Month: November 2021

Green Energy Versus Nuclear Power

With the main UK political parties wanting to create thousands of new green jobs over the next ten years it will be interesting to see how we aim to become a market leader in green technology which is where China are currently the world leader. India is aiming to be a solar country within 10 years as it deals with decreasing fossil fuels and population growth that is gulping petrol and oil at an unprecedented rate.

The effects of climate change seem to be taking second place against cold hard cash and the lack of it as a result of the global recession. Global concerns on security are leading to countries wanting to become less dependent on others for energy which is essential for economies to grow and prosper. There is also the threat that countries considered rouge by the West are developing nuclear power for other purposes than for power.

Once a country develops nuclear power it is less dependent on others and nuclear is definitely needed in countries which are not blessed with the sun for solar power. On the flip side there is the never ending question of what to do with nuclear waste and this has not been resolved to date with all the modern technology that we have at our disposal.

The Conservative Party and Lib Dems have recently been voted in in the UK and they want to spend two hundred billion pounds investing in nuclear and renewable energy in the UK while cutting carbon emissions. These are honourable intentions but I am not sure where the money will come from as we deal with the biggest budget deficit since World War 2. Any increased target of increasing the amount of energy produced from renewable energy is the way forward as it reduces the pollution and environmental damage from fossil fuels.

News announced in May 2010 are that a proposed 40 million solar power development is being discussed in Cornwall which would triple the UKs solar capacity. This money is being raised from private investors which is great to see. Only when solar becomes profitable will we see the wide scale use but these schemes should be subsidised by the tax payer when it makes sense to do so. The use of energy created by sea waves are also expanding in the UK which is logical considering we are an island and more money should be invested in research and development. In parts of the country where there is little wildlife or threat of ecological damage then these are the areas where renewable energy should be concentrated as jobs will be created as a result also.

On a more smaller scale homeowners with surplus solar power are being encouraged to feed this back into the national grid for which they will be paid for.

As a summary it appears that nuclear energy has not been promoted as much as in recent times which is likely to be due to …

The Double Wall Jacketed Tank – The Secure Underground Fuel Tank

Using an underground fuel tank is a convenient and space-saving means to store petrol for businesses that do not have the space to accommodate an above ground fuel tank. This type of tank is commonly used by industrial businesses that require large amounts of fuel to be available on site as its storage capacity ranges from 1,000 litres to 200,000 litres. However, using underground fuel tanks comes with the risk of rust and corrosion. Rusting and corrosion can lead to leakage of the petrol, which will then contaminate the soil and ground water.

The double wall jacketed tank is a type of underground tank that minimises the risks of rust, corrosion and leakage. The double wall jacketed tank comprises of a steel primary inner tank enclosed within a 360-degree fibre glass reinforced plastic outer tank, providing effective protection against internal and external corrosion.

The double wall structure also provides protection against leakage. The steel primary inner tank is built for tightness and durability, making spillage almost impossible. But if any leakage should occur, the outer wall holds the fuel in and prevents it from coming in contact and contaminating the soil and ground water. In this article we discuss the features of the double wall jacketed tank that makes it safe to use.

1. Its fibre glass reinforced plastic or FRP laminate maintains a hard, seamless integrity when subjected to ambient temperature extremes and does not become brittle or soft below or above the ground.

2. The entry point of the fuel contains aluminum foil that provides a minimum clearance, free flowing 360-degree interstice.

3. Its inner primary welded steel tank is manufactured to U.L. Listing requirements. It provides long term structural safety and is compatible with a wide range of products including motor fuels, heating oil, methanol, ethanol, alcohol and alcohol blends.

4. The double wall jacketed tank has a non-corroding collar that provides solid attachments for piping containment sumps.

5. All outer fibre glass jackets are tested for pin holes with holiday tester set at 35,000 volts, thus ensuring that the integrity of the outer wall is maintained for a long period for time.

