Serendipity & Great Inventions Myths Mistakes & Creative Error

The subject of the myths in science together with the importance of trans-, cross- or interdisciplinarity in scientific invention and innovation ("the latter being a sort of assisted serendipity") was recently brought to my attention, again, by a french friend, "James Clark". No, no, you are reading me correctly, James Clark is french.

The recent obituary, in The Economist, of Nobel Prize winner: Paul Lauterbur, father of MRI, who died on March 27th, at the fairly early age of 77, illustrates these themes rather well and how even the best, Macmillan press of Scots origin, can make mistakes, by refusing Paul's first paper in on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance(NMR)-Imagery in 1971. Perhaps this hurdle in 1971 spured Paul to even greater heights, from a near bust company started in 1971 to a shared Nobel Prize in Medicine 2003?


"THE whole history of modern science, Paul Lauterbur once joked, might be written on the basis of papers turned down by academic journals. His own experience was a case in point. In 1971 he sent a paper to Nature; it was rejected. The Nature folk were especially unimpressed by the fuzziness of the pictures that accompanied the piece."
ref. The Economist, UK. [Link]

To add a little more colour to this somewhat sad post,here is a lively, witty poem I like, by Norma Bruce refering to Research & Serendipity and more, entitled "The night Research went on a joy ride"[Link]

Wedge-A-War: Any Old Iron?, Corrosion & Natures Processes

Fe(s)+ H2O(l) +CO2(g)=> FeCO3(s) +H2(g)
iron +water+carbon dioxide => iron carbonate + H2
(where s=solid, l=liquid, g=gas.)

Let the Heavenly Steel Chorus hear -
Metallurgists, Steelmakers, Geologists, dear
Chemical Engineers and Ecologist's plea.
From humble steelmaking, sometime war-mongering,
To white knight planet saviour - eco-engineering,
For "Now's the time and now's the hour" for CO2 sinking,
For scientific method and controlled tinkering.
The above corrosive reaction begs the question:
Any old iron?

[Link to poems & more ]

References to CO2 Corrosion and Hydrogen Production:
1. Corrosion Mechanisms and Control in Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Operations, D. Kirkwood, Journal of the Metallurgical Club N° 27 1992-1993,The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.
2. NIMS-National Institute for Materials Science,Japan.[Link]

Full report on environmentally benign engineering [Link] (3.5Mo format Pdf .

3. Why not use iron? .[Link]format pdf

Dust-up your act, From Coal to Flour, And All things Small & Beautiful.

First Check out your Material:

Comparitive sizes of airborne particles such as dust, pollen, bacteria, virus and many more have been compiled by Engineeringtoolbox. Industrial examples found are coal, carbohydrates, tobacco smoke and many more. Among the numerous natural substances are pollen, virus and carbohydrates, etc. Why mention carbohydrates? Read-on.

Clean Rooms-High Standards - :
Tough Acts to Meet - particulate standards!

Some Back-ground to Dust Control:[Link]

One small thing leads to another, not just a neurological fact, a synapse.

In fact, I had recently been working on a problem entitled "Dust Control," carbohydrates actually.

However as I delved into the subject, I found that a much more appropriate term, is "dust confinement". The latter, not only satisfies both the difference in interpretation between french and english (anglo-saxon) of the word “control”, but also specifies, in this particular case, the client's aim to increase yield by putting all the material into the product or at least into the packaging.

I had given, myself an excruciating delay, and my industrial past appeared to be catching up with me. "Déja vu".

“Déja Vu!” from metallurgical dust and fumes during my 12years at the local factory here, “Les Acieries d'Imphy”; part of the Euro-Group of special alloys and stainless steel melting and refining plants”, supplemented more recently by car exhaust beneath my window from the local bypass. Now to crown things, a coal reserve found locally, 250MT no less, has come up for exploitation!

