New thermodynamic data center formed

New thermodynamic data center formed

130 GE GETS EPRI CONTRACT TO DEVELOP SUPERBATTERY A $2.5 million, 32-month contract for developing a superbattery that could be used by the nation’s e...

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130 GE GETS EPRI CONTRACT TO DEVELOP SUPERBATTERY A $2.5 million, 32-month contract for developing a superbattery that could be used by the nation’s electric utllltles for bulkenerav storaae has been awarded to the GenGal Electric Research and Development Center by the Electric Power ‘Research Institute. The objective Is to develop a recharge able sodium-sulfur storage battery that potentially offers five times more storage capacity per pound than a standard lead-acid battery. Scientists hope to develop a unit about the size of a file drawer with a storage capacity of about 10 kWh of electricity. Addltlonal testlng Includes assembling several of these units Into a desk-elzed module capable of storlng more than 100 kWh. . Excess energy could be stored durlng periods of low usage and discharged at times of peak demand to make more efflclent use of a utility’s generating capacity.

MACOR GLASS-CERAMIC FORMS CIRCUIT BASE IN SURVEYING UNIT

NEWS

system Is expected to be In service by 1977. when lnstallatlon of other els ments of the system is complete.

NEW THERMODYNAMIC DATA CENTER FORMED The U.S. Geological Survey has establlshed a National Center for Thermodynamics Data of Minerals. It will acquire and provide, on a continuing basis, critically evaluated descriptions of the thermodynamic properties of minerals and other geologic materials at tempe ratures, pressures and composltlons observed in the geological environment. Further Information Is avallable from the manager of the center, John 1. Haas, Jr., U.S. Geological Survey, [Rm. 48318, National Center, Stop 959). 12201 Sun&e Valley Dr., Reston. Va. 22092 (703/86&6829).

T. SATA AND W. KOMASTU NEW IEB MEMBERS FROM JAPAN

group of editors for 5 series of cerBmlc texts for ceramic engineers from 1970 to 1977. He was responsible for the establishment of the High Temperature Materials section in 1968, and Is now a vice-chairman of this section in the Ceramic Society of Japan. He was honored to receive the Basic Ceramic Award from the Ceramic Sot. of Japan in 1972. He stayed, as an exchanae research worker -at C.N.R.S.. BelIeGe. in France in 1964- 1965 and visited 20 countries including Sovlet Russia. Con. tinental China, and Korea. Dr. Sata _is the author or cc-author of over 100 papers, and 2 books. His research area was on catalysts for oxidatlon and polymerlzatlon till 1945 and then it extended to include basic re fractories (dolomite, magnesia, magne sia chromitej for fused phosphate fertilizer and steel manufacturing. oxlde cermets, and uranium-thorium oxide nuclear fuel. His present basic research are on rare earth oxide materials, high temperature behaviour of oxide compounds, and amorphous ceramics. Toshlyukl Sate Research Laboratory of Englnea ring Materials, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguroku, Tokio 152, Japan

A 2%inch (63.5 mm) diameter disc of Macor machinable glassceramic manufactured by Corning serves as the circuit base that is the heart of a new angle transducer In a surveylng instrument produced by Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif. The parts made from Macor glassceramic are cut from bar stock with conventional metalworking tools in onetenth the time It takes to form and flnlsh the other materlals. Previously, the part might have been made from alumlna or beryljia In a time-consuming. costly process that involves casting or pressing in a mold, then grinding and polishing to a desired flatness.

OPTICAL WAVEGUIDES USED IN AIR FORCE’S DATA-CARRYING CABLE Optical waveguldes made by Corning are an essential part of a cable Installed at the U.S. Alr Force Arnold Engineering Development Center In Tennessee. The cable contains six waveguldes, along with several copper conductors. Each waveguide may be employed independently for transmitting, at high-speed, data signals or any other information, including voice and video slgnals. The waveguides transmit data from the englne test sltes to the base computer center, located approximately two kilometers away. The optical waveguldes were chosen for the installation because of their large datacarrylng capablllty. and because they are Immune to hostile environments. particularly electrome gnetic Interference. The cable consists of a welded tubular aluminum sheath surrounding the fibers and their support structure, a polyethylene inner jacket, a corrugated steel wrapping and a polyethylene outer jacket. The cable is suitable for installation in ducts or can be buried directly in the ground. The installation at the Arnold Center is particularly significant because it is intended as an operational system, not an experimental one. The complete

Toshiyuki SATA is Professor In the Research Laboratory of Engineering Materials attached to Tokyo Institute of Technology and also a colaborating member of the Materials Science department in the Graduate School of Science and Engineerlng at Nagatsuta which was established in 1975 In the same Institute. Dr. Sata holds both a BS degree (1942) in applied Chemistry and a Doctors degree (1959) in inorganic materials from Tokyo lnstltute of Technology. He worked In the Research Institute of Natural Gas located In Shinchu, Taiwan from 1942 to 1946. He came back to the Research Laboratory of Ceramic Technology of Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1946. and then moved to the present Research Laboratory In 1975. He was appointed Associate Professor In 1959 and Professor in 1965. He is a member of the Chemical Society of Japan, Ceramic Society of Japan, Technical Association of Refractories, Metal Institute of Japan, Japan Society of Powder and Powder Metallur y. Atomic Energy Society of Japan, an8 American Ceramic Society. He was a member of Dean of Ceramic Society of Japan since 1967. He was the first chairman of the Educational Commitee established in 1967 and Is now a member of It, and he was chairman of a

Wazo Kometsu is Professor of Ceramic Engineering in the Department of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Ikuto ku Technlcal University. He wae Pr@ fessor of the Tokyo lnstltute of Tech nology and retired from the Institute In \ April, 1977. He Is now Professor Emeritus of the Instltute. Dr. Komatsu holds two degrees, a B. S. (1941) and Dr. Engineering (19551 from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He tau ht at the Tokyo University of Agricu Bture and Technology from 1953 to 1964 and at the Tokyo Institute of Technology from 1964 to 1977. He was the coordinator of the Japan - U.S. Semlnar on the Basic Science of Ceramics. He was awarded by the Ceramic Society of Japan. Dr. Komatsu is the author or coauthor of over 70 papers. HIS re search areas include kinetics of solid state reactions and sintering, surface and grain boundary phenomena. Wazo Komatsu Department of Industrial and Enlkutoku gineering Chemistry, Technical University, 1030 Shlmoogino, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-02 JAPAN