About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the CEO of BioEnergy Consult, and an international consultant, advisor and trainer with expertise in waste management, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, environment protection and resource conservation. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biogas technology, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. Salman has participated in numerous national and international conferences all over the world. He is a prolific environmental journalist, and has authored more than 300 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. In addition, he is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability through his blogs and portals. Salman can be reached at salman@bioenergyconsult.com or salman@cleantechloops.com.

Cofiring of Biomass

Cofiring of biomass involves utilizing existing power generating plants that are fired with fossil fuel (generally coal), and displacing a small proportion of the fossil fuel with renewable biomass fuels. Cofiring of biomass with coal and other fossil fuels can provide a short-term, low-risk, low-cost option for producing renewable energy while simultaneously reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Biomass can typically provide between 3 and 15 percent of the input energy into the power plant. Cofiring of biomass has the major advantage of avoiding the construction of new, dedicated, biomass power plant. An existing power station is modified to accept the biomass resource and utilize it to produce a minor proportion of its electricity.

Cofiring of biomass may be implemented using different types and percentages of biomass in a range of combustion and gasification technologies. Most forms of biomass are suitable for cofiring. These include dedicated energy crops, urban wood waste and agricultural residues such as rice straw and rice husk.

The fuel preparation requirements, issues associated with combustion such as corrosion and fouling of boiler tubes, and characteristics of residual ash dictate the cofiring configuration appropriate for a particular plant and biomass resource. These configurations may be categorized into direct, indirect and parallel firing.

1. Direct Cofiring

This is the most common form of biomass cofiring involving direct cofiring of the biomass fuel and the primary fuel (generally coal) in the combustion chamber of the boiler. The cheapest and simplest form of direct cofiring for a pulverized coal power plant is through mixing prepared biomass and coal in the coal yard or on the coal conveyor belt, before the combined fuel is fed into the power station boiler.

2. Indirect Cofiring

If the biomass fuel has different attributes to the normal fossil fuel, then it may be prudent to partially segregate the biomass fuel rather than risk damage to the complete station.

For indirect cofiring, the ash of the biomass resource and the main fuel are kept separate from one another as the thermal conversion is partially carried out in separate processing plants. As indirect co-firing requires a separate biomass energy conversion plant, it has a relatively high investment cost compared with direct cofiring.

Parallel Firing

For parallel firing, totally separate combustion plants and boilers are used for the biomass resource and the coal-fired power plants. The steam produced is fed into the main power plant where it is upgraded to higher temperatures and pressures, to give resulting higher energy conversion efficiencies. This allows the use of problematic fuels with high alkali and chlorine contents (such as wheat straw) and the separation of the ashes.

The Importance of Tech News

The pace of technological advancement in our world is staggering, and technology is driving our society. Take a case of color television which hit the market about seventy years ago. Cell phones first came into use 40 years back. Our cell phones have had internet connectivity for less than 20 years. And over the last two years, people accessing the internet through their mobile phones have surpassed those using desktops. Most people didn’t grow around a fast-paced, technologically advanced world. Why is it essential that we keep up with the latest trends in technology?

This article will look at the importance of tech news.

significance of tech news

Most would not have a dedicated team to keep them updated with the latest tech news. Therefore, the vital thing is to be open-minded and tenacious. You can keep up with the newest tech news through blogs and tech publications that touch on aspects that impact your daily life. One does not need to be on the extreme cutting edge to track the breaking tech news. There is a flood of tech news, and it can be challenging to sift through them and pick the most reliable ones.

Below is a list of best websites that will ensure you keep up with technology news.

1. Arstechnica.com

Ars Technica has over two decades of publishing tech news that is popular with professionals in tech. Ars Technica covers a comprehensive range of tech news while also touching on business, legal and consumer categories. Ars Technica also has a forum where readers can interact with each other. Ars Technica uses paid ads to sustain its operations, and even after preventing access to readers with ad blockers, the site is still one of the popular tech news sites.

2. techcruch.com

TechCrunch has about 50,000 contributors and focuses on the business part of technological innovations reporting on business acquisitions and product launches. Readers can navigate the TechCrunch site by searching for major brands or browsing news and reviews based on different categories. TechCrunch has a unique sub-section called CrunchBase, which houses profiles of tech companies. In 2011 TechCrunch faced a setback when it faced ethical violations accusations. Despite the founder Michael Arrington leaving the company shortly after, the company bounced back and remains a key player in tech news.

