It was a 5-year project to develop and test a commercially-sized marine current turbine. The turbine was installed in the summer of 2003 off Foreland Point, near Lynmouth on the North Devon coast of England, and has been successfully operated and tested sincethen.
The turbine is a 300 kW, horizontal-axis machine that resembles a 2-bladed wind turbine, but with the rotor underwater. The turbine is mounted on a steel pile fixed into a socket in the seabed, and the power train – the rotor, gearbox and generator - can be slid up and down the pile and out of the water for servicing.
The project has included identifying a site for the turbine and obtaining all the necessary Permissions to install it, including conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment into its effects on marine life and processes, the landscape, and other sea users.
The project was co-ordinated by the renewable energy consultancy, IT Power. The other Partners were Seacore, a marine construction company, ISET, a research organization attached to Kassel University, and Jahnel-Kesterman, a specialist gearbox manufacturer. Aparallel project funded by the UK Government Department of Trade and Industry, DTI, had IT Power as its co-ordinator and Seacore as a partner, but added Marine Current Turbines Ltd., Bendalls Engineering, and Corus as UK partners. This consortium developed the machine from an early concept stage to detailed designs, then manufactured or purchased the components, and assembled and tested the prototype. The installation was carried out by a jack-up barge that could stand on legs on the seabed, providing a stable platform for drilling and assembly. No underwater operations were required.
Early testing has confirmed much of the design philosophy, and the turbine has performed at least as well as predicted. New techniques have been developed to install the turbine in a deep, high current area, and much has been learnt about working in such environments. The project has increased understanding of the nature of tidal flows, and the behavior of a rotor in tidal currents. SEAFLOW lays the foundations for the development of a new industry, exploiting what is could be a sizeable renewable energy resource. The partners plan to follow SEAFLOW with further, larger prototypes, and to move to commercial production in the medium term. A dedicated company, Marine Current Turbines Ltd, has been set up to achieve this.
Source: India Daily Technology Team,
Nov. 27, 2005
India plans unmanned mission and is studying technical challenges in manned mission to far out in space
India has planned an unmanned scientific mission to moon called Chandayan-I which is scheduled for launch in 2007-08, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) on Thursday [8 December].
In a written reply, Chavan said Chandrayan-I spacecraft is scheduled for launch by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle during 2007-08.
To another question, Chavan said the Indian Space Research Organization is conducting preliminary studies to understand the technological challenges involved in undertaking manned mission to space.
These studies, he said include design of suitable space capsule to carry astronauts, life support systems, thermal management, issues related with re-entry and training facilities for the astronauts.
However, at present there is no proposal seeking approval to send humans to space.
Source: India Daily, Technology Team,
Dec. 8, 2005
In a written reply, Chavan said Chandrayan-I spacecraft is scheduled for launch by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle during 2007-08.
To another question, Chavan said the Indian Space Research Organization is conducting preliminary studies to understand the technological challenges involved in undertaking manned mission to space.
These studies, he said include design of suitable space capsule to carry astronauts, life support systems, thermal management, issues related with re-entry and training facilities for the astronauts.
However, at present there is no proposal seeking approval to send humans to space.
Source: India Daily, Technology Team,
Dec. 8, 2005
Existence of life in the cosmos, interesting results from Electron Probe Microanalysis
Scientists all around the world have found some interesting results while analyzing meteors and comet remains on the ground. Electron Probe Microanalysis provides some detailed data on the chemistry of the remains.
Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) basically works by bombarding a sample with a focused electron beam (typical energy = 5-30 keV) and collecting the X-ray photons thereby induced and emitted by the various atomic species in the sample. Because the wavelengths of these X-rays are characteristic of the emitting species, the sample composition can be easily identified by recording WDS spectra (Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy). WDS spectrometers are based on Bragg's law and use various moveable, shaped mono-crystals to reflect the X-rays in the direction of the detectors (mostly gas-filled proportional counters).
EPMA is a fully qualitative and quantitative method of non-destructive analysis at the surface of materials, with sensitivity at the level of ppm. Routine quantification to 1% reproducibility is obtained over several days. It is the one of the most precise and accurate micro-analysis techniques available.
Source: India Daily, Technology Team,
Dec. 7, 2005
Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) basically works by bombarding a sample with a focused electron beam (typical energy = 5-30 keV) and collecting the X-ray photons thereby induced and emitted by the various atomic species in the sample. Because the wavelengths of these X-rays are characteristic of the emitting species, the sample composition can be easily identified by recording WDS spectra (Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy). WDS spectrometers are based on Bragg's law and use various moveable, shaped mono-crystals to reflect the X-rays in the direction of the detectors (mostly gas-filled proportional counters).