Carbohydrate powder confinement?: I had submitted a pretty off-focus (poor) piece of work to a pretty poorly defined question (i.e. one for insider specialists rather than for a general process engineer & scientist) but had the satisfaction of having made a contribution, on time and had learned in the process, although not enough to my liking.

Motivated by calm resolution after the intellectual storm, the brainstorm, to which I had subjected myself, motivated by residual dissatisfaction, by perception, a glimpse of some growing need, like an ominously dark cloud gathering, I set out to put some value on my initial effort to ramp –up, from scratch may I add.

I headed off to the local library, equipped with my hand calculator intending to get some orders of magnitude straightened out: surfaces, volumes, ratios of surface to volume for heat and chemical kinetics; aerodynamic (aerosol) particle terminal velocities etc.

We have the Berkeley 1970's lecture series; mechanics, physics, waves & optics, statistical thermodynamics and quantum mechanics in 5 Volumes, great stuff, and a competitor to Feynman’s famous series. For my purposes, the micron particle range 10-500 microns were to be “confined”. This took me back to my high school and early university mechanics.

In the back of my mind I felt this could also be a useful prelude to the more fashionable nano-family. Laziness or intelligence whichever one prefers, led me to head for the Internet terminal section of the library. Eureka, I was rewarded far beyond my expectations, ashes to ashes; let me share this lucky strike with you:

Micron Particles.

-Volumes, surface areas table, orders of magnitude, Surf./Vol. etc.
:[Link]
-The Aerodynamic particle:[Link] Solved Problems :[Link]
-Terminal Settling Velocity:[Link] Solved Problems :[Link]

Particle Formation:
(Grinding, Fossil-Fuel-Fired Boilers, Municiple and Medical Waste Incinerators):[Link]

Environmental Science Main Reference, more?:[Link]


(Acknowledgement to the US Environment Protection Agency (US-EPA) for the clear simplicity of their contribution to some basics of Environmental Science, thanking them for their continuing interest and wishing them all sucess in their efforts in practice and practise, in essence, Innovation )


((CARBOHYDRATES:I have opened this parenthesis due to my chance (serendipidous) reminder of an interesting link to my previous entry on photosynthesis. Carbohydrates are the main energy source for the human body. Chemically, carbohydrates are organic molecules in which carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen bond together in the ratio: Cx(H2O)y, where x and y are whole numbers that differ depending on the specific carbohydrate to which we are referring.

The chemical metabolism of the sugar glucose is shown below:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 --> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
which is the opposite reaction to that of photosynthesis refered to in my previous post. "Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction very roughly:

6CO2 + 6H20 + energy --> C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2

Energy is supplied in daylight from the Sun with the further help of a catalyst, namely, chlorophyll.

Acknowledgement and link is visionlearning )) Close the carbohydrate/photosynthesis parenthesis.

Photosynthesis - The Endothermic PhysChem Reaction-In Reality "A System - Nature at her Best". (Wedge a War on Deforestation)

I have been very busy addressing various scientific and technical challenges, surprisingly, corresponding badly with the Xmas & New Year festive season, hence my lack of entries since 31 0ct.06!

Back "on the Air", I have chosen to share my introduction to a challenge which I found in the field of endothermic chemical reactions. These are reactions which absorb heat as opposed to releasing heat. As I found, it is a highly topical and even more so a highly relevant tropical theme!

Introduction:

Firstly I wish to thank Innocentive for drawing my attention, anew, to the field of Endothermic Chemical Reactions. A rapid search reminds the chance solver of the global importance of such reactions, especially under the current climate findings, in the form of Photosynthesis. I would have enjoyed delving further into this common but highly complex issue. For memory photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction very roughly:

CO2 + H20 --> C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2

Energy is supplied in daylight from the Sun with the further help of a catalyst, namely, chlorophyll.

Unfortunately it became rapidly apparent that I could not within the current challenge remotely hope to use this as a realisable solution.

I put the idea aside, for future reference.

