The IET SA&NT

IET and EA Retired Engineers Group Event

Where: Engineers House, 11 Bagot St, North Adelaide
When: 1:00pm, Wednesday 10th June 2009, lunch from 12:30pm
Who: All visitors are welcome, although registration required
Registration and further details: Refer to brochure below, by 3rd June 2009

Speaker: Artur Zawadski, Manager, Business Development, Wizard Power Pty Limited, Canberra

Wizard Power is building a $14.5 million demonstration solar power plant at Whyalla providing a zero emission dispatchable (on-demand) power supply. The plant which incorporates “The Big Dish” (the world’s largest paraboloidal solar concentrator system) captures and concentrates solar energy to generate high temperatures that can be used for thermochemical energy storage and power generation. The Plant is at the forefront of solar power technology. The presentation will introduce you to:

• Why this project was successful in securing a Greenhouse Office Grant
• The unique ammonia-dissociation based thermo-chemical energy storage system
• The Big Dish solar thermal concentrator and demonstration plant design
• Current status of the plant, expected results and outcomes.
• Other thermo-chemical applications for the solar technology

Is 24 hour solar thermal power likely to be a viable alternative to nuclear power in sunny locations? This is a rare chance to hear the answer to this and your other solar energy questions from an Australian solar energy expert.

Delivering Utility Scale Power on Demand

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Please click below to download the March 2009 REG Newsletter #159

REG Newsletter 159 (Apr 2009)

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This newsletter contains details of the following presentation.

An Engineering Puzzle with an Archaeological Surprise

When: Wednesday 20 May 2009, 12 noon for 1:00pm
Venue: Gill Langley Room, Adelaide Oval
Who: Open to members of IET/IEEE and the public
RSVP: Registration is essential before 13 May, refer to above brochure.

Presentation by Byron Heath

A dramatic account of the efforts of electrical power engineers to overcome severe, load-limiting, vibration problems with two 150 MW turbo-generators during commissioning of Gordon Power Station in 1977 while facing increasing public environmental criticism of the intrusion of hydro-power into native forests. Concurrently, and within a few kilometres of the Gordon turbo-generators incredible archaeological discoveries were being made which were obscured by the power scheme debate but which will probably be remembered long after the environmental and technical problems associated with Gordon Power Station have been forgotten.

Please click below to download the March 2009 REG Newsletter #158.

REG Newsletter 158 (Mar 2009)

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This newsletter contains details of the following presentation.

New Developments in Diesel Technology

When: 1 April 2009, 1pm
Venue: Room LG24, (Lower) Napier Building, University of Adelaide
Who: Open to members of IET/IEEE and the public

Presentation by M Zockel

Diesel engines have been around for over a century now and until the last decade, were frequently described as noisy, smelly and slow to respond to the accelerator. About 10 years ago electronically controlled injectors were developed and these have, in my opinion, revolutionized the compression ignition (CI) combustion process.
After a brief review of the fuel and combustion requirements of CI engines I intend to describe the new injection and pressurizing systems and discuss their effects on the combustion process, noise and emissions.

Diesel Combustion

Diesel common rail injection system

Please click below to download the January 2009 REG Newsletter #157.

REG Newsletter 157 (Jan 2009)

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This newsletter contains details of the 4th February AGM, which includes details of the 2009 REG Technical Program, and details of the following presentation.
Venue: Lecture Theatre N132, Engineering North, Uni of Adelaide

The Science of Making Profitable Decisions

Presentation by Prof. Zbigniew Michalewicz, School of Computer Science, U of A

In the modern information era, managers must recognize the competitive opportunities represented by decision-support tools. Adaptive Business Intelligence systems are a new family of systems that combine prediction and optimization techniques to assist decision makers in complex, rapidly changing environments. These systems address the fundamental questions: What is likely to happen in the future? And what is the best course of action? In this talk, Professor Zbigniew Michalewicz from the School of Computer Science introduces the concepts behind Adaptive Business Intelligence, which aims to provide significant cost savings and revenue increases for businesses. A few real-world examples will be shown and discussed.

Please click below to download the September 2008 REG Newsletter #156.

REG Newsletter 156

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This newsletter contains details of the event:

Global Warming, is Nuclear the Answer?

When: Wednesday 12th November 2008, 1pm
Where: Room S112, Engineering South, University of Adelaide, North Terrace Campus
Who: Any member of the IET or visitors
Further details and RSVP: Please refer to the newsletter above.

Presentation by Walter Stamm

Despite the fact that all of our scientists cannot agree if we are the cause of Global Warming it seems to me that we cannot tolerate the degree of pollution currently occurring and we must take corrective action.
Many corrective actions have been suggested and even adopted but in my opinion without due regard to the consequences or relative cost.
Let us consider the major causes of this pollution, the possible alternatives for controlling it and the relative cost of these solutions and their effectiveness.
I believe there is only one clearcut solution at the present time.

Please click below to download the September 2008 REG Newsletter #155.

REG Newsletter 155 September 2008

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This newsletter contains details of the event:

Future Electricity Demand and Supply Options for SA

When: Wednesday 24th September 2008, 1pm
Where: Room S112, Engineering South, University of Adelaide, North Terrace Campus
Who: Any member of the IET or visitors
Further details and RSVP: Please refer to the newsletter above.

Presentation by David Swift, CEO of Electricity Supply Industry Planning Council of SA

Each year the Electricity Supply Industry Planning Council (ESIPC) publishes an “Annual Planning Report” which forecasts South Australian demand, examines the supply options to meet that demand and explores the future development needs for South Australia’s networks. The ESIPC is currently working on extending that work to examine the longer term needs.

The future is being dramatically reshaped by the Government’s climate change policies. Not only do we need to continue to efficiently meet South Australia’s need for reliable energy, but we need to do that in a manner which reduces our carbon emissions. As a result, South Australia is fast moving to a position of International leadership in terms of the relative use of wind energy within its generation portfolio. Companies operating in South Australia are also seeking to lead the world in the exploitation of geothermal energy from hot rocks. David will draw on the recent work of the ESIPC to outline the “Future Electricity Demand and Supply Options for South Australia”.

Please click below to download REG Newsletter #154.

REG Newsletter 154 (July 08)

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This newsletter contains details of the

Visit to the State Disaster Control Centre

When: Wednesday 6th August 2008, 1pm
Where: Meeting outside 20 Carrington St
Who: Any member of the IET
Further details and RSVP: Please refer to the brochure above.

The presentation will cover South Australia’s emergency management arrangements, provide an overview of the State Emergency Centre operations, outline the Engineering Functional Service, and overview activities undertaken following the Virginia Floods and Renmark storm.

Please click below to download REG Newsletter #151.

REG Newsletter 153 (April 08)

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This newsletter contains details of the 2008 REG Annual Partners Lunch on June 4th, (registration and payment required by 23rd May – refer to newsletter) which includes a presentation:

Campanology

by Dr Matthew Sorell

Abstract:

If you look out across the Adelaide Oval, you will see the spires of St Peter’s Cathedral, home to the heaviest octave of change-ringing bells outside of the British Isles. The music is unique to England and its colonies, based on continuous cycling of permutations following similar rules to the Rubik’s Cube, alphabetical sorting and cryptography. Change-ringing, or Anglo-Campanology, has its roots in the 11th Century and its mathematical formulation was documented centuries before pure mathematicians came up with their own version, known as Combinatorial Group Theory.
This talk will introduce you to the change-ringing bells of Adelaide, and provide you with an insight into the sport, music, mathematics and engineering of this obsessive hobby.