc-

http://www.tenovagroup.com/

Bio of Nikos A. Salingaros:

http://zeta.math.utsa.edu/~yxk833/nikos.bio.html

Article by Nikos A. Salingaros entitled Connecting the Fractal City:

http://zeta.math.utsa.edu/~yxk833/connecting.html

2008 World Population Data Sheet, © 2008 Population Reference Bureau

http://www.prb.org/pdf08/08WPDS_Eng.pdf

http://www.bluemountain.ca/index.htm

Another interesting article on suburban propaganda:

http://www.newgeography.com/content/00895-death-suburbs-part-nauseum

#118 - Tenova Also Makes Marine Leisure Products

We were surprised to recently learn about this interesting nuance of our company. The Tenova Group is a technology supplier to the mining & minerals and iron & steel industries. These are heavy industries. However, we also have a group that makes walkway & platform systems for marine leisure applications.

Tenova Takraf manufactures the largest vehicles on earth. See this link.

Tenova TAKRAF is also now the sole distributor of the Jetfloat Modular System in southern Africa. The Jetfloat system was designed and patented through extensive research and development by Jetfloat International in Austria. Comprised of modular elements linked together to form the required shapes, Jetfloat platforms are quick to assemble on land and on water and are easily extendable. The Jetfloat system is a modular pontoon and marine docking system.

BENEFITS

■ No repair and maintenance costs.

■ Light-weight and easy to assemble without the need for cranes.

■ Easily extended or altered in steps of 500 mm.

■ No sharp edges, corners or connecting parts, making the product safe for all environments.

■ Various anchoring methods make it possible to use this system in many applications.

■ Secure handrail mounting, which can be supplied to specification.

■ Other accessories available for a versatile hassle-free installation.

■ High elastic resistance to impact by boats, wind and storms.

■ Long life, as they are fatigue and weather proof and resistant to saltwater, chemicals and acid.

The flexible and long-lasting Jetfloat modular pontoons and systems make ideal marinas, bathing jetties, bathing islands, floating pools, diving platforms, event platforms, self propelling rafts and aquaparks, which blend in harmoniously with their natural surroundings.

FEATURES

■ Single layered systems have buoyancy of 350 kg/m2.

■ Double and triple layered systems available for supporting heavier tonnage.

■ Wave and storm-proof – employable off-shore, with the correct anchoring system.

■ Resistant to UV rays, salt water and various other chemicals.

■ Resistant to weathering

SPECIFICATIONS

Jetfloat single element

■ Length: 500 mm

■ Width: 500 mm

■ Height: 400 mm

■ Weight: 6 kg

Jetfloat double element

■ Length: 1,000 mm

■ Width: 500 mm

■ Height: 400 mm

■ Weight: 11 kg

Standard colours are black, light blue and light grey. Handrails are available. Elements are blow-moulded using high quality Lupolen 5261 Z high density polyethylene. Superior quality control ensures a uniform thickness of 8 mm to provide best stability of the product all-round. Use of anchoring blocks, chain and eye props ensures that walkways and platforms remain in position for a long period.

INSTALLATION

Tenova TAKRAF is a qualified installer of the product, offering a highly competitive engineering works background. Its installation expertise is backed by numerous successful installations in Africa of the Jetfloat system for leisure applications since 2005.

To inquire about this product, contact:

Tenova Mining & Minerals (Pty) Ltd

1 Kramer Road

Bedfordview

Johannesburg

PO Box 75996

Gardenview, 2047

South Africa

phone +27 11 201 2300

fax +27 11 455 4547

enquiries.TMM@za.tenovagroup.com

#117 - Earth Day - April 22, 2013

The Face of Climate Change is the theme of this year’s Earth Day.

Because we are a company that is interested in gas and atmosphere analysis, our blog has frequently discussed aspects of climate change, or equipment that helps reduce environmental impact of industrial processes. Sometimes we just ramble about things that interest us or bug us.

For example:

Post #116 - Interesting comparison of Louisiana shore-line between the years 1932 & 2011
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2013/04/116-interesting-comparison-of-louisiana.html

Post #105 - Canada’s Clean-Tech Sector - Jobs, Revenues and New Ways of Doing Business
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2013/02/105-tenova-goodfellow-mentioned-in.html

Post #99 - Beijing Air Index Goes Off Scale
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2013/01/99-beijing-air-index-goes-off-scale.html

Post #85 - Caribbean Applications
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2012/11/85-caribbean-applications.html

Post #54 - TENOVA RE ENERGY Enters South Korean Market
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2012/03/54-tenova-re-energy-enters-south-korean.html

Post #53 - What is CONSTEEL?
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2012/03/53-what-is-consteel.html

Post #51 - What is EFSOP?
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2012/02/51-what-is-efsop.html

Post #42 - Floating Cities and Ambient Air Analysis
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2011/12/42-floating-cities-and-ambient-air.html

Post #40 - Driving Clean and Engine Exhaust Analysis – Part 2
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2011/11/40-driving-clean-and-engine-exhaust.html

Post #38 - Driving Clean and Engine Exhaust Analysis – Part 1
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2011/11/38-driving-clean-and-engine-exhaust.html

Post #26 - 7 Billion
http://nova-gas.blogspot.ca/2011/09/26-7-billion.html

Here is a link to the Earth Day video.

Here is a link to the Earth Day Network website.

Here is a link to reversing the negative affects of climate change. Just kidding. Clicking and ‘liking’ on its own is not the same as environmentally responsible living.

Image taken from Earth Day website.

#116 - Interesting comparison of Louisiana shore-line between the years 1932 & 2011

We saw this picture recently prepared by NOAA. Here's a link to the story.

The water isn’t lapping up at everyone’s doorstep. But that does not appear to mean that the levels aren’t rising.

Reduction of wetlands though development or through submersion no doubt further exacerbates these kinds of situations by removing the natural defenses. What will this shoreline look like in another 80years? Or perhaps a better question is: how far north will the shoreline be by then?

Louisiana is on our minds lately because Tenova HYL and Nova are involved in a couple of gas analysis projects there. Here are some pictures of one of those projects.

http://www.nova-gas.com/

https://twitter.com/NOVAGAS

http://www.linkedin.com/company/nova-analytical-systems-inc-

http://www.tenovagroup.com/companies_hyl.php?id_company=2

http://www.tenovagroup.com/

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