3. wired.com

Wired.com split from Wired Magazine, which was bought in 1990 by Conde Nast Publishing. Wired publishes tech content relating to popular culture. Wired has segments in business, opinion, and entertainment touching on electronics. One can also buy Hard copies of Wired Magazine on newsstands.

The Significance of Tech News

We live in an era of science and technology that keeps transforming how our world operates swiftly. Every day we are bombarded with new information. Tech news enables us to learn about new products and services and access information on any topic that interests us. For instance, an individual can learn about the options and features of newly released phones, laptops, smart watches, cameras, and other gadgets before purchasing.

How Energy-Efficient Technologies Can Contribute to Sustainability

Businesses also benefit from tech news by utilizing the information they gather to make their operations efficient. Companies also identify the needs of their customers and keep up with the latest trends in the industry through tech news. When business owners stay informed about the upcoming innovations in technology, they can cut down on costs and improve efficiency. Therefore, tech news affects the sales and profits an organization can make.

Being informed about the latest technology news can make life easier when one utilizes the latest technology in their personal lives and work. New technology leads to efficiency and makes life pleasant.

4 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Green Energy Right Now

According to a study by Ourworldindata, around 11% of global energy comes from renewable technologies, around one-quarter of our electricity comes from renewable energy, and that’s great news for the planet. From hydroelectricity, wind and solar energy, biofuels and geothermal, there are now many alternatives for public and private use. But why should you invest in green energy? What are the benefits of eco-friendly energy sources and why should you care?

renewables-investment-trends

1. It’s actually cheaper!

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, renewable energy is increasingly the cheapest source of new electricity, in fact the cost of photovoltaic energy has fallen by 82% in the last decade! But why is that? Well, the operating costs are much lower for renewable energy plants than fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. As long as there is sunshine there are possibilities of creating solar energy!

If you’re looking for an energy plan for your home, you’ll soon find out that energy suppliers offering renewable electricity are cheaper and more accommodating. They also tend to have environmentally friendly policies with projects such as planting trees every time you sign up for a new contract for example.

2. It’s better for our health

One of the most underrated benefits of renewable energy is the impact on our health. Increases in fossil fuels, road transport or open burning of waste in cities has contributed to air pollution around the globe. The particles found in this polluted air can have a devastating effect on our health.

In fact, according to many studies, air pollution increases the risk of lung infections, lung cancer, premature death and asthma. Thus, it is good to invest in clean energy if you are really concerned about your health.

3. It’s good for the climate

Some of the existing issues the world is facing nowadays are waste and carbon-related, such as the greenhouse gas effect, climate change, and global warming that could also be caused by coal-produced energy.

Too much carbon and other gases are continuously produced on the earth’s surface due to improper waste disposal and coal energy consumption. In return, gas molecules continuously increase in volume, causing global warming.

Because of the greenhouse gas effect and global warming, climate change occurs. This leads to an interruption in the natural climate cycle of the earth due to the high volume of gases produced by carbon emissions and improper waste disposal.

One of the main benefits of renewable energy is the fact that it produces no or very low greenhouse gases. Therefore, it produces much less pollution, resulting in cleaner air and water. Renewable energy is derived from nature so by definition the resources have the benefit of being abundant and pretty much available anywhere.

4. It’s the future

In the future, we are more than likely going to only use climate-friendly energy sources such as the sun or wind to heat and power our homes and businesses. Electric cars will become the norm and more jobs will be created around environmentally friendly energy all over the globe. We’re also expected to see fossil fuel cars disappear in the long run with more and more investment in the green sector.

Going Green For Good

If you’re a business-minded person, investing in energy penny stocks is a good idea. It’s one way to support green energy businesses while earning money. You can invest in companies that look for new renewable energy solutions, such as converting wastes into energy.

Aside from green energy, you can go green or environment-friendly through proper waste disposal. Whenever organic waste decomposes, gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide are produced. Thus, when the sun’s radiation enters the atmosphere, these gases tend to redirect heat in different directions, warming the lower atmosphere.

If everyone uses green energy and carries out proper waste management at home, people could help save the environment. Hence, going green should be a great consideration in mind.

