Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Mature Technology (mature + technology)
Selected AbstractsGrafting of polyolefins with maleic anhydride: alchemy or technology?MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, Issue 1 2003Martin van Duin Abstract Nowadays, the process of maleic anhydride (MA) grafting and the application of MA-grafted polyolefins are viewed as mature technologies. The chemistry and technology of modifying apolar polyolefins with the polar and reactive MA either in solution or in the melt were already explored as far back as the 1950s. Commercial applications exploit the improved adhesion of polyolefins to polar materials, both at the macroscopic scale and on the microscopic scale. However, it is hardly recognised that, from a scientific point of view, grafting has still a strong resemblance to alchemy. Both process and application technologies have been developed in a trial and error fashion. Only in the last decade the structure of MA-grafted polyolefins has been elucidated and attempts to "look" inside the extruder during grafting were only recently successful. The first steps towards the development of sound chemical models are currently made. An overview will be given of the progress made in the various areas mentioned. [source] The developmental path of networking capability of catch-up players in Korea's semiconductor industryR & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2003Hyun-Dae Cho With respect to technological learning, networking and globalization, and the subsequent development of technological capability, this study examines the developmental path of catch-up players in Korea's semiconductor industry. It in particular deals with the important aspects of local and global networking of catch-up players accumulating technological capability. This paper also argues that networking capability plays a critical role in the development of the technological capability of catch-up players in developing countries, and that their networking patterns are changed along the global technological trajectory that they face. That is, on the basis of the Korean case analysis, this study reveals that global hierarchical networking with global leaders is provoked in the vertical cooperative phase when global mature technologies are involved in international technology transfer. Next, the quasi-global networking with overseas sister companies and their professionals is strengthened in the discordant phase when growing technologies are involved. Reciprocal networking with global players is encouraged in the strategic phase when emerging technologies are involved. In addition, this paper addresses the development path of other aspects of technological capability, i.e., production, investment, and innovation capability, of Korea's semiconductor players. Furthermore, it discusses the relevance of Korea's development path to other countries and firms. [source] Engineered textile colour standardsCOLORATION TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2007J Park The generation of colour palettes and the production of ,engineered standards' are now mature technologies and are able to shorten significantly the colour selection and manufacturing process, giving improvements in colour quality control and cost reductions. These advances would not have been possible without the development of optimised colour-difference equations, improvements in laboratory dyeing techniques and computer colour matching together with the availability of digital communication. [source] On the attempts to optimize the performance and cost-effectiveness of TFPM drives: a crucial challenge for the automotive industryEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 6 2005Ahmed Masmoudi Much attention is currently focused upon transverse flux permanent magnet machines (TFPMs), especially in automotive applications, in so far as, to date, they exhibit the highest power production capability. Different automotive manufacturers are currently involved in R&D programs dealing with TFPM concepts and the possibilities of their integration in electric and hybrid propulsion systems. This paper is devoted to the analysis of two R&D projects developed within the design of TFPMs intended for hybrid propulsion systems of heavy-duty vehicles. In spite of the increasing interest in TFPMs and the significant improvements brought to their earlier topologies, we can firmly state that further investigations remain to be carried out before the TFPM concepts could be regarded as a mature technology for the automotive industry. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Biomethane production from starch and lignocellulosic crops: a comparative reviewBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 4 2010Jean-Claude Frigon Abstract The methane produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes and energy crops represents an elegant and economical means of generating renewable biofuel. Anaerobic digestion is a mature technology and is already used for the conversion of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes and excess primary and secondary sludge from waste-water treatment plants. High methane yield up to 0.45 m3 STP CH4/kg volatile solids (VS) or 12 390 m3 STP CH4/ ha can be achieved with sugar and starch crops, although these cultures are competing with food and feed crops for high-quality land. The cultivation of lignocellulosic crops on marginal and set-aside lands is a more environmentally sound and sustainable option for renewable energy production. The methane yield obtained from these crops is lower, 0.17,0.39 m3 STP CH4/kg VS or 5400 m3 STP CH4/ha, as its conversion into methane is facing the same initial barrier as for the production of ethanol, for example, hydrolysis of the crops. Intensive research and development on efficient pre-treatments is ongoing to optimize the net energy production, which is potentially greater than for liquid biofuels, since the whole substrate excepted lignin is convertible into methane. Copyright © 2010 Crown in the right of Canada [source] The role of biomass in America's energy future: framing the analysisBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 2 2009Lee R. Lynd Abstract The Role of Biomass in America's Energy Future (RBAEF) project, initiated during the first half of 2003, has sought to identify and evaluate paths by which biomass can make a large contribution to energy services and determine means to accelerate biomass energy use. In addressing these issues, the study has focused on future, mature, technologies rather than today's technology. This perspective , the first of eight papers that comprise this issue , introduces the project, providing an operative definition of and method for estimating mature technology, a rationale for choosing the model feedstock, a list of the conversion technologies considered, and as a point of reference, a brief overview of the energy flows through a typical petroleum refinery. The subsequent papers are introduced as well. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] Large-scale production, harvest and logistics of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) , current technology and envisioning a mature technologyBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 2 2009Shahab Sokhansanj Abstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising cellulosic biomass feedstock for biorefineries and biofuel production. This paper reviews current and future potential technologies for production, harvest, storage, and transportation of switchgrass. Our analysis indicates that for a yield of 10 Mg ha,1, the current cost of producing switchgrass (after establishment) is about $41.50 Mg,1. The costs may be reduced to about half this if the yield is increased to 30 Mg ha,1 through genetic improvement, intensive crop management, and/or optimized inputs. At a yield of 10 Mg ha,1, we estimate that harvesting costs range from $23.72 Mg,1 for current baling technology to less than $16 Mg,1 when using a loafing collection system. At yields of 20 and 30 Mg ha,1 with an improved loafing system, harvesting costs are even lower at $12.75 Mg,1 and $9.59 Mg,1, respectively. Transport costs vary depending upon yield and fraction of land under switchgrass, bulk density of biomass, and total annual demand of a biorefinery. For a 2000 Mg d,1 plant and an annual yield of 10 Mg ha,1, the transport cost is an estimated $15.42 Mg,1, assuming 25% of the land is under switchgrass production. Total delivered cost of switchgrass using current baling technology is $80.64 Mg,1, requiring an energy input of 8.5% of the feedstock higher heating value (HHV). With mature technology, for example, a large, loaf-collection system, the total delivered cost is reduced to about $71.16 Mg,1 with 7.8% of the feedstock HHV required as input. Further cost reduction can be achieved by combining mature technology with increased crop productivity. Delivered cost and energy input do not vary significantly as biorefinery capacity increases from 2000 Mg d,1 to 5000 Mg d,1 because the cost of increased distance to access a larger volume feedstock offsets the gains in increased biorefinery capacity. This paper outlines possible scenarios for the expansion of switchgrass handling to 30 Tg (million Mg) in 2015 and 100 Tg in 2030 based on predicted growth of the biorefinery industry in the USA. The value of switchgrass collection operations is estimated at more than $0.6 billion in 2015 and more than $2.1 billion in 2030. The estimated value of post-harvest operations is $0.6,$2.0 billion in 2015, and $2.0,$6.5 billion in 2030, depending on the degree of preprocessing. The need for power equipment (tractors) will increase from 100 MW in 2015 to 666 MW in 2030, with corresponding annual values of $150 and $520 million, respectively. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] | ||||||||||