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Convert CO2 to methanol at room temperature
A new electrocatalytic technology (diagram) is said to be the first to produce methanol from CO2 at ambient temperature and pressure in a commercially viable reactor design. Oxylus Energy (New Haven, Conn.; www.oxylusenergy.com) recently unveiled a 5-cm2 electrolysis cell to…
Copper-graphene composite could enable more efficient electrical hardware
Composites of copper and graphene have been explored as a way to improve electrical conductivity, but researchers have not been successful at enhancing conductivity with a corresponding reduction in the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), and have not been able…
This protective headset can charge itself using ambient light
At the CES 2024 event last month, this company unveiled what is said to be the world’s first self-charging protective communications headset (photo) that converts outdoor and indoor light into clean electrical energy. The Peltor WS Alert XPV headset uses…
New conveyor discharge adapter eases cleaning
This company has introduced a new discharge adapter (photo) as an option for its flexible screw conveyors. The adapter features a proprietary design with a tri-clover sanitary fitting that maintains the position and stability of the tube enclosing the rotating…
New partnerships bolster spatial simulation and regenerative AI
This company’s Xcelerator portfolio of industrial software is being combined with Sony’s new spatial content-creation system, featuring the XR head-mounted display with high-quality 4K OLED microdisplays and controllers for intuitive interaction with three-dimensional objects (photo). Enabling designers and engineers to…
A single-use micropump for microdosing applications
The new Quattroflow QB2-Standard (QB2-SD) micropump (photo) is the smallest size in this company’s family of single-use, lightweight and compact rotary microdosing pumps. The pump is designed for precision and can be used to transfer delicate biologic media. The QB2-SD…
PCB terminal block for single-pair Ethernet
Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a powerful technology for realizing Industry 4.0 and IIoT applications. The Combicon range PCB (printed circuitboard) terminal blocks (photo) provide suitable connection technology. The networking of smart devices continues to advance. This applies in particular to…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Overview of Reactor Types
Reactors are at the core of most processes in the chemical process industries (CPI) and are broken down most broadly by whether their operating mode is non-flow (batch) or continuous. Each reactor type has advantages and disadvantages depending on the…
Heat Pumps: Decarbonizing the Process Industries
As the chemical process industries push to decarbonize their businesses, heat pumps are emerging as a go-to alternative to fossil fuels. Efficient and cost-effective, heat pumps are a rapidly expanding solution for industrial heat demand In the drive to meet…
A Brief Review of Natural Water’s Influence on Scale Formation in Heat Exchangers
Understanding the water chemistry is a first step in preventing heat-exchanger fouling At the two power plants and chemical plant in which this author formerly worked, the fresh-water-makeup supplies (two lakes and an underground aquifer adjacent to a river) all…