A Guide to Sustainable Waste Management for Businesses

There are many reasons to adopt sustainability as your main guiding policy in conducting business. With environmental problems becoming more prevalent worldwide, consumers seem to show a strong preference for businesses that adhere to environmental ethics. A sustainable business strategy can thus give you an edge over competitors. But business sustainability is tightly connected to waste management because any business activity generates waste that can harm the environment.

In this article, you’ll discover a detailed guide to sustainable waste management for businesses that want to build an eco-friendly identity.

waste-management-in-companies

Identify Wasteful Activities

Whether you deliver products or services, analyze your business practices and determine what activities produce the largest amounts of waste. Most importantly, determine whether these waste-generating activities can be avoided or reduced. For example, paper consumption in offices is often wasteful and can be easily reduced by avoiding unnecessary printing and copying and working predominantly with electronic files.

So, identify all wasteful activities in your company. Then implement a series of rules to avoid these activities or reduce their recurrence. Much better than implementing a sustainable waste management system is not to generate waste at all.

Reuse, Recycle or Donate

Pay attention to the waste generated in your company and determine which items or components can be reused, recycled, or donated. In many cases, what you consider waste can find an application elsewhere.  Good waste management involves foremost an assessment of whether an item has lost all functional and practical purposes or is fit for other uses inside your company or elsewhere.

Always consider reusing items that haven’t lost their properties or features. Instruct employees to recycle. Add bins in the office for materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, or aluminum. Never send electronics, office equipment, furniture, or tools to the landfill. Either send them to a recycling facility or donate them to a charity.

Create a Disposal Plan

It’s almost impossible to avoid all waste since even raw materials and supplies can turn into waste due to being contaminated or damaged. This is why you need a waste disposal plan that it’s either dangerous to keep on your premises or cannot be recycled. For example, old and unused fuels can become contaminated and require removal from a specialized service.

waste-management-plan

To maintain a clean, healthy, and safe environment for your employees and customers, create a disposal plan for each type of waste. Ideally, only biodegradable waste should go to the landfill.

Conclusion

Although a business can find it difficult not to generate waste, it’s important to develop a waste management system that takes into consideration environmental concerns. Businesses need raw materials, supplies, tools, electronics, and various equipment to function properly. They also need energy, electricity, and water. And because businesses consume so many tangible and intangible resources, governments and customers expect them to show a sense of responsibility for the environment.

By adopting a sustainable waste management system, you demonstrate an ethical, future-oriented business approach. Perform a waste audit and use the tips above to set waste reduction goals for your business.

Utilization of Date Palm Biomass

Date palm trees produce huge amount of agricultural wastes in the form of dry leaves, stems, pits, seeds etc. A typical date tree can generate as much as 20 kilograms of dry leaves per annum while date pits account for almost 10 percent of date fruits.

date-wastes

Date palm biomass is found in large quantities across the Middle East

Date palm is considered a renewable natural resource because it can be replaced in a relatively short period of time. It takes 4 to 8 years for date palms to bear fruit after planting, and 7 to 10 years to produce viable yields for commercial harvest. Usually date palm wastes are burned in farms or disposed in landfills which cause environmental pollution in dates-producing nations.

The major constituents of date palm biomass are cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. In addition, date palm has high volatile solids content and low moisture content. These factors make date palm residues an excellent biomass resource in date-palm producing nations.

Date palm biomass is an excellent resource for charcoal production in Middle East

A wide range of physico-chemical, thermal and biochemical technologies exists for sustainable utilization of date palm biomass. Apart from charcoal production and energy conversion (using technologies like combustion and gasification), below are few ways for utilization of date palm wastes:

Conversion into fuel pellets or briquettes

Biomass pellets are a popular type of alternative fuel (analogous to coal), generally made from wood wastes and agricultural biomass. The biomass pelletization process consists of multiple steps including pre-treatment, pelletization and post-treatment of biomass wastes. Biomass pellets can be used as a coal replacement in power plant, industries and other application.

Conversion into energy-rich products

Biomass pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of date palm biomass occurring in the absence of oxygen. The products of biomass pyrolysis include biochar, bio-oil and gases including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

Depending on the thermal environment and the final temperature, pyrolysis will yield mainly biochar at low temperatures, less than 450 0C, when the heating rate is quite slow, and mainly gases at high temperatures, greater than 800 0C, with rapid heating rates. At an intermediate temperature and under relatively high heating rates, the main product is bio-oil.

