UK: OFF-SITE FABRICATION HAS ADVANTAGES

Article Abstract:

Prefabrication can offer advantages such as reduced waste and reduced labour, the need for less plant, tools and and materials storage , quicker installation, fewer quality difficulties and guaranteed delivery. Whilst used fairly widely in hospitals and hotel construction, prefabrication is far less common in the housebuilding sector, although not in Japan and the Netherlands. In Japan housebuilding labour costs are reduced to 25%, only half the amount compared to on site construction. Unlike its other rivals who either subcontract or carry out prefabrication in rented buildings, UK company Crown House Engineering has a production plant for modules. Currently around 17% of all leading projects Crown House is involved in are carried out off site and this should increase considerably in the coming years. Modular Wiring Systems, a wiring company which competes with structured cable system suppliers, says that although modular wiring costs 33% more than standard wiring, there is an overall 40% cut in costs thanks to fewer labour costs and the removal of trunking.

Comment:

Has been operating a production plant for prefabricated housing modules

Strategy & planning, Engineering Services, Crown House Engineering Ltd.

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Time for the tiny turbines?

Article Abstract:

So-called microturbines, gas turbines with ratings only as low as a few tens of kilowatts, offer a number of advantages in power generation, a major one being fuel flexibility -being able to run on gas, diesel, petrol and bio fuels. They are also clean, reliable, quiet and easy to maintain and look set to pose a threat to low-end diesel generating sets. They offer efficiency of around 30% but this could rise to as much as 80% if the surplus heat is recovered by means of CHP. The opening up of the electricity supply sector to competition in the US is proving a spur for microturbines. US companies Capstone Turbine Corp, AlliedSignal and General Electric have all carried out work with microturbines and General Motors has announced a joint venture to market microturbine power systems internationally. In the UK, Turbo Genset Company (TGC) is working on microturbines.

Comment:

UK: Microturbines, gas turbines w/ ratings as low as a few tens of kilowatts, offer a number of advantages in power generation

Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing, Electric Power Turbines, Electric turbines

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Hot water boosts solar output by 20%....

Article Abstract:

A group of researchers is claiming to discovered a way of improving drastically the output from solar thermal power generation systems by 20%. The team has developed a technique for heating water directly in its troughs instead of using oil heaters to first warm the trough and then the water. By reducing exchanger losses and the risk of fire efficiency is improved. Extra mirrors have also been added and a coating capable of increasing the amount of energy absorbed has also been developed. *

Comment:

UK: Researchers are claiming to discover way of improving drastically output from solar thermal power generation systems by 20%

Motor and Generator Manufacturing, Solar Generators, Solar power plants

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