The business case for energy management in high-tech industries

The high-technology sector – characterized by facilities such as laboratories, cleanrooms, and data centers – is often where innovation first occurs. These facilities are sometimes referred to as the “racecars” of the buildings sector because new technologies and strategies to increase performance often trickle down to other building types. Although these facilities are up to 100 times as energy-intensive as conventional buildings, highly cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities are often overlooked. Facility engineers are in the trenches identifying opportunities to improve energy productivity but often are unable to make the broader business case to financial decision makers. This article presents the technical opportunities for reducing energy costs, along with their broader strategic value for high-tech industries.

Self‐assembled structures in blends of disordered and lamellar block copolymers: SAXS,SANS and TEM study

BACKGROUND: The phase behaviour of copolymers and their blends is of great interest due to the phase transitions, self‐assembly and formation of ordered structures. Phenomena associated with the microdomain morphology of parent copolymers and phase behaviour in blends of deuterated block copolymers of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), i.e. (dPS‐block‐dPMMA)₁/(dPS‐block‐PMMA)₂, were investigated using small‐angle X‐ray scattering, small‐angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy as a function of molecular weight, concentration of added copolymers and temperature. RESULTS: Binary blends of the diblock copolymers having different molecular weights and different original micromorphology (one copolymer was in a disordered state and the others were of lamellar phase) were prepared by a solution‐cast process. The blends were found to be completely miscible on the molecular level at all compositions, if their molecular weight ratio was smaller than about 5. The domain spacing D of the blends can be scaled with M_n by D ～ M_n^2/3 as predicted by a previously published postulate (originally suggested and proved for blends of lamellar polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene copolymers). CONCLUSIONS: The criterion for forming a single‐domain morphology (molecularly mixed blend) taking into account the different solubilization of copolymer blocks has been applied to explain the changes in microdomain morphology during the self‐assembling process in two copolymer blends. Evidently the criterion, suggested originally for blends of lamellar polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene copolymers, can be employed to a much broader range of block copolymer blends. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Distribution of molecular weights and branching of high-density polyethylene

Samples of industrial high-density polyethylenes (Liten Macro, Liten FB 29, and Hostalen GM 9255 F) were divided into fractions by precipitation fractionation. The original samples and their fractions were characterized by light scattering, GPC, and viscometry. For all samples the molecular weight distribution is of logarithmic-normal type. High-density polyethylenes under investigation contain also high-molecular-weight fractions of pronouncedly branched structure, the content of branched molecules being, of course, considerably smaller than that in low-density polyethylenes.     

The dynamic effects in vibrating-plate and pulsed extractors—II. The forces under the steady and pulsating single-phase flow

The experimental results are presented of the friction losses under the steady flow of liquid through plates of various construction. Under the laminar and fully turbulent regime of the flow the experimental data agree well with the derived relations and an empirical relation is given for the transition regime. The measurements are carried out of the forces and pressures existing under plate vibrations and an analysis of the experimental data shows that the equivalent thickness of the plate, expressing the effect on inertia forces under pulsating flow, is a periodic function of time. An empirical correlation for this quantity is found and the set of equations for the calculation of the forces, pressures and the instantaneous and average power input thus completed. A simple empirical relation for the average power input is provided.     

Polymerization initiated with polymeric compounds,II

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the copolymers methacrylaldehyde — styrene — divinylbenzene and acrylaldehyde — ethylene dimethacrylate in the absence of usual initiators was investigated. The polymerization was found to proceed fairly readily and fast. Acceleration can be achieved by adding glycerylaldehyde. An increase in the surface of the initiating copolymer favourably influences the reaction rate; at the same time, however, physical trapping of ungraft poly(methyl methacrylate) molecules in the macroporous initiator seems likely to occur. It was also found that only copolymers containing aldehyde groups could be used for initiation and that besides MMA some other monomers could be polymerized in this way, such as glycidyl methacrylate, acrylic and methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, and alkyl acrylate.     

The silver catalyst in the hydrophobic oxygen electrode

Ten sorts of silver powder were tested as the catalysts for hydrophobic air electrodes in an alkaline electrolyte. The fine grain catalysts meet the demands of the electrodes better than the catalysts with large surface area which proved not to be satisfactory. The catalyst prepared by reduction of the aqueous suspension of a solid silver salt has the best properties. Electrochemical electrode behaviour is improved by using pure oxygen. The characteristics of some silver catalysts in hydrophilic electrodes were also determined.     

Development of fatigue cracks in complex mechanical structures

The paper summarizes some theoretical and experimental activities concerned with reliability problems of mechanical structures within advanced Czechoslovakian scientific and research institutions. The aim of the paper is directed to the system concept of the fatigue damage mechanism as acting on real mechanical structures in real operational conditions or in those being simulated in laboratories. Such a concept—which has long been emphasized by Prof. A. M. Freudenthal—is based herein on the knowledge gained by studying large-scale structure failures namely in aeronautics.     

Economic contradictions of the waste-to-energy concept and emissions reduction plan (case study,Czech Republic)

According to the latest waste-to-energy concept, the corporate operators of urban heating systems (UHS) in European Union (EU) should replace fossil fuels by incineration of mixed municipal solid waste (MMSW, following 2008/98/EC Waste Framework Directive that implements mandatory waste separation system for at least paper, plastic, glass, and metal packaging since 31 of December 2014). However, there are indications that MMSW incineration will be counterproductive to the existing Directive on reducing national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants. Material flow analysis for comparing the environmental impacts of the incineration of lignite, natural gas, and waste in UHS was carried out on a commercial scale. Results showed that replacing lignite by MMSW can lead to an increase in emissions of nitrogen oxides and other negative environmental impacts. However, it is proposed that co-combustion MMSW with natural gas could be a better alternative.