6. The double wall jacketed tank has a steel monitor access tube that is welded liquid tight into the steel tank. In the event of a leakage or breach to the inner or outer tank, the spilling liquid flows into the monitor access tube which can be monitored by various methods. This prevents the petrol from leaking completely and contaminating the area.

7. Installation of this type of underground fuel tank is simple and special backfill procedures are not required to maintain structural integrity.

8. Special configurations and multiple compartments can also be installed to meet different fuel storage requirements.

Some final words

With its innovative features and durable structure, the double wall jacketed tank has proven to be a safe underground fuel tank that has reduced risks of corrosion, rust, leakage and …

Introducing: Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel Drill/Driver 2603-22CT – A New Breed of Cordless Tool

Utilizing what Milwaukee claims to be the world’s most advanced technologies to innovate this 18v drill/driver, the Milwaukee Fuel 2603-22CT is designed to incorporate the best of both power and ergonomics. Based on the performance of the tool, I’m inclined to believe Milwaukee’s aforementioned claim of superiority to be nothing short of the absolute truth. Producing a presently unrivaled degree of power and performance and featuring a comfortably compact body design, the M18 Fuel drill/driver is built for the ultimate over-achiever and ideal for the most demanding professional.

Producing up to 650-in/lbs of torque and weighing-in at a meager 4.4-lbs with its battery, the 2603-22CT is the most powerful drill in its class. This is largely due to its redesigned and super-efficient brushless motor. In fact, it’s this new motor that both enables the tool to produce greater power and keeps the tool shockingly lightweight. Replacing the traditional carbon brushes and copper conductors with a tiny electronic circuit board, the Milwaukee Fuel motor generates about 25% more torque than comparable 18v drills and about 30% more than Milwaukee’s previous model. This modification also renders the motor vastly more efficient allowing the drill/driver 50% more run-time per battery charge and a life-time that’s up to 10X longer.

The M18 RedLithium battery also boasts superior technology and functionality. Offering 5X more recharges than leading competitors, the Milwaukee Fuel battery pack is compact and seriously efficient. In fact, the tool can drive more than 500 screws in dense wood per each charge. Milwaukee battery technology (RedLink Plus) offers total system communication with overload protection and the battery itself also displays its remaining run-time on an integrated fuel gauge. The tool also includes 2 M18 compact RedLithium battery packs and a multi-voltage 30-minute charger which allows users to charge both Milwaukee’s M18 (18v) M12 (12v) batteries with the same charging unit (and in only 30-minutes).

The 2-speed Fuel drill/driver additionally offers variable speeds ranging from 0-550 RPM and 0-1,850 RPM ensuring you have the ideal amount of power for a variety of different tasks. The tool’s contoured soft grip also allows users to operate the tool comfortably during extended or awkward applications and because the drill/driver also features an all metal ratcheting locking chuck, the Fuel delivers maximum gripping power, bit retention and total durability. An LED light is also integrated into the tool for optimal functionality rendering the thing altogether, untouchably awesome.…

Gel Fuel Fireplace – Basic Facts You Must Know

Gel fuel fireplaces are excellent and amazing additions to any type of residential homes. On top of that, they are also cost-effective and efficient without giving the homeowners a headache from the price and installation process.

The basic chemical of this product is isopropyl alcohol which is mixed with organic thickener and sea salt in order to enhance the brilliance of the light and the creation of crackling sound similar to that of burning wood. The color of the flame varies depending on the basic chemical of the product.

However, you need to understand that it is not designed to become a primary heat source. One can of the fuel will only give about 3,000 BTUs, very far from the 30,000 BTUs produced from a gas or wood. In fact, the maximum heat it can produce is not sufficient to boil water, much more cook food. It is only designed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home interior. You can use it in lieu of household candles to give a more romantic appeal to the environment.

There are various advantages in using this new innovation compared to the wood burning type. It offers flexibility and portability in design because it can be placed anywhere in the house due to the fact that it does not need any vent. Furthermore, it does not emit harmful fumes or smoke when burning. It also does not leave any residue or soot after burning. It is completely odorless and smokeless. As such, it is friendly to the environment.