Bio-oil can be upgraded to either a special engine fuel or through gasification processes to a syngas which can then be processed into biofuels. Bio-oil is particularly attractive for co-firing because it can be more readily handled and burned than solid fuel and is cheaper to transport and store.

Conversion into biofertilizer

Composting is the most popular method for biological decomposition of organic wastes. Date palm waste has around 80% organic content which makes it very well-suited for the composting process. Commercial-scale composting of date palm wastes can be carried out by using the traditional windrow method or a more advanced method like vermicomposting.

RRB NTPC Recruitment Process: All You Need to Know

RRB NTPC recruitment 2019 is open to fill up 35277 vacancies in various posts. Out of the number of vacancies advertised, 10628 are for RRB NTPC Graduate posts while 24649 are for RRB NTPC Undergraduate posts.

The RRB NTPC recruitment process involves 4 stages. The stages will be Computer Based Test 1 or CBT 1, CBT 2, Typing Skill Test and Document Verification. The final appointment will be made based on a medical examination. You are requested to check this page for all the latest updates.

The RRB NTPC Recruitment dates are yet to be notified. The dates of the next rounds will be subsequently notified. 

RRB NTPC CBT 1, 2022

All the candidates irrespective of the post applied for will have to appear for CBT 1 and CBT 2 respectively. Both of these tests will be conducted online. Before starting to prepare for CBT 1 exam, one needs to understand the exam pattern first.

Duration of the examination:  90 minutes for normal candidates. 2 hours for candidates belonging to the PWD category.

Nature of Test: MCQs

Total Number of Questions: 100

Subjects: General Awareness, Logical Reasoning and Aptitude and Mathematics

Marking: 1 mark for every right answer, 1/3rd mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

Check the table below for a better understanding of CBT 1:

Subjects Number of questions Marks Duration
Logical Reasoning and Aptitude 30 30 90 minutes
General Awareness 40 40
Mathematics 30 30
Total 100 100

RRB NTPC CBT 2, 2019

Candidates qualifying the CBT 1 will be allowed to appear for CBT 2. The number of students shortlisted will be 20 times the total vacancies. Here’s a look at the pattern of CBT 2.

Duration of Exam: 1 hour 30 minutes for normal candidates. 120 minutes for PWD candidates.

Nature of Test: MCQs

Total Number of Questions: 120

Subjects: Logical Reasoning and Aptitude, Mathematics and General Awareness

Marking: 1 mark for every right answer and 1/3rd of the marks will be deducted for every incorrect option chosen.

Check the table below for RRB NTPC Recruitment  2019 of CBT 2: 

Subjects Number of questions Marks Duration
Logical Reasoning and Aptitude 35 35 1 hour 30 minutes
General Awareness 50 50
Mathematics 35 35
Total 120 120

 

Minimum Qualifying Percentage for both CBT 1 and CBT 2

The minimum qualifying marks for both CBT 1 and CBT 2 are different for different categories.

Below is a table showing the minimum qualifying percentage for the different categories.

Category Minimum Qualifying Percentage
Unreserved 40
EWS 40
SC 30
ST 25

Those who will not secure the above cut-off percentage will not be allowed to appear for the Typing Skill Test. However, there is a relaxation of 2% for PWD candidates.

RRB NTPC Recruitment Typing Skill Test

The candidates who qualify CBT 1 and CBT 2 will have to sit for the Typical Skill Test. The candidates need to obtain a vision certificate from a competent authority first. However, disabled candidates will be exempted from this exam. Aspirants must know that there will be a 70:30 weightage of marks, which is 70% for CBT 2 stage and 30% weightage on typing speed. There should not be any error.

Language Typing Speed (in words per minute)
English 30
Hindi 25

 

The number of candidates to be called up for this round will be 8 times the number of vacancies. 