EPMA is a fully qualitative and quantitative method of non-destructive analysis at the surface of materials, with sensitivity at the level of ppm. Routine quantification to 1% reproducibility is obtained over several days. It is the one of the most precise and accurate micro-analysis techniques available.
Source: India Daily, Technology Team,
Dec. 7, 2005
What Planet is Bill Clinton Living On?
by Arianna Huffington
After watching Bill Clinton’s jovial joint appearance with Bush 41 on Larry King last night, I found myself wondering what planet this guy is living on. He seemed utterly disconnected from reality.
The two former presidents were on the show to discuss “the big announcement” of the first major grants from the Bush/Clinton Katrina Fund, but King started the questioning by asking both men about Iraq.
Bush, Sr. begged off, saying: “I don’t get into these things, Larry, anymore, you know that.”
Maybe Clinton should have tried the same dodge, because his response was utterly incoherent -- starting with his claim, “I’m here to do this tsunami work” (hurricane work, Mr. President. The tsunami work was in the spring).
Then he offered up this pearl of wisdom on the war in Iraq: “Whether you were for it or against it or whatever your opinions of it are to date, every American ought to be pulling for this mission to succeed.” What the hell is that supposed to mean?
This is a catalytic moment in the Democratic Party, with its members struggling to define their position on the war (my advice: follow Jack Murtha), and the best Clinton can come up with is an empty bromide about every American pulling for the mission to succeed?
He then backed up his argument by saying: “All you have to do is remember this terrible terrorist attack in Jordan that was launched from the Sunni section of Iraq to know that”. Huh? You lost me there, Bill. Are you suggesting that we need to fight them over there so that they won’t blow up weddings in Jordan?
Just a couple of weeks ago, Clinton told a gathering of students in Dubai that the invasion of Iraq was “a big mistake”. So why didn’t he say that last night? Didn’t want to hurt Poppy’s feelings? Or is he taking a page out of Hillary’s Iraq playbook and calibrating his position depending on who he’s talking to?
Clinton was just as lost in space when the discussion turned to Katrina, the ostensible reason for the ex-presidents’ appearance. There was lots of talk about the $110 million the pair had raised -- including donations from the governments of Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and Trinidad and Tobago -- for Katrina relief, but not one word on the current uproar over the failure of President Bush and Congress to follow through on the promise to rebuild the Gulf Coast.
On the very same day that Mississippi Gov. -- and GOP stalwart -- Haley Barbour was lamenting that “inaction in Washington” was having “very negative effects on our recovery and rebuilding”, Bill Clinton was acting as if everything was going great: “The president has appointed a very good man -- Don Powell -- to head up the reconstruction effort. He’s a really good man and I think he’ll do fine.” Tell that to Katrina’s victims who are still waiting for the White House to deliver a comprehensive recovery plan and for Congress to authorize the money to pay for it. As Robert Byrd put it: “It’s December. The hurricane struck in August, and yet the victims seem forgotten by the White House.”
And, at least on Larry King, Clinton completely ignored the emotional Congressional testimony the day before of a group of black survivors of the storm. Didn’t the first black president feel their pain enough to even mention them?
The weirdest part of the interview was the discussion of Clinton’s summer visit to the Bush compound in Kennebunkport. The two former rivals sounded positively besotted with each other:
Bush: “We gave him a good time -- and went out and lost to him in golf and did a lot of fun things… It’s very easy and compatible. Guy fit right in, right into the family.”
Clinton: “I had a wonderful time… He took me out in his speedboat and nearly killed me, he was driving so fast -- I just loved it.”
Could Clinton sound any more like a giddy schoolgirl? His speedboat? Really? Ohmygod!
It all reminded me of “Vows,” the breathless New York Times feature where newly married couples describe their courtship. I can just imagine it:
“At first it was a love-hate thing, what with us running against each other in ‘92. Then came the tsunami and, as we were raising the $1 billion, the sparks started to fly. Just like it happened with Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney -- only without the sudden divorce, charges of “fraud”, and insinuations of homosexuality. I think our relationship was really cemented that time we were flying to Asia, and I let George have the only bed on the plane while I slept on the floor. He always said that “meant a great deal” to him. Then came that fateful summer trip to Kennebunkport: I won at golf, he drove too fast in his speedboat. After that it was just a matter of deciding which one of us would pop the question….”
This cover of this month’s Esquire calls Clinton “The Most Influential Man in the World”. Last night he seemed like “The Most Clueless Man in the World”. And the giddiest.
Arianna Huffington is a nationally syndicated columnist, author of ten books and co-founder and editor of the HuffingtonPost.com. She is also co-host of "Left, Right & Center," public radio's popular political roundtable program. Her weekly commentary is syndicated in newspapers across the country by Tribune Media Services.
