Closed-loop markets

PAFC systems are commercially available from the ONSI Corporation as 200-kW stationary power sources operating on natural gas. The stack cross sec tion is 1 m- (10.8 ft"). It is about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and rated for a 40,000-h life. It is cooled with water/steam in a closed loop with secondary heat exchangers. The photograph of a unit is shown in Fig. 27-66. These systems are intended for on-site power and heat generation for hospitals, hotels, and small businesses. Another apphcation, however, is as dispersed 5- to 10-MW power plants in metropolitan areas. Such units would be located at elec tric utihty distribution centers, bypassing the high-voltage transmission system. The market entiy price of the system is 3000/kW. As production volumes increase, the price is projec ted to dechne to 1000 to 1500/kW. 

As a guiding principle (Leitbild), we refer to the joint vision shared by a more or less extensive gronp of interested parties in the pnblic, in research and development, in state institntions or in the market, abont the course of joint action. (For example, the gniding principle of a closed-loop economy was recently shown to be particnlarly effective example). 

Most DCS were, and still are, being sold to refineries and chemical plants where the distances involved and the environment do not require microwave communication. Responding to the market demand, few manufacturers were interested in developing the technique. Such systems that were available were, quite naturally, configured around the concept of closed loop control at the PCM level. Consequently, none of them could compete with the SCADA system in terms of numbers of data acquisition points. Alternatively, none of the SCADA system manufacturers could provide a sufficiently intelligent remote unit to execute closed loop control. 

The simple prototype unit discussed here is capable of continuously monitoring a process stream with rapid response to surface tension changes, and accuracy within 1-2%. Initial investigations indicate that a commercial unit based on this design would be capable of data acquisition, alarm monitoring, and/or closed-loop control of a process variable in a laboratory, pilot plant or production scale installation. A commercial instrument based on the work done in this laboratory is being developed and marketed. 

Nodax coating can also be applied to foodservice articles such as cups, plates, and placemats. When it comes to disposal, Nodax is complimentary with composting of food waste. Its fast anaerobic degradability means these materials can be disposed of in marine or other low oxygen environments. The ideal market opportunities are found in closed loop environments such as theme park landfills, cruise and navy ships. 

In other words, regulation and market pressures have helped spark innovations that have eventually improved process efficiencies, tapped new markets, streamlined production and materials use, and led to many other benefits beyond reduced pollution.18 For example, Fortune 500 company Ashland thinks of their hazardous waste management program not as a necessary evil, but as a value-added customer service. Ashland Distribution Company offers a one-source, closed-loop process to not... 

A newly developed manufacturing process may be implemented in an existing production line if it is not fully booked and an investment is saved. However, if there is no free capacity or if the new product requires new unit operations and processes a new plant needs to be built. The simpler manufacturing process the cheaper investment, but the investment part of today s closed loops due to environmental concerns, often constitute 30% of the total investment. The capacity of a new plant must be decided. A larger capacity is more expensive, although it is not a linear relationship. The investment cost is seen as a capital cost in the cost calculus of a new product, and it is dependent on the capacity utilisation. Therefore, the decision of a planned capacity will be taken in close cooperation with the company s marketing people. 

The first car company to contract to source its supply of catalysts for the US market was a European eompany, who also introduced the first closed loop 3 way catalytic converter in 1978 using advanced European emission eontrol technology. 

These strategies as applied in the USA market, which can be implemented by a variety of routes, were recently reviewed by Duleep (ref. 10). A strong trend towards the single bed TWC operating under closed loop control of electronic fuel injection was noted. 

As briefly introduced in sect. 1.3, CeC>2 constitutes the most important promoter of the TWCs. Over the past decade, this application has stimulated extensive research, reported in both the open and the patent literature. For example, a CAS search disclosed that in 1980, when close-loop technology first appeared on the market, 84 scientific articles and 44 patents appeared. In comparison, 10 years later 432 and 357 were respectively reported. 

In the 1990s, DiLorenzo designed a closed-loop Neuromodulation technology, and in 2002 he founded NeuroBionics Corporation. In 2004, he recruited John Harris and Kent Leyde to join the company which was renamed BioNeuronics Corporation and as of this writing they are in development of a proprietary technology addressing this market. 

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