Refractories are inorganic, nonmetallic heat resistant materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, and in many cases chemical attack, abrasion, thermal shock and rough handling. These are widely used in the lining of high temperature surfaces viz. furnaces, kilns, reactors and other processing units in manufacturing, thermal, metallurgical and chemical equipments worldwide. Refractory selection for a specific application is invariably built upon a combination of material qualities and its composition. Refractories are expensive, and any failure in the refractories can result in a great...

Prevention of heat loss by application of insulation is the simplest method of achieving substantial economies in energy. Some estimates have predicted that insulation in US industry alone saves approximately 200 million barrels of oil every year. The other benefits include the improved productivity, enhanced environmental quality, personal safety, process control, reduction in noise levels and also the fire safety. The most important characteristics of an insulation material is low thermal conductivity, low tendency toward absorbing water, and of course the material should be inexpensive....

The majority of electrical energy consumed in most industrial facilities is used to run electric motors. By incorporating energy efficient electric motors during new construction or replacement can increase productivity while achieving substantial energy and dollar savings. The efficiency gains are obtained through the use of refined design, better materials, and improved construction. This 4 - hour online course provides an overview of the characteristics, economics, and benefits of standard versus high-efficiency motors. It covers the economic and operational factors to be considered when...

An alternating current generator, or AC generator, produces an alternating current, which means the voltage produced alternately reverses from positive to negative polarity, producing a corresponding change in the direction of current flow. Much like a DC generator, an AC generator requires a coil to cut across the force lines of a magnetic field. This coil is attached to two slip rings, which deliver the current to and from the load destination, thus completing the circuit. Alternating current generators are often called "Alternators." The magnitude of AC voltage generated by an AC generator...

A direct current generator, or DC generator, produces a voltage of constant polarity, which means the voltage and current do not change over time. DC generators are basically AC generators whose output voltage is switched the other way round at the proper moment, so that the direction of the voltage is always in a single direction. The AC generator uses slip rings to transfer the current to the electrical circuit, while the DC generator uses a split-ring commutator. Generators can be very small or quite huge. Commercial DC generators are commonly found in traction applications like subways...

The satisfactory performance and continuous reliability of electrical system greatly depends on the quality of wiring. Improperly or carelessly installed wiring can be a source of both immediate and potential danger, and many malfunctions and failures can be traced to this cause. This course describes many of the techniques used to prepare wire (cutting, stripping, crimping), install various types of connectors (soldered and solderless), and how to properly build and route harnesses and conduits. It will help the user understand wiring fundamentals, grasp the principles of circuit connections...

A conductor is a piece of metal used to conduct electricity, known colloquially as an electrical wire. Wires are very good conductors, which mean that they have very little resistance. In fact, their resistance is so small that often we consider it to be zero. (In other words, we often treat wires as perfect conductors). In United States, conductors are measured by American wire gauge (abbreviated AWG) for smaller ones, and circular mils for larger ones. To give you some idea how thick these wires are; AWG 0000 wire is about 11.7 millimeters in diameter (a little less than one-half inch...