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As we head into 2023, here are our most popular engineering blogs of 2022, including deep hole drilling machines, the new AbramsX battle tank, night-time solar panels and fascinating off-world construction projects for the Moon and Mars!
Top 8 PRV Engineering Blogs Of 2022
Engineering blogs are a fantastic resource for staying up-to-date on the latest developments from around the world. With technology constantly evolving and shaping the world around us, we are living in exciting times with more opportunities arising every day. From new materials and manufacturing techniques to innovative design approaches and cutting-edge research, there is always something new to learn and discover.
Deep Hole Drilling Machines And Applications
Deep hole drilling machines are specialised tools used for creating highly precise, round bores for a variety of industries, including oil and gas, armaments, aerospace, and medical implants and tools. They use special tools and setups to deliver high-pressure coolant and remove chips, allowing them to create holes with a depth-to-diameter ratio beyond the capabilities of any standard CNC machine. They are also able to measure microscopic residual stresses at depths of over 30 inches without damaging the original component. As far as interesting and informative content goes, this is among the top engineering blogs this year.
How Do Busbars Work And What Are They Used For?
One of our top engineering blogs talks about busbars, also known as bus bar which are electrical components used for distributing electricity. They are designed to conduct large amounts of electricity and are usually housed inside switchgear, panel boards, or busways. They allow new circuits to branch off anywhere along the route of the busway, rather than only at one location.
Busbars are used to connect high-voltage and low-voltage equipment in various industries, including electrical switchyards, battery banks, automotive, and defence. They help to make power distribution more flexible, affordable, and efficient.
As part of PRV’s bus bar manufacturing services, we provide a range of specialist coatings offering additional insulative or conductive properties to the product. We specialise in the use of Copper to manufacture all components for low, medium and high-voltage Industries. This includes rail rolling stock and trackside electrical components.
How To Generate Solar Energy At Night
Another of our fascinating engineering blogs highlights how researchers at Stanford University have developed solar panels that can generate small amounts of electricity at night. The panels are equipped with a thermoelectric generator that captures the heat flowing from the warmer air to the cooler surface of the solar panel, converting it into electricity. The panels work best on clear nights when they can radiate infrared light into space. In tests, the panels generated approximately 50 milliwatts per square metre per panel on clear nights on Stanford rooftops.
Why Is Decarbonising Steel Production So Important?
When it comes to engineering blogs, few are as important as the decarbonisation efforts across various sectors, especially steel as it is a significant source of carbon emissions, making up about 7% of global emissions. Decarbonising steel production is important for meeting global climate goals and reducing the impact of human activity on the environment.
There are several ways to decarbonize the steel industry, including using alternative raw materials, such as recycled steel and iron ore, and adopting new technologies and processes that reduce carbon emissions during the steel-making process. However, the process of decarbonising steel production is challenging, as the traditional method of producing steel, known as the “blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace” (BF-BOF) process, relies heavily on fossil fuels and produces large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB, along with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall, has developed a new technology called HYBRIT that produces fossil-free steel and water as a byproduct, instead of CO2.
Interesting Off-World Construction Projects
NASA has contracted construction technology company ICON, based in Austin, to find solutions for building on the Moon and Mars using off-world construction technologies. The goal is to build infrastructure using 3D printing technology, including landing pads, habitats, and roads. ICON’s approach involves using 3D printing technology to create habitats with materials that can withstand the harsh conditions of space.
Project Olympus, a construction system being developed for use in space, includes a mobile extruder and a robotic arm that fabricates structures out of lunar regolith (soil) and other construction components. It will be used to build landing pads, roads, habitats for astronauts, and other structures necessary for a long-term human presence on the Moon. These technologies could also be used to solve problems on Earth which is why this is one of our favourite technology and engineering blogs of 2022.
AbramsX Battle Tank For Future Warfare
General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has unveiled the AbramsX battle tank technology demonstrator, which is considered the most significant upgrade of American military tank technology since the Cold War. The AbramsX battle tank is a concept for the next generation of main battle tanks and is designed to counter new threats on the modern battlefield.
It features enhancements such as a three-person team, armour to protect against drone-dropped bombs, and technologies such as MUM-T (mobility, manned or unmanned teaming), new battlefield network and communication equipment, and AI technology. The AbramsX battle tank is an improvement on the existing Abrams tank, which has high production and maintenance costs and consumes a large amount of fuel.
How Construction Technology Is Changing The Industry
Construction technology is constantly evolving, with new methods and materials being developed to make construction faster, easier, more efficient, and more sustainable.
Companies that invest in the right types of construction technology can stay ahead of the competition and enjoy practical benefits such as reduced downtime, errors, and safety risks, as well as increased productivity and profitability.
Some of the most prominent construction technologies to consider now and in the future include BIM, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D printing, drones, wearables, and data collection apps. As far as engineering blogs go about the future of construction, this is a must-read.
What Is High-Voltage Switchgear Used For?
High-voltage switchgear is a type of electrical circuit protection equipment that protects and regulates electrical devices and separates them into metal enclosures. It is designed to de-energise to allow engineers to repair, test, and perform maintenance on the equipment while maintaining an uninterrupted supply of electricity.
High-voltage switchgear is used in the rail, Oil & Gas industries, and other sectors. Rail switchgear, also known as switching equipment, is a type of high-voltage switchgear that is used to safeguard and isolate railway electrical systems from the mains in case of an emergency.
It is composed of two metal boxes, one for circuit breakers and the other for fuse holders, and is set on a concrete foundation and connected to the track with metal rail clamps. Rail switchgear can be used in high or low-voltage applications, with high-voltage switchgear used for high-voltage circuits and low-voltage switchgear for low-voltage circuits.
Follow The Best Engineering Blogs In 2023 From PRV
PRV is one of a few skilled engineering companies with state-of-the-art deep hole drilling facilities in the UK. The service can be supplied as part of an overall manufacturing project or a sub-contracted service. As one of Europe’s top suppliers of precision engineering services, some of the sectors we work with include aerospace, defence, automotive, construction, rail, oil and gas.
We can manufacture from a customer’s own designs, specific drawings and specifications or OEM samples depending on the requirements. If you have any questions about deep hole drilling, busbars, steel fabrication or our capabilities, please contact us today.
By following our engineering blogs, professionals and enthusiasts alike can stay informed on the latest trends and technologies, and be a part of the exciting world of engineering as it continues to shape our future. From everyone at PRV Engineering, we wish you all a happy and prosperous new year!