The world's first large scale hydrogen-fueled power plant recently went on-line in Italy. Power says the plant was initially tested with methane gas before switching to hydrogen. The plant has a capacity of 12 MW, and the hydrogen fuel is provided by two nearby petrochemical plants. Although the plant is the first to go on-line, similar projects are in development in Belgium, Spain, and China. A Hydrogen Park in the same area of Italy is envisioned that will promote the development and implementation of hydrogen technologies in transportation and electricity generation. A much larger 250 MW hydrogen project is proposed in California.

Help develop the educational session topic direction for GlobalSpec's September 15, 2010 Test & Measurement event by participating in this brief survey.

Share with us the types of industry trend topics, new product applications introductions, and recent technology innovations you would be interested in learning more about from industry experts, thought leaders, and representatives from manufacturing organizations. Your input will help us develop the educational sessions that interest you most and best serve your work-related business needs. Complete the survey, and your name will be entered into a drawing for a $100 American Express Gift Card!

Then join us for our Test & Measurement event right from the convenience of your desktop on January 13, 2010. Watch for registration details in future issues.

Multi-Contact test leads XSMF-419/XSMS-419 can be fitted with high breaking capacity fuses, providing for protection in tests with standard test clips and probes. The isolation offers protection against transient overvoltages, allowing for safe employment up to 1000 V in the measurement category CAT IV, conforming to standards IEC 61010-031.

Triad's new toroidal chassis mount World Series transformers are UL recognized and CE Certified. All items have 115/230 V 50/60 Hz primaries and are designed to meet most International Safety requirements. Available from Triad's extensive distributor network, the 42 off-the-shelf models cover most common secondary output voltages ranging from 6.0 V to 230.0 V. Custom designs are available.

ABB's new universal design means 1 P/N protects any size 3Ø motor, 200-480 VAC. Reduce (eliminate) voltage related motor failures and downtime with expensive emergency repairs. Don't wait until the next storm costs you thousands, start saving today with SSAC HLMU phase monitors. Reliable, 10-year warranty. Read more.

B&B Electronics offers Mean Well switching DIN rail power supplies ranging from 10-960 W. Universal AC input range and broad working temperatures from -25 to 70 C. New SDR family is small in size, but provides power factor correction and high performance — up to 94% efficiency!

Key problems with energy storage have been the inefficiency, cost, and maintenance of batteries. Power Engineering International reports a possible solution that uses a pneumatic battery to provide back-up power using compressed air. The system feeds stored air into a scroll expander, and the air expansion process turns a generator.

Fault current limiters have been used extensively in electrical distribution systems. But they have yet to be applied at transmission level voltages in the U.S. T&D World says that will change when American Electric Power becomes the first to install and operate a transmission-voltage fault current limiter on the U.S. electricity grid.

This ConnectorSupplier article examines the evolving USB connector standard, with particular attention paid to the new USB 3.0. The upgraded interface operates with full-duplex signaling over two differential pairs, improving host-directed communication. USB 3.0 can deliver up to 900 mA, up from USB 2.0's 500 mA maximum.

Rock band U2's latest tour uses an LED screen measuring 79 x 53 ft and incorporating more than 500,000 pixels. Connector Specifier shows the rugged and reliable connectivity solution used to transfer HDTV video transmissions over a high-speed Ethernet link. The connector system provides IP 65/67 protection, critical for outdoor use.

VCC SMD LED line rounds out our ability to be a true single-source provider. Standard package includes 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, and PLCC2. Additionally, VCC is offering a line of high power SMD LED solutions. .5W, 1W, and 3W products. Custom design solutions are also available. Contact us today for a complimentary sample kit.

If a standard power supply does not meet your requirements, use the online System Builder. We'll modify the specs, ratings, and configuration of a supply, combine several power supplies into a Multiple-Output Power System with the operating features you specify, and ship it within nine days!

IEEE Xplore provides instant, full-text access to all IEEE journal articles, conference papers, and standards — all the cutting-edge research in all aspects of electrical engineering and technology.

Get a complementary trial for your company today and start downloading IEEE documents.

Contact us for custom solutions! Our California Concept-to-Turnkey facility provides design engineering, metal fabrication, integration and assembly, screen printing, powder coating, packaging, product logistics, and much more! Over 20 years in business in the USA!

Industries we currently provide for:

• Military and Aerospace
• Gaming and Amusement
• Industrial PC and Telephony

Infrared (IR) sensing technology offers advantages in temperature measurement and control. Sensors says measurements can be made at high speed on moving targets at a distance. Innovations include reduced costs, increased reliability, and enabled greater measurement resolution. These factors move IR measurement into new applications.

Most retail clothing outlets use bar-coded tags to track inventory, but that doesn't work for thrift shops. RFID Journal says Dress for Success, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women dress better, will use RFID to track the apparel it gives to clients. RFID will help manage stock across multiple boutiques.

Polymer solar cells are much cheaper to manufacture than conventional cells, but low efficiency hinders adoption. ISA says that embedding silver nano particles in the cells helps. In research tests on an experimental solar cell polymer without silver, the material generated 6.2 mA per square centimeter. With silver, it generated 7.0 mA.

MEMS-based field sequential color (FSC) displays have several advantages over LCD systems. ElectroIQ says FSC is less complex, and power efficiency can top LCD technology by nearly an order of magnitude. Key to deployment is meeting the demands placed on the membrane at the heart of a polymer MEMS-based display.

• Domestic and international power cords, cord sets
• Hospital grade and twist lock power cords
• Cable assemblies and wire harnesses
• Power cords with special plugs, IEC 309 plugs, and IEC to IEC power cords

Americor offers stocking/consignment programs, Kanban, just-in-time, and specializes in custom designed solutions.

Established in 1971, Burns Controls has grown into a multi-million dollar company and is recognized as a leading source for electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic products to many leading companies worldwide.

Our contactors, overload relays, and accessories are high quality, low cost, and ready to ship from Dallas, TX.

It may be a bit hard to believe in today's poor economic climate, but this commentator says there's a shortage of IT graduates willing to fill purely technical roles. As related in this short video, most new hires instead want to work in client interface roles such as consulting. The best candidates for technical positions need specific knowledge of popular programming languages coupled with part-time work experience.

One of the most amazing engineering projects ever was the Spruce Goose, the world's largest wooden seaplane. As your humble correspondent can attest from a first-hand visit, the Howard Hughes aircraft is truly impressive and incredibly massive. AutoSpeed reports that the plane used eight 3,000 HP engines and had wings 20 ft longer than a football field. It was built of wood to comply with World War II government mandates prohibiting use of steel and aluminum.

Century's Best Engineering Projects

There are many examples of spectacular engineering from the 20^th century, but my favorites include large scale projects combining multiple engineering disciplines. What's your favorite engineering project from the last century?