In addition, you can always place inserts even on the non-operational fireplace; it doesn’t matter. It offers a wide array of designs and styles. There is an option of wall mounted type and outdoor type. To make the air sweet-smelling, you can add incense to the burning fuel and savor the fragrance it produces.…

Gas Prices Are Marching Higher and Higher, But Why?

I realize that many Americans are feeling the pinch from this recession/depression, but have you noticed the slow and steady prices of gas recently?

Depending on your part of the country, $3+ a gallon gas is already here and some experts are predicting $4 a gallon gas to hit states hard in the very near future. How is average Americans going to be able to handle this new tax on them? Just think, if the Cap & Tax bill passes congress, we will be paying Europe type gas rates of $8 per gallon. I digress, that is for another article.

Most Americans mainly feel the pain at the pump when they go fill their gas guzzlers, but that is only the start of the financial pain we all feel when prices go into orbit like they did in 2008. Fuel costs always filter down to the public like Airline tickets, bags on flights, heat & cool your home, food that is delivered by truck, and the list goes goes on and on. This potential rise in gas prices comes at a time when most people are stretched very thin across the board.

Many of the salaries for people who are lucky enough to have a job are falling and some bills are finding a permanent home in the “pay later pile”. This added expense surely is not welcome in most households especially with bankruptcies up almost 20% from March 2009. If that big increase was not awful enough, the BK filing was up a breathtaking 35% from Feb. 2010 file.

I am so glad our congressional leaders think the economy is doing better?

In the past when gas prices start to rise in this country it is because of normal supply and demand needs of the country. These factors use to set the price for American drivers and was directly correlated to prices at the pump until now. Actual supply and demand for gasoline or oil will have little in anything to do with the actual cost of fuel. The new term for this form of price fixing is “gougeconomy” and you can read about it here. One smart way to hide from the gas price raping is work from home.…

Fuel Cards Are Changing the Way We Work

Claiming VAT back on fuel used in a professional capacity has been the bane of my life for as long as I can remember. When we made the switch to using fuel cards, I had imagined that somehow, claiming VAT back would be even more difficult. I can honestly say that fuel cards have left me pleasantly surprised.

We use a gray fleet, which is where private vehicles are used for professional use. Before we started using fuel cards, this meant sorting through receipts for fuel purchases and hoping that we weren’t paying out for private use too. Now, we receive itemized receipts, and have the information delivered to our inboxes every week. Our drivers fill up their vehicles at the end of the working day, and can then use them for their own personal tasks. At the start of the next day, they use their cards once again to fill up their cards, and this way we know that each morning’s top up covers only private use.

What I love about cards is that they make fleet management simple. I don’t have to worry about how many faded and lost receipts I’m handing to my accountant each month with a sheepish face. Because we can keep track of exactly where and when fuel purchases were made, fuel cards mean that it’s easy to separate out fuel usage even for vehicles that are used for both private and professional use.

Beyond simple management, fuel cards also let us do much more. Because the fuel cards we use allow you to make a note of the mileage when you fill up, we’ve started to rank our drivers on fuel efficiency. Since bringing in rank tables and marking out how far each person’s fuel is taking them, our drivers have started to take steps to improve the ways they drive. This is obviously great from a fuel saving perspective, but also leaves me feeling a lot more confident in my fleet. I know that fuel efficient driving is often also safer driving, with smoother transitions, sensible breaking and lower top speeds. Without fuel cards, we wouldn’t be able to monitor fuel efficiency in quite the same simple way, so they’ve done their part to give me a safer staff member and a fleet that I don’t have to worry about.

Of course, nothing written on fuel cards would be complete without mentioning the money they’ve saved our business. Typically, we see a saving of a few pence per liter on pump prices, which adds up to a considerable saving when you consider that we have a fleet of five cars that are in use all the time within our working hours. Most of our cars have a tank capacity of 50 to 70 liters and tend to top up two or three times a week. Whilst many might turn their nose up at saving around A�20 or A�30 a week, this certainly adds up …

Speed Records and Fuel Efficiency: Semi Trucks Are Making Waves

You don’t think speed when you think about a semi truck. You think raw power and cruising down the interstate; steady as a rock. Also you don’t think about a hybrid vehicle. They’re supposed to be two tons of metal plowing down the asphalt. Not a whirring, quite vehicle that consumes meager amounts of fuel.