RRB NTPC Recruitment Document Verification 2022

As per the RRB NTPC Recruitment guidelines, the selected candidates will be called up for Document Verification. 50% more candidates will be called up as standby. At the time of this round, one needs to carry the original as well as 2 photocopies of the documents listed below:

  • Class 10th Marksheet
  • Class 12th Marksheet
  • Graduation Degree for Graduate Post Candidates
  • Income Certificate for EWS candidates
  • Minority community certificate or Caste Certificate if applicable
  • Receipt of SBI Challan 
  • Two self-attested coloured photographs
  • Domicile Certificate
  • Medical Certificate (if any)

RRB NTPC Recruitment Medical Examination 2022

Although the rounds of RRB NTPC Recruitment indeed finish with Document Verification, the final appointment will be made based on the medical exam to be conducted by the authority. It is compulsory for a candidate to pass this test. This test is intended to check the physical stamina of the candidate. Each medical standard is described below:

A2: Physically fit in all aspects. Good vision without glasses, must pass the coloured, night and binocular visions.

A3: Physically fit in all aspects. Good vision with or without glasses, must pass the coloured, night and binocular visions.

B2: Physically fit in all aspects. Slightly less vision, must pass the field test.

C2: Physically fit in all aspects, Vision poor, must be able to read and write at a close range.

After filling up the details, one must start preparing for the exam at the earliest as the exam is competitive and hard. To ace the exam, one must know the exam pattern and syllabus first. There are many books and online PDFs available online to help you crack the exam. One can also take help from articles, newspapers, class 10 CBSE books to get prepared as well. Also, one must thoroughly analyze previous years question papers to understand which questions have a higher chance of being repeated this time.

8 Ways To Make Your Property More Energy Efficient

There are many ways to make your property more energy efficient regardless of your budget. If you have more money to spend, then you can invest in some renovation work that will help you to reduce energy expenses. However, suppose your budget is on the lower side. In that case, you can purchase some features that are small and inexpensive but can have a massive impact on your final bill. But keep in mind that you should carry out extensive research for each energy-saving solution you would like to try. That will help you to determine what your final savings will be and which solutions are not ideal for your property.

How To Make Your Property More Energy Efficient

1. Get A Quality Roof That Will Keep All The Heat Inside

A quality roof is a key to every safe and energy-efficient property. Companies such as ClearAmber Shop offer roofing sheets made of various materials, such as corrugated roofing sheets or plastic roof sheets that will help you to keep all the heat inside the building. As a result, there will not be any heat leaking outside, and you will stop cold air from flowing inside.

Like this, heating will need a shorter time to make the interior warm, and you will use much less gas or electricity, depending on the radiators you have. Cutting down your gas and electricity usage will make the building more efficient and lower your energy bills at the same time.

2. Close Off Any Gaps In The Construction

Filling any gaps in your construction, also called draught proofing, will stop any cold air from flowing into the building. You can find these gaps anywhere around windows, doors, exposed piping, fittings, floorboards or loft hatches. You should also pay attention to any cracks in the walls. However, there are several easy ways how you can fix the issue. You can use silicone sealant to hold water away. Or there are other options such as self-adhesive foam strips, flexible fillers or shaped rubber or plastic.

For any larger gaps, you should consider trying expanding polyurethane foam which expands while drying and then sets hard. This way, you will be able to have the heating on for a shorter time during the colder months and save on energy expenses.

3. Use Smart Meter To Stay On Track With Your Electricity Usage

Having a smart meter will allow you to see how much electricity you use in real-time. This way, you will be able to identify your weaknesses. From there, you can plan what you will do to make your home more energy efficient. The smart meter will also allow you to set a timer for your heating. This way, the heating will be on only for a specific part of the day.

Energy-Saving Tips for Small Businesses

During the colder months, it can be tempting to leave the heating on for a bit longer. However, if you push turning the heating off further and further, you will need to pay more than you would like to. The timer will help you to make sure that you do not have your heating on for too long. Regulating the time will allow you to control your energy usage, and you will save money on your bills.

4. Wall Insulation Can Help You Cut Your Energy Bills In The Long Run

Wall insulation can be a costly procedure. However, it will become a worthwhile investment in the long run. Of course, the overall price depends on whether you want to have cavity, internal or external wall insulation. Then, you need to take into account the size of the property, as each type of wall insulation has a different price per square meter.

Each insulation has a different process and finish. However, they all have one purpose in common. They help you to ensure that there is no heat escaping through the walls and keep your energy usage balanced. This way, your building will be more energy efficient and will allow you to save the expenses on the bills every year.