The year 2006 ended with the publishing of the highly acclaimed Stern Report on the economics and financial implications of climate change and the year 2007 began with the first of the series of IPCC-UN reports on change reports and Paris conference Feb. 07.

WEDGE-A-WAR: Corrosion- Nothing lost nothing gained?

Corrosion:
"Nothing lost nothing gained?
A degrading, dissipative world
or a slice of cake to take?”

Once again, the topic of corrosion has been brought to my attention.

Of course most people are familiar with the macroscopic sort in the form of common rust.

Some of us, who were privileged, to live near the seaside, coupled with an important industrial and research employer the nearby chemicals & research plant, -ICI's Nobel Division no less, have early experience of corrosion in other materials than steel.

However it was upon reading news in the field of nanotechnology size comparison between atoms and common objects-Link ) and more specifically nano-corrosion that I finally retained an indicator for the magnitude of the cost involved

"The effect of corrosion has an impact on about 3% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). From a positive point of view, however, chemical attack of metal surfaces may result in surface nano-structures with very interesting technological applications such as catalysts and sensors. Therefore, a better understanding of corrosion processes is required to both prevent it and make the most of it." quoted from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) based in Grenoble, France.

Previously I had learned that such was the loss of durability that whole industries have grown around this field. One must do a thing or two to generate a 3% world GDP. In fact I probably knew this for a long time, but since variety is the spice of life, I may be pardoned for some forgetfulness. )More on Economic Impact of Corrosion


It is common today either in the specialised technical or business or in the main general, economic and financial press to enquire whether this fight is being won or lost?

This is not just a philosophical question. It has a particular significance when the question in the technological, innovative sense:

"Can this industry; from research to market, constitute-or contribute to, a Wedge (in the Socolow sense?) This is a timely question since now infamous, CO2 is known to contribute to rust, corrosion in iron and steel.

(So too does the elder infamous, brother sulphur dioxide [SO2 forming sulphuric acid of notorious for its acid rain, referred to earlier in the poem "Open sky coal mine")

Now, one may wish to ask the "Who, how, why, when and where?" that classical unbeatable holistic search series.

The last question is particularly pertinent. Where?

Murphy’s law (entropy-exergy analysis) will tell you that places of most concern will be those which are difficult to get at and therefore costly.

We are not in outer space though!

If this was a marginal issue one could sort of live with, it is mostly not lethal. But when it concerns the worlds most used metal in terms of tonnage; carbon steel and some of the important things “wrapped in it” carbon steel corrosion, cannot be brushed aside.

Yes, I do mean common ordinary rust, hidden in some structure, which we know will rust sooner or later!

We can do some smart modelling to allow us to buy time. We can calculate and even measure thickness change, which allows us to estimate if there is safe structural strength left.

How on earth can it be detected, reliably, precisely, preferably without taking the "set-up" to pieces? We want it to be a NDT, a non-destructive test, as non-intrusive as possible.

For want of a catch phrase we could call it the "Wee-wiki peek Spy-Shy method"

I am not talking about some mineral on Mars.

No, just that common physico-chemical compound called rust: Ferrous, or Iron Hydroxide, Fe2O3.xH2O, where x is variable. [If x=3 Fe2O3. 3H2O is equivalent to 2Fe (OH)3.]

Yes, even common rust can be a real bugbear to detect when it is in some difficult to access-costly to repair place!

From Macro - to nano to macro &....? Link

Nothing lost nothing gained?"
A degrading, dissipative world
or a slice of cake to take?”

Serious, but not vulgar, even amusing, for innovative; comments, questions or suggestion very welcome, but "don't be evil" (In French or English.)

