May 2010
This month's issue covers technological solutions with positive impacts directly related to the country's survival, such as the CSIR's Forty Towns IRIB Project. This innovative project aims to use the biogas from sewage and air at 800oC, heated by a CSP plant to drive a gas turbine and generate electricity. The size of the plant in comparison to other current grid-connected solutions is scaled in 800 kW modules. It is governed not by the costs per kW installed, but by the amount of biogas available from a community's sewage. By feeding this biogas directly into an electricity-generating gas turbine, an income stream is immediately opened up for the community via Nersa's Refit tariffs.
MechTech has long believed in the general idea of appropriate technology, and the need to fit a technological solution into the environment, society and economy in which its affects, both positive and negative, will be felt.
 Another appropriate development covered in this issue is Optimal Energy's Electric Vehicle project. The concept of EVs is not new, but the innovation that is making this mode of transport viable on a large scale is worth exploring. The company's fresh approach has led to the creation of a new kind of car, a new way of buying a car, and a new customer experience in owning a car. (Seen here is Optimal Energy's Joule).
Our cover story looks at Bilfinger Berger Power Services, owner of the Steinmüller Group of Companies, which continues to lead in SA's power future with the establishment of BHR Piping - the first high-pressure piping facility in Africa. BHR Piping Systems is scheduled to start production of the specialist major pipes for both the Medupi and Kusile projects. Central to production is its new induction bending machine.
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Toward the total elimination of wear problems Specialising in the application of cast basalt and alumina ceramic wear linings in the materials handling industry, Multotec Wear Linings is offering a new service model, with the ultimate aim of completely eliminating wear problems of materials conveying systems. Handling concrete – from mixing to stacking Central to Pan Mixers SA's product range and to the manufacture of all cement products are mixers. This article looks at how the processing of concrete can be automated and the solutions available. Much Asphalt reduces carbon footprint with new technology This Murray & Roberts Group company has commissioned its 300 tph warm mix asphalt plant at its Benoni facility. Built by Astec in Tennessee, USA, the new plant will allow Much Asphalt to employ foam technology for the manufacture of warm mix asphalt for the very first time in SA. Crane market recovery some months away Stalled projects, rising costs and increasing technical sophistication are some of the trends at the forefront of the overhead crane and hoist market as the new decade kicks off. Cheap imports are also a problem, says Condra Cranes GM Marc Kleiner.
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