5. Keep Your Home Warm With Floor Insulation

Just like with walls, many homes have problems with heat escaping from the room through the floor. There are different kinds of floor insulation, and you need to know which floor you have in order to pick the right solution for your property. You usually do not need to put floor insulation into rooms that are located upstairs.

But suppose a room is located above a space that is not heated, like, for example, a garage. In that case, you should consider floor insulation as a solution to make the building more energy efficient. You also need to remember that your building may have more than one type of flooring. Then, you will need to inquire about more kinds of floor insulation.

6. Consider If Solar Panels Are The Right Solution For You

It is no secret that solar panels are expensive and require a lot of space. However, if you have the financial means and enough space, then they will become one of the most effective features on your way to a more energy-efficient building. You should also carry out extensive research in order to find out if solar panels are a suitable solution for your building.

solar energy diy

If your research brings good news, then you will be able to generate your own renewable electricity. But there is one more obstacle that could ruin your plans for solar panel installation. If the building is in an area that is often covered in the shade, then it would not be the best investment for your property.

7. Include Energy Efficient Fittings In Your Property

Including energy-efficient fittings in your property can be a more affordable way to reduce your energy usage. For instance, you can place LED light bulbs throughout the property. Like this, you will save a significant amount of electricity, and they last up to 10 times longer than regular light bulbs. You can also invest in water-saving shower heads. These features regulate the amount of water you are using and can help you to cut down your expenses.

For the same purpose, you should consider purchasing low-flow taps that will help you to reduce the water usage in sinks. On top of that, you can also invest in low-flush toilets that will help you to regulate the flow of water even further. Such solutions can be affordable and easy to install. This way, you will reduce your energy usage significantly and stay within your budget.

8. Switch Off Devices When You Are Not Using Them

By switching off devices when you are not using them, you can save around £55 a year. In the long run, this can become a significant amount of money that you could use on some of the different needs of your property. You can turn the devices off at the plug. These days, most modern appliances are set in a way that will not upset their programming if turned off.

To make your job easier, you can also get a smart plug that will help you to turn off the devices all at once. Suppose you are not sure about any of your appliances and their settings. In that case, we recommend you check the manufacturer’s manual and follow the instructions.

Why Choose Online Manufacturing?

There are many reasons why you would choose to go with online manufacturing rather than a brick and mortar or even a local domestic one. Here we will talk about the value of going with an online manufacturer and the many advantages that it can have over the others. But before that, let’s discuss why choosing online manufacturing is beneficial in 2022.

future of manufacturing

Online Manufacturing is the Future of Manufacturing

The global market is presently confronted with an acute shortage of resources, especially metals. The coronavirus pandemic has led to a significant decrease in demand for these products, resulting in a scarcity of supplies.

The Russian war against Ukraine further strained the fragile global supply chain. Ukraine became a major supplier of raw materials over the last decade, while Russia is one of the largest producers of copper and nickel.

The conflicts between the two countries have caused problems for the global economy, and they have worsened the situation because of the instability in the geopolitical environment.

Technology has also improved over the years. Now it’s easy to contact any manufacturer from any country, so you need to be smart about sourcing online.

Why Choose Online Manufacturing?

In today’s world, online manufacturing is becoming increasingly popular. Even a decade ago, there was no such concept.

CNC Machines, 3D Printers, EDM, Plasma Cutters, and other computer numerical controlled machines are some of the most technically impressive machines of the twenty-first century. Still, the idea of connecting them – and the machinists behind them – via the internet to anything outside their shop is new.

But the situation has changed now. Now, you can find an online manufacturer easily. Many suppliers are using online manufacturing for various reasons. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of online manufacturing in depth here.

Pros of Online Manufacturing

1. Easily Skip the Request for a Quote

With the advent of online quoting tools, RFQs are no longer needed . An online quote is just a few clicks away. They can be replaced with a simple request for information, which allows you to get a price estimate without having to go through the hassle of sourcing quotes from multiple vendors.

Because a true internet CNC machining source is driven by advanced digital technology, the data used in pricing ensures the price you pay is fair. Instead of sending out RFQs via fax or e-mail and sometimes waiting weeks or months for them to return, you can simply upload a part to the net and get an instant price. This advantage of a fast, fair cost is one of the best benefits of modern-day internet and cloud computing. And it removes any need to spend time searching for quotes at all.

