Northern Unveils ‘Supersonic’ Leaf Busting Tech
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Technology Magazine.
These two paragraphs outline the project.
A collaborative effort between Northern and The University of Sheffield has resulted in the development of an innovative piece of technology, small enough to be fitted onto passenger trains, that clears leaves from the line.
A recent demonstration at the Wensleydale Railway has highlighted the effectiveness of this tech, meaning that the disruptions from fallen leaves to rail operations could soon be a thing of the past.
The process is described in this paragraph.
The new cleaning system, developed by researchers from the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, works via firing dry ice pellets in a stream of air at supersonic speed at the railhead, resulting the freezing of the leaves stuck on the line, which are subsequently blasted away as the dry ice pellets turn back into a gas. The dry ice pellets themselves are provided from waste carbon dioxide from other industries.
I suppose the only problem, is that it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
More Details
This page on the Sheffield University web site, which is entitled End Of The Line For Rail Delays Caused By Autumn Leaf Fall, gives more derails.
Irish Floating Wind Tech Developer Unveils Pilot Project In Portugal
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Dublin-based floating wind technology company Gazelle Wind Power (Gazelle) has partnered with the Portuguese renewable energy developer WAM Horizon to accelerate the development of a pilot project in Aguçadoura, Portugal, which will use Gazelle’s floating wind platform.
And this is the first paragraph.
Within the partnership, WAM will provide Gazelle with strategic advisory to implement the pilot project.
There is also a picture, which does not look like any other float for a wind turbine, that I’ve seen.
Gazelle Wind Power’s home page, has a series of pictures and an explanation of how it works.
The web site claims the technology is Light, Agile and Fast and gives a few details in this paragraph.
Introducing Gazelle’s hybrid attenuated mooring platform, an evolutionary step-change in the design of floating platforms. Lighter, smaller and more agile than current designs, the Gazelle delivers unmatched stability and capacity. Moreover, our design benefits from modularisation, time-tested manufacturing processes, and can easily be assembled at port facilities worldwide.
From my experience of modelling floating structures in the 1970s, I believe that there a lot more permutations and combinations of components, that will work as floats for wind turbines.
Gazelle Wind Power’s design, is one of the first of a new generation of designs.
If anybody comes up with an unusual design and needs someone to criticise or model its floating behaviour, I’d be happy to help.
Gluten-Free Fish And Chips In Skegness
I had some excellent gluten-free fish and chips in Skegness at the Atlantic Fish Bar.
The restaurant is conveniently located just off the walking route between the seafront and the station.
As I had excellent gluten-free fish and chips on the front at Lowestoft, it does seem that the coast may be the place to go to get them.
Skegness Pier With Wind Turbines
These pictures were taken today from Skegness pier.
Note.
- The wind turbines on the horizon in the first seven pictures are the 270 MW of the Lincs wind farm and the 194 MW Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm.
- All wind turbines are just a few miles offshore.
- All turbine in these wind farms has a capacity of 3.6 MW.
The small cylindrical object actually on the pier in the last five pictures is also a wind turbine.
It is a vertical-axis turbine from Ventum Dynamics of Norway.
In Skegness Wind Turbine Trial To Light Up Pier In UK First, I wondered if it is noisy! It is not!
First Demonstration Of Low-Cost Green Hydrogen Tech Launched By Advanced Ionics
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Hydrogen Fuel News.
Advanced Ionics has announced its Early Access Program, sponsored by the Repsol Foundation. This program will be a paid pilot study. Their low-cost green hydrogen production processes are powered by the Symbion electrolyzer technology, which uses process waste heat and is up to 50% more efficient than other technologies. Through the Early Access Program, Advanced Ionics hopes to provide customers with confidence in the potential of its technology. The program is part of an effort from the foundation to support entrepreneurships spearheading industrial decarbonization tech.
Note.
- At a first glance this looks promising.
- Electrolysis and waste heat is suggesting high temperature electrolysis, which appears to be more efficient.
- I suspect that the Repsol Foundation has plenty of funds.
- Advanced Ionics have a comprehensive web site.
I shall add this to my list of electrolyser technology to watch.
ORE Catapult, ABP, Microsoft & Co To Create World’s Biggest Offshore Wind ‘Living Lab’ In UK
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
A consortium led by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has launched a project that will create the biggest offshore wind “living lab” in the world in the UK through the development of a 5G Testbed that includes Grimsby Port and the Lynn and Inner Dowsing offshore wind farm.
These two paragraphs outline the project, its aims and partners.
The GBP 2.8 million (approximately EUR 3.2 million) project, which will run until March 2024, involves setting up a 5G Testbed to allow technology providers to test and demonstrate their equipment in real-world conditions, with access to reliable, high-speed communications.
The aim is to kickstart a digital revolution in offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) and accelerate the development of a new generation of digital technologies essential for the expansion of offshore wind generation, according to ORE Catapult, which partnered with Microsoft, Vilicom, JET Connectivity, XceCo, Associated British Ports (ABP), Acceleran and Satellite Applications Catapult to realise the project.
This seems to me to be a very good idea and it is certainly well-backed.
NI Green Hydrogen Projects Win Government Grants
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Two green hydrogen projects in Northern Ireland have won government grants in the first round of the UK Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
These three paragraphs outline the projects.
Green hydrogen is made by using renewable electricity to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen – a process called electrolysis.
The grants will be used to help fund the construction of electrolysers.
One will be at the Mannok cement plant in Fermanagh, the other at Wrightbus in Ballymena.
I talked about the Wrightbus project in Ballymena: Wrightbus To Develop Hydrogen Production Facility.
Green Hydrogen to Flow From Denmark To Germany From 2028
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Hydrogen Central.
These are the two introductory paragraphs.
Green hydrogen to flow from Denmark to Germany from 2028.
The climate minister, Lars Aagaard, and the German economy and climate minister, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, signed an agreement in Copenhagen to build a land-based hydrogen pipeline from Denmark to Germany, which will commence operations in 2028.
The article also says this about the hydrogen infrastructure to Germany.
An underground hydrogen pipeline from western Jutland will probably be used to transfer the hydrogen to northern Germany. The capacity of the new pipeline was not confirmed.
I can see the UK having the means to export hydrogen to Europe.
Cross Border Railway £10million Feasibility Study Due To Get ‘Underway Imminently’
Thw title of this post, is the same as that of this article on ITV.
These three paragraphs introduce the article.
A £10million feasibility study into expanding the Borders Railway to Carlisle is due to get “underway imminently”.
Penrith and the Border MP Dr Neil Hudson discussed the plans at Parliament with Scotland Minister, John Lamont.
There have been calls for the service to be extended past Tweedbank to Carlisle taking in towns and villages including Longtown, Hawick and St Boswells.
This finally looks like a serious move by the Government.
But then there’s an election coming!
ZeroAvia To Bring Zero-Emissions Flight To Sweden
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on AviationSourceNews.
These three paragraphs outline the deal.
ZeroAvia has announced this week that it has struck a deal to bring zero-emissions flights to Sweden.
Such a deal has been struck to allow commercial routes from Skellefteå Airport using hydrogen-electric powertrains with Braathens Airlines.
Braathens Airlines operates a fleet of 14 ATR 72 aircraft, which will eventually have these powertrains utilized for flights across Sweden.
ZeroAvia are also targeting de Havilland Canada Dash 8 airliners for conversion to hydrogen.
The Anonymous Widower 