WEDGE-A-WAR follows from Theory to Practice

I wish simply to draw the chance visitor's attention to my additions "Socolow Wedge Best Practice" in my field of Metallurgy, Materials & Processing cf. also Links Section. The processes (1st one) invented by Fray-Farthing-Chen (FFC) known as the Cambridge Process [UK] following its University Start-Up Co., has produced two full companies, * BTi-British Titanium and, for a full range of metals and alloys, Metalysis and, (2nd one) Geopolymer Institute, Davidovit's cement, work at 1/3 to 1/2 the temperatures used by more classical routes (promising energy economies). Lets add to the previous two initiatives: process-product-market, approaches, a stricly process oriented "inventions & innovations" that of the recently created Thermokin ,by the inventor, J. Haiun. Thanks to it's; "blade-less turbine"-thermokinetic-compressor which controls, heat and speed, using and canalising the propeties of gases during reversible -forced transitions; subsonique to supersonic and back. Thermokinetics is the name coined for this field. Thermokin announces considerable potential energy saving of about 10% at low investment and maintenance costs.

I found these developments to be encouraging therefore I shall be pleased to help readers (at least among the less specialised) formulate any comments or questions to the people directly involved.

*PS. since 1st post, I have learned, cf.link BTi, that a conflict has arisen between BTi and Metalysis together with major Tech. backer QinetiQ.

.Je souhaite, simplement, tirer à l'attention des visiteurs mes additions: "Cales de Socolow - Meilleures Pratiques" dans mes domaines de spécialisations Métallurgie, Matériaux, Procédés cf. Links Section. Les procédés (1) inventé par Fray-Farthing-Chen (FFC) nommé le FFC Cambridge Procédé [UK] (électrolyse avec sels fondus comme électrolytes ) et après ses débuts comme un "start-up" universitaire, à conduit à la création de deux sociétés; BTi-British Titanium et, pour une large gamme de métaux et d’alliages, Metalysis puis (le 2ème) , Geopolymère: par l'ingénieur chimiste distingué Davidovit's - ciments, béton ; travaillent à températures 1/3 à 1/2 des températures de fabrication classiques. Ajoutons aux inventeurs-innovateurs précédents et leurs sociétés: "procédés – produit - marché", la société Thermokin, récemment crée par J.Haiun, dans le domaine des procédés. Grâce à sa "turbine (sans pales) - compresseur thermocinétique" exploitant et canalisant les proprietés des gazes lors des transitions "réversible forcée" ; subsonique=>supersonique=> subsonique (nommé thermocinétique). Thermokin annonce des économies d’énergie potentielles, importantes de l'ordre de 10% pour un investissements en équipement et maintenance relativement modeste.

Ces développements méritent encouragement. Je serai heureux de vous aider (les moins spécialisés entre vous, tout au moins) à formuler commentaires, suggestions ou questions à destination des intéressés.

Enjoy your visit.
Lire avec plaisir.

WORK in HAND & Glenn MacDonald's from Theory to Practice June06 post

The image (left) was taken by ESA managed satellite Proba under the Earth Observation programme.Earth Observation programme

I have tried, specifically, to avoid the topic of Coal,almost the most used energy source on earth. and have concentrated on much needed weblog clean-up & crawling, if not ramping-up the weblog learning curve. This led me to acknowledge the pertinence of Adsense and in so doing justify at more length my decision to recommend it, throught the referral plan. I posted this further down the the WLog, under the heading "Innovation - Firing on all Cylinders started in June 06. (Downs & unders; not to be confused with the Aussie's "down-under."-with the World Cup Rugby, France 2007 approaching difficult to avoid refs. to southern hemisphere, one step from the Antartic and its importance in the climate engine ! ) I also added more thought reminders to the "Pensieve", Thought-recipient or Block Note, for later sifting. cf earlier post -SCROLL -DOWN.

OPEN-SKY COAL MINE

"The European Union must maintain its leading position
in combating climate change, ensure global
competitiveness for European industry, and deliver
long-term security of the energy supply. The European
Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil
Fuel Power Plants has been set up to play a crucial
role in enabling Europe to fulfil this commitment,
with the development and deployment of new competitive
power plant options over the next fifteen
years." (ref. A vision for zero emission fosil fuel power plants

Aug. 2006 European Union)

The future of Coal, vision from MIT ,Boston, USA. [Link].