2. An Ecosystem Is Born Out of Your Supply Chain

Another benefit of choosing online manufacturing is the ability to work with a wide range of vendors across the country. When a strike, natural disaster, or bad case of flu disrupts your supply and threatens the timeliness of your shipments, you can simply switch to another vendor who hasn’t been affected by the disruption.

3. Time Savings

When you choose online manufacturing, you can often get your project made much faster than if you were to go with a traditional brick-and-mortar manufacturer. This is because online manufacturers often have no MOQ requirements, and rely on their fast turn-around capability to make their services outstanding. Also, Right now many online manufacturers are integrating various manufacturing services to keep customers. For example, you may notice that one-stop manufacturing solutions from rapid prototype manufacturing to mass production are easily accessible online.

ecofriendly-manufacturing

4. Collecting data is more straightforward than ever

What if you could capture all the information about any component ever produced in one secure and easily accessed location? Not just the specific data files associated with a particular part, but every variation you’ve ever manufactured or considered, every material it was built with, every test it went through, every assembly it was part of, every production line it ran on? Cloud-based manufacturers use AI to capture all the data and supply you to choose the best option.

5. Cost savings

When you choose online manufacturing, you can often get your project made for less money than if you were to go with a traditional brick-and-mortar manufacturer. This is because online manufacturers often have lower overhead costs, which they can pass on to you with lower prices.

Cons of Online Manufacturing

But pls note that not all online manufacturing is reliable, we can mention some that many suppliers talk about. For example, there can be production delays, issues with quality control, and communication difficulties. You need to learn how to choose the correct online manufacturing.

How to choose the right manufacturer online?

It would be best to consider a few things when you want to find a manufacturer online. First, you must ensure that the manufacturer you choose is good at quality and communication. You can learn about them from their website and learn about their communication status simply by sending a message.

There are a lot of factories out there, but how do you know which ones are good and which ones are bad? Ask your friends, ask around in forums, or look at what other people say on the web. If there are a lot of unhappy customers around, avoid the factory. A good factory will have a lot of happy customers, so check out the customer reviews before you choose a manufacturer.

Conclusion

If you are in business, there are few options except online manufacturing. We hope this article has helped you to learn about this wonderful experience of online manufacturing. Now it’s time for you to embrace it and make your business more profitable.

The Bright Future of Solar Lighting

Solar power is an appealing source of energy, considering that it is widely available and sustainable. However, only two percent of the world’s electricity is derived from solar as of 2018. In the past, the production of solar energy has been costly and fairly ineffective.

Good thing, new technological advancements over the past years have propelled this growing reliance on solar by lowering costs. Technological innovations also aim to expand the use of solar by further decreasing costs and improving the efficiency of solar panels.

The Importance of Solar Lights

Although there are many uses for solar power, solar lighting is one of the most prominent. Large electrical products need high energy levels to operate them. This means that it needs large solar panels to collect appropriate energy from the sun.

solar-lights-highway

On the other hand, solar street lighting do not require large sources of energy and can thus be operated off much smaller panels. They provide a higher level of functionality and flexibility since the solar panels can be integrated into the lighting system.

The magnificence of solar lighting is that you can use it often and virtually any time without any cost except for the initial purchase. Direct sunlight is not even required to charge the batteries.  With advanced technology, new models of solar lights can charge even on a cloudy day.

Solar lights are well designed for outdoor usage, removing the need for risky electrical wiring. Excellent placement means maximum charging and the light turns on as the sun sets. While more extensive circuitry is required, solar lighting can also be used for interior lighting.

The Future of Solar Lighting

It is always difficult to predict the future. But by observing current trends in energy usage, solar energy industry, and prospective scientific research, we can catch a peek of what solar lighting could mean for the future:

Materials

Most likely, the materials that go into solar panels will change. Cell phone manufacturers, smartphones, electric vehicles, and cordless power tools all rely on the same rare earth component array that solar panel makers do.

Worldwide stocks of these resources continue to decline. Due to this, scientists have warned companies producing high-tech gadgets to find alternatives (such as iron pyrite or zinc). Experts advise manufacturers to develop their metal recycling and recovery systems.