Common Dreams,
Published on Saturday, December 10, 2005 by the Huffington Post
After watching Bill Clinton’s jovial joint appearance with Bush 41 on Larry King last night, I found myself wondering what planet this guy is living on. He seemed utterly disconnected from reality.
The two former presidents were on the show to discuss “the big announcement” of the first major grants from the Bush/Clinton Katrina Fund, but King started the questioning by asking both men about Iraq.
Bush, Sr. begged off, saying: “I don’t get into these things, Larry, anymore, you know that.”
Maybe Clinton should have tried the same dodge, because his response was utterly incoherent -- starting with his claim, “I’m here to do this tsunami work” (hurricane work, Mr. President. The tsunami work was in the spring).
Then he offered up this pearl of wisdom on the war in Iraq: “Whether you were for it or against it or whatever your opinions of it are to date, every American ought to be pulling for this mission to succeed.” What the hell is that supposed to mean?
This is a catalytic moment in the Democratic Party, with its members struggling to define their position on the war (my advice: follow Jack Murtha), and the best Clinton can come up with is an empty bromide about every American pulling for the mission to succeed?
He then backed up his argument by saying: “All you have to do is remember this terrible terrorist attack in Jordan that was launched from the Sunni section of Iraq to know that”. Huh? You lost me there, Bill. Are you suggesting that we need to fight them over there so that they won’t blow up weddings in Jordan?
Just a couple of weeks ago, Clinton told a gathering of students in Dubai that the invasion of Iraq was “a big mistake”. So why didn’t he say that last night? Didn’t want to hurt Poppy’s feelings? Or is he taking a page out of Hillary’s Iraq playbook and calibrating his position depending on who he’s talking to?
Clinton was just as lost in space when the discussion turned to Katrina, the ostensible reason for the ex-presidents’ appearance. There was lots of talk about the $110 million the pair had raised -- including donations from the governments of Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and Trinidad and Tobago -- for Katrina relief, but not one word on the current uproar over the failure of President Bush and Congress to follow through on the promise to rebuild the Gulf Coast.
On the very same day that Mississippi Gov. -- and GOP stalwart -- Haley Barbour was lamenting that “inaction in Washington” was having “very negative effects on our recovery and rebuilding”, Bill Clinton was acting as if everything was going great: “The president has appointed a very good man -- Don Powell -- to head up the reconstruction effort. He’s a really good man and I think he’ll do fine.” Tell that to Katrina’s victims who are still waiting for the White House to deliver a comprehensive recovery plan and for Congress to authorize the money to pay for it. As Robert Byrd put it: “It’s December. The hurricane struck in August, and yet the victims seem forgotten by the White House.”
And, at least on Larry King, Clinton completely ignored the emotional Congressional testimony the day before of a group of black survivors of the storm. Didn’t the first black president feel their pain enough to even mention them?
The weirdest part of the interview was the discussion of Clinton’s summer visit to the Bush compound in Kennebunkport. The two former rivals sounded positively besotted with each other:
Bush: “We gave him a good time -- and went out and lost to him in golf and did a lot of fun things… It’s very easy and compatible. Guy fit right in, right into the family.”
Clinton: “I had a wonderful time… He took me out in his speedboat and nearly killed me, he was driving so fast -- I just loved it.”
Could Clinton sound any more like a giddy schoolgirl? His speedboat? Really? Ohmygod!
It all reminded me of “Vows,” the breathless New York Times feature where newly married couples describe their courtship. I can just imagine it:
“At first it was a love-hate thing, what with us running against each other in ‘92. Then came the tsunami and, as we were raising the $1 billion, the sparks started to fly. Just like it happened with Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney -- only without the sudden divorce, charges of “fraud”, and insinuations of homosexuality. I think our relationship was really cemented that time we were flying to Asia, and I let George have the only bed on the plane while I slept on the floor. He always said that “meant a great deal” to him. Then came that fateful summer trip to Kennebunkport: I won at golf, he drove too fast in his speedboat. After that it was just a matter of deciding which one of us would pop the question….”
This cover of this month’s Esquire calls Clinton “The Most Influential Man in the World”. Last night he seemed like “The Most Clueless Man in the World”. And the giddiest.
Arianna Huffington is a nationally syndicated columnist, author of ten books and co-founder and editor of the HuffingtonPost.com. She is also co-host of "Left, Right & Center," public radio's popular political roundtable program. Her weekly commentary is syndicated in newspapers across the country by Tribune Media Services.
Common Dreams,
Published on Saturday, December 10, 2005 by the Huffington Post
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