NEXT
MEETING_____________________________________
Monday, August
12 - 12:00 noon
Cellar Restaurant at Union Square
Topic: Modern Hydraulics- Powerful and Precise
- Steve McGuire of Robbins & Bohr
Recent advances in electronic technology are now
incorporated in the latest generation of pumps, valves and cylinders. The result
is a whole new set of high accuracy, high force applications including injection
molding machines, tube benders, bending presses, and custom machinery. The
typical hydraulic system of today may involve multiple synchronized axis
control, position feedback inside the hydraulic cylinder, and precision tonnage
control. Steve MaGuire will describe how these new hydraulic systems work and
how they have become such intelligent and gentle giants. He will also provide us
with examples of hydraulic applications from several local engineering
projects.
Steve says that recent advances in sealing technology are of vast practical
importance in modern factories and off road vehicles. O-ring sealing techniques
on fittings have eliminated leak points and allowed the use of hydraulic systems
in food grade plants, in high tech (clean) areas, in paper mills and other drip
sensitive plants. Steve will bring to meeting for examination sample valves and
cylinders that have been sliced open revealing the sealing techniques. He says
that traditional dump truck and mobile type components are also benefiting from
the tighter tolerances of today's CNC mills and lathes. The results provide not
only reduced leak rates in valves but also higher mechanical efficiencies; it
also permits higher system pressures, thereby reducing the size of driving
cylinders.
Invocation: Jack Anderson
Fellowship: Jim Bell
Entrée du jour:
Beef Pot Roast w/ carrots & potatoes, bread pudding
OUR PREVIOUS MEETING July 29, 2002
_________________________________
Many thanks to our ghost writer for
providing us this presentation summary.
The answer is yes to the title of Dr. Roddie Judkins presentation
"Methane Hydrates - An Abundant New Fuel Or A Troublesome Greenhouse Gas?"
Methane Hydrate, when extracted from just under the sediment of the ocean floor
looks like a dirty snowball. It is actually a gas molecule surrounded by a cage
of water molecules. Methane Hydrate is usually located over natural gas deposits
by spotting it's Bottom Simulating Reflection of seismic waves. Methane Hydrate
is formed from decomposing marine animal and plant material.
There are some safety and climate changes issues with removing Methane
Hydrate from the sea floor sediment. It floats, and at the ocean surface, the
temperature and pressure are not sufficient to keep it in the "snowball" form.
The structure begin to decompose on the way up and release methane gas into the
atmosphere like an Alki-Seltzer tablet . This decomposition and release of
methane gas changes buoyancy and is thought to be a cause for ships sinking in
the Bermuda Triangle, an area called Blakes Ridge, rich in Methane Hydrate
deposits. Methane is a very powerful green house gas and large releases by
sloppy techniques could be detrimental to our climate.
ORNL has built a "Seafloor Process Simulator" to study the formation and
disassociation of Methane Hydrate. They have also been working with the National
Science Foundation this summer to examine the characteristics of Methane Hydrate
being recovered off the coast of Oregon. They are using neutron scattering for
this examination.
FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS
_____________________________________
August 19: Inter-basin Water Transfers from the Tennessee
River - An Issue Update - Dodd Galbraith, Commissioner for Tenn. Dept.
of Environment and Conservation
August 26: Urban Heat Retention-Cooling Our Cites Down -
Dr. Dale Quattrlouci, Marshal Spaceflight Center
September 2: No meeting, in observance of Labor Day
September 9: Global Warming - How Real the Threat? - Dr.
Marilyn Brown, ORNL
September 16: Operating a Manufacturing Plant in
Chattanooga - How difficult has it become? Mark Collin, Magister Corp.
September 23: TVA's Reservoir Operations - Resolving
competing interests - David Nye, TVA
September 29: Plant Tour of the Olan Mills Digital
Photography Facility
October 7: An update on the TVA Regenesys Project - Ian
Grant, TVA
October 14: No meeting in observance of Columbus
Day
November 11: Water, Water Everywhere? - A global look at a
precious resource- Mike Sale, ORNL
November 25: Technology Transfer and Economic Development
- A little help from ORNL- Terry Payne
WHERE WE MEET
_______________________________________________
Unless we note otherwise, all
of our presentation meetings are held at the Cellar Restaurant in the Tallan
Building, Union Square Downtown Chattanooga from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Our meeting
room and luncheon service are open by 11:30 a.m. Lunch buffet is $10.00 per
person (inclusive). No reservation is required. Free parking is available in the
Days Inn Motel (on Carter St. and MLK Blvd,) courtesy of the Days Inn
management. When you park there, be sure to place a note on your dashboard
indicating you are attending the Engineers Club meeting.
QUESTIONS ?
___________________________________________
If you have any questions about
program items please call Steve McGuire at 756- 4430 or e-mail him at
stevemcguire@comcast.net. You can
find references to other Chattanooga Engineers Club members at our web site:
www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC
.