Cost

New designs will be developed to absorb more light and convert light energy more efficiently into electricity. Upcoming solar light models will also be less costly to build than existing designs to outperform current solar cells.

solar-steer-lights

Electricity producers and consumers are more likely to embrace solar power if it is as costly or more affordable than others. Any changes to current designs of solar cells should reduce overall costs to be widely accepted.

Silicon solar cells are likely to persist to fall in price and be manufactured in large numbers in the near future. Additionally, research will continue on alternative models for solar cells that are more powerful and less costly.

With the bulk production of solar cells and emerging technologies, these developments will continue to be made possible.

Solar Power Usage

As the fight against climate change is escalating, so will the demand for renewable energy sources. Solar power will play a significant role in combating global climate change.

Solar could also spread to developing countries in the form of microgrids. Microgrids are distributed installations of electricity generation that provide energy to a limited area like a town, community, or a neighborhood.

Solar microgrids are an effective way to electrify remote communities in Africa or Southeast Asia. It is most effective for developing nations where it is too costly for electricity companies to connect far-flung towns to the power network.

Transparent Solar Cells

This advanced form of solar cells is adequately transparent for many new applications. Researchers developed a model that includes organic salts that absorb enough UV and infrared light to turn solar radiation into energy

Picture this sort of solar cell on the screen of a smartphone or a car’s windshield. Ultimately, transparent solar cells are more appealing than the conventional dark-colored panels and have a wider range of uses.

Final Thoughts

The use of solar lighting dates back to a thousand years ago when man first discovered fire. However, it is also very much the present and will be a significant part of the future. Solar lighting is here to stay until the sun shines its last beam, and as technology advances, the developments can grow over and over again.

Convinced yet of the bright future of solar lighting? If so, look no further than www.heisolar.com. HEI is a global leader in providing highly efficient solar lighting products. The company offers a range of outdoor solar lighting solutions for your home, business, or property.

Things You Should Know About Algaculture

High oil prices, competing demands between foods and other biofuel sources, and the world food crisis, have ignited interest in algaculture (farming of algae) for making vegetable oil, biodiesel, bioethanol, biogasoline, biomethanol, biobutanol and other biofuels, using land that is not suitable for agriculture.

Algae holds enormous potential to provide a non-food, high-yield, non-arable land use source of biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen fuels. Microalgae are the fastest growing photosynthesizing organism capable of completing an entire growing cycle every few days. Up to 50% of algae’s weight is comprised of oil, compared with, for example, oil palm which yields just about 20% of its weight in oil.

Algaculture (farming of algae) can be a route to making vegetable oils, biodiesel, bioethanol and other biofuels. Microalgae are one-celled, photosynthetic microorganisms that are abundant in fresh water, brackish water, and marine environments everywhere on earth. The potential for commercial algae production is expected to come from growth in translucent tubes or containers called photo bioreactors or open ocean algae bloom harvesting. The other advantages of algal systems include:

  • carbon capture from smokestacks to increase algae growth rates
  • processing of algae biomass through gasification to produce syngas
  • growing carbohydrate rich algae strains for cellulosic ethanol
  • using waste streams from municipalities as water sources

Algae have certain qualities that make the organism an attractive option for biodiesel production. Unlike corn-based biodiesel which competes with food crops for land resources, algae-based production methods, such as algae ponds or photobioreactors, would “complement, rather than compete” with other biomass-based fuels. Unlike corn or other biodiesel crops, algae do not require significant inputs of carbon intensive fertilizers.  Some algae species can even grow in waters that contain a large amount of salt, which means that algae-based fuel production need not place a large burden on freshwater supplies.

Several companies and government agencies are funding efforts to reduce capital and operating costs and make algae fuel production commercially viable. Companies such as Sapphire Energy and Bio Solar Cellsare using genetic engineering to make algae fuel production more efficient. According to Klein Lankhorst of Bio Solar Cells, genetic engineering could vastly improve algae fuel efficiency as algae can be modified to only build short carbon chains instead of long chains of carbohydrates.

Sapphire Energy also uses chemically induced mutations to produce algae suitable for use as a crop. Some commercial interests into large-scale algal-cultivation systems are looking to tie in to existing infrastructures, such as cement factories, coal power plants, or sewage treatment facilities. This approach changes wastes into resources to provide the raw materials, CO2 and nutrients, for the system.