Masaru Nakamichi, leader of the Blanket Technology Group, Naka Fusion Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA, Ibaraki, Japan; www.naka.jaea.go.jp) has developed a new fabrication technology that enables the mass-production of beryllium intermetallic compounds (beryllides), which are advanced, efficient neutron multipliers…
A test method developed by SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; www.sabic.com) scientists drastically reduces the time needed to evaluate slow-crack growth resistance in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that is used in pressure pipes. The strain-hardening test method allows…
Artificial photosynthesis Scientists at Panasonic Corp.(Osaka, Japan; www.pana sonic.com) have developed an artificial photosynthesis system that utilizes sunlight to convert CO2 to organic materials (mainly formic acid) at what is said to be the highest efficiency yet achieved (0.2%).…
A new hydraulically driven, positive-displacement-pump system can lower the energy requirements for pumping water by 10% in large seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants, where electricity typically represents the largest cost. Recently launched by GE Water & Power (www.ge-energy.com) at…
A move toward bio-based malic acid... Novozymes A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark; www.novozymes.com) has developed a strain of metabolically engineered Aspergillus oryzae fungus that is capable of producing the four-carbon, dicarboxylic acid compound malic acid. The chemical building block malic acid is…
Synfuels China Technology Co. (Beijing; www.synfuelschina.com.cn) says it has developed a high-temperature slurry Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process (flowsheet) that produces mainly clean diesel, naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products, with unique features including: high productivity of proprietary catalyst; efficient recovery…
Plant Watch Air Products to build world’s largest energy-from-waste facility in the U.K. August 7, 2012 — Air Products (Lehigh Valley, Pa.; www.airproducts.com) plans to build and operate a renewable energy plant in the U.K. using advanced-gasification energy-from-waste (EfW) technology.…
The Linde Group (Munich, Germany; www.linde.com) has been awarded a long-term contract to supply Vietnamese steel-company POSCO SS-Vina (PSSV) with industrial gases. PSSV and local Group member Linde Gas Vietnam (LGV) recently signed an agreement to this effect. The deal…
JGC Corp. (Yokohama, Japan; www.jgc.co.jp) has been awarded a contract by Osaki CoolGen Corp. for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services of the core facilities for an integrated coal-gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) demonstration plant. The lump-sum turnkey contract, which was awarded…
Foster Wheeler AG (Zug, Switzerland; www.fwc.com) says that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract by Samsung C&T ECUK Ltd. (Samsung), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung C&T Korea, to participate in a…