A hybrid Volvo truck recently broke the land speed record for semi trucks. The truck was driven at an average speed of 147 miles per hour over two thirds of a mile. From a standstill it was able to get 95 miles per hour over the same distance. This didn’t only break the record, but made the vehicle the first hybrid truck to do so. Though the shape of the vehicle had fuel efficiency in mind, it still did not compare to the Airflow truck unveiled at this years Mid America Truck Show. The Airflow truck has a hood built from the ground up made of fiberglass and foam. It follows a perfectly aerodynamic design and was able to achieve 13.4 miles per gallon on its inaugural haul, even while facing a strong headwind for a long duration of the trip. The company has stated they plan to continue to improve the design and setup for mass production. The only issue will be getting die-hard fans of the PACCAR brand of trucks to trade some of their style for fuel savings. With the economy putting the squeeze on so many people, I think this might start happening sooner than later.

Another big change coming for heavy duty trucks is the addition of the “Teardrop Trailer.” It is a deviation from the standard boxed trailer and allows for as much as a ten percent savings in fuel. It uses a teardrop shape to follow the contour of the top of the tractor cab and push air seamlessly over the entire rig as you drive. They have signed a long term contract with DHL and have gained some popularity in most of northern Europe. It is only a matter of time before they become tax deductible or even mandatory in the United States.

Now I know what you are thinking: this all sounds impossibly expensive! Well, you are correct but there is still hope. You can start making minor changes today and make the major changes once you’ve saved plenty of money on your fuel bill. Good places to start are: trailer skirts, cab wings, and super single tires. All of these are readily available for purchase and tax deductible.…

Hydrogen Conversion Kits – Invest in the Future

Have you installed your kit in your vehicle yet? How much did your fuel mileage increase? How much are you saving in your monthly fuel expenditures? Do you have answers for any of these questions? Let me ask you one more: are you aware that the installation of hydrogen conversion kits is an investment toward a cleaner Earth for generations to come?

If you’re wondering what I mean by a “cleaner Earth”, I will explain. You see, when you use gasoline or petrol as fuel in your motor vehicle, you are burning a fossil fuel. There are two vitally important things to consider in regard to fossil fuel.

First of all, fossil fuel is refined from oil that is found in the depths of the earth and is pumped up to the surface where it can be transported to an appropriate facility to process it into fuel and other products that we use each and every day. This deposit of oil is located all over the planet and is being pumped and transported every day. The world has developed a huge dependence on these oil products and the consumer appetite continues to increase. Eventually, these oil reserves will run dry. It took thousands of years for the earth to create these oil reserves so renewing them really isn’t an option at this stage of creation. What happens when we exhaust the oil reserves? How do we power our cars, our electric production plants, our lawn mowers, our motor bikes, our generators and make rubber products? These are just a few of the examples that immediately come to mind when I think of how we use oil / petroleum products. Running out of oil to do all of these things and more is a really scary thought.

Secondly, think about the air you and your family breathes. When fossil fuel burns it emits toxins and pollutes the air we breathe. The more fuel we burn, the more pollutants are spewed into our atmosphere and eventually into our lungs. It is no wonder that the incidences of asthma and many other types of breathing problems increase every year all over the world.

The Answer

Ok, enough questions; now we need the answers. One of the easiest steps toward cleaning up the environment is installing a hydrogen conversion kit on your motor vehicle. This kit will produce hydrogen that will mix with your fuel and reduce the fossil fuel that you burn, increase your gas mileage and save you money on your monthly fuel expenditures. It can easily be installed on almost any motor vehicle either by an automotive professional or you can do it yourself. Does it get any better than that? Why not call your automotive professional and get the details about hydrogen conversion kits. You will be glad you did.…