OPEN-SKY COAL MINE

I intended to avoid the topic of coal,
As a man afraid of "facing" the dole
Money, monies the man on this payroll,
China! Aussie's too, what's the toll?
Coal,

The most used, so abused source of energy
In much of our blue planets territory,
Mine, down-under, beneath our feet,

Can't you just touch, the feel of its heat.
Coal!

This could be, well.., the name of this street?

Mine, down-under, beneath our feet,
Not for long, in this Newfoundland
Sounds of Nova Scotia-Caledonia's band

Coal!

Wash the Pug! Close the rail-carriage window,
Children, Tunnel ahead! Heads in, bow!
Getting nearer, nearer, to our chosen home yard
Open-sky mine project, -Jeune Garde.

Coal!

Route 58, from. Sancerre's vineyards scene

Fond memories of a mining Pole, La Machine

In South Nivernais, Lucenay
Silly cause or Silicoses? Cossaye

Coal!

Glasgow-black and Auld Reeckie lang gone
The cities fathers ruled Sulphur out-right
Crying -"Grime's a Crime,
against Humanity"! , prose?
Shaking-off smog’s mildew -as a rose.

Coal!

(The song continued long after, "Acid rain, acid rain"
At the time this was a well known refrain
Today from space 5 tonnes of Sulphur, let's sprinkle
Over carbon dioxide concentrations, a grave to kindle)

Coal!

Victor Hugo, Dumas & Zola would be proud
No Persian Letters these, Alexander endowed.
Buildings, monuments, sandblasted bright
No gas candles for them, but LED- light.
from Coal!

Its focus now on this new match

Shall we choose the tourist trade today?
Working mines as in bygone days, the long way.
Or shall innovation & invention,make their mark,
In some sophisticated scientific way, as the quark?
Through some subtle eco mix, a trail

Coal!

By non-friction super-conductive rail, race
Or pneumatic closed dust-confining tube-ace
Bring temptation's call, this coalface
To the devils melting-place

Coal!

I did not mention at any time before
Our devils burning desire is therefore
Some thermal combined harvester's drum
For Heat & Electricity to make a planet turn
Coal,

As in ancient times, black as night's mantle

Miner and mineral, indistinguishable

Memories of a Mining Pole, "La Machine"

In Never's "pastures green"
Land of "the waters still"

Psalm 23, Refreshing chill,
s' Nuclear & Coal alike.

-As the friendly greeting goes, in the heydays & hay days of coal,
"Lang may yur lum reek!" -meaning long-life and good health, ce qui signifie en français; longue vie, bonne santé. The tradition of welcoming a New Year first footer with a lump of coal as a sign of good wishes also is more debateable with regard to the global performance of coal exploitation and effective use in the current context of climate change and cheap & and easy access to energy sources.

(I shall try to remain as poetic as possible in "our project" of the century Open-Sky Coal mine with Thermal powered combined thermal electric power "plant" 1st draft 16 Oct. 06 ) and needless to say as helpful as possible eg. =>
PS. Add to mining: "Re-Investment in Renewables" & "Carbon Chemistry" with the usual ramifications, socio-cultural-economic... to use a bio/agro analogy.
TECHNICAL FIRST:
NB. FROM "BLACK to GREEN" CLEANING COAL -How it works.

Why are we waiting? Natures first response.

"The European Union must maintain its leading position
in combating climate change, ensure global
competitiveness for European industry, and deliver
long-term security of the energy supply. The European
Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil
Fuel Power Plants has been set up to play a crucial
role in enabling Europe to fulfil this commitment,
with the development and deployment of new competitive
power plant options over the next fifteen
years." (ref. A vision for zero emission fosil fuel power plants, Aug. 2006 )

Post Scriptum: I am lead to believe (media TV A2 report) that immediate current best choice will be exploitation (locally) of Frances forestry (renewable energy) as a heat source in many small towns & villages?