The DPP micropressor control intelligent computer interface

Vacuum

News

New records electricity

in direct

converting

of sunlight

to

Versrons to drove 880 available.

Two solar cell modules with record breakrng efficiency have been developed by Varian under contract to Sandia Natronal Laboratories of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Now being tested by Sandia, each module represents a different approach to photovoltaic technology.

Autoranging

vapour increased durability

l-200

24-28

Manor

The DPP micropressor interface Easy to use, clearly operations. Sixty-four Channels options. Sixteen display. Intelligent Battery

programmable

memory

Up to 6 accuracy Fully

computer

Road,

keyboard,

channels

are prototypes

intelligent

on channels

available.

codes compatible

using l-l

available

by unique

gain and accuracy

histogram

full firmware

facilities.

6. for peak

via inbuilt

monitoring.

RS232C

interface.

scope

Wrnsford,

VG Gas Analysis Ltd. Cheshire CW7 3QH. UK

Twin

filament

Digital

mass

Leak detection Mass

identifying

Overpressure

up

source. facility

protected

against

overpressure

integral

audio

while

indicator programme

with

alarm

cursor protection. Winsford,

VG Gas Analysis Ltd. Cheshire CW7 3QH. UK

of

Ltd. UK

computer

most functions

for simultaneous

operation

Associates Surrey,

880.

range.

Nat Lane,

and not yet

Varian Walton-on-Thames,

for mass, amplifier

selectable

interface

modules

control

labelled

programmable

channels

both

amu mass

Ramped degas degassing.

Both the split-beam and the GaAs modules are designed to be basic ‘building blocks’ from which larger arrays can be assembled by interlocking the modules on a sun tracking structure. that

Micromass

and Mrcromass

Dual Faraday/Channeltron detector for: Simple calibration of multiplier to provide output In millibars; high pressure operation to 10.” mbar; and high sensitivity and fast scanning.

phased cell under

Both modules are liquid-cooled and offer a potential additional benefit of thermal energy recovery from the cell coolant. The possible use of the waste heat could effectively double the value the energy produced by the modules. The AlGaAs cells particularly lend themselves to this application, as they suffer less performance degradation with increasing temperature than do silicon cells.

and

quadrupoles

The SX200

For the second approach, Varian developed a split-beam module using ten silicon and ten aluminium-gallium-arsenide cells at a solar concentration of 477 suns. In this module, the solar beam was split by filter into red and blue spectra. The red was concentrated by Fresnel lenses onto the silicon cells, the blue on the AlGaAs cells. Varian measured the splitbeam module’s efficiency at 20.5%. which is 71% greater than any single cell concentrator modules currently offered by industry. The split-beam module, produced 45 W.

Varian scientists noted commercially available.

on SX200,

or SX200

Nat Lane,

The first module achieved a 16.4% efficiency (conversion of sunlight-to-electricity), the highest single cell module performance to date. The Varian module produced 100 W dc power at a solar concentration of 400 in tests at Varian. Sunlight was concentrated by Fresnel lenses onto 12 cells made of aluminium-gallium-arsenide (AlGaAs). The GaAs cells were produced by an organometallic. epitaxy process, offering a number of advantages: efficiency; adaptability to high speed manufacture; extremes of temperature and humidity.

Supavac

key

New commercial vacuum uses micro-chip to improve safety standards

technology

What is claimed to be the first British-made commercial cleaner to utilise micro-chip technology has just been Truvox Floorcraft of Southampton.

vacuum announced

by

Called the ‘Vactronic’. it is a deluxe version of Truvox’s V9 Vee Vat and incorporates an electronic cut-out device that does more than visually alert the operator to a situation where the machine is overheating. It also switches off the motor when the temperature rises to a preset point, before any permanent damage results. Even after a blockage has been cleared, or the overfull dustbag emptied, the control device keeps the machine immobile until the on-off switch has first been manually reset. This ensures that the machine does not automatically start up and run away as a result of the motor cooling down. If nothing has been done to clear the blockage before restarting, the device will switch off the motor again. Apart from the obviously increased safety that the new technology introduces into mechanised cleaning, Truvox say that, should anything go wrong in the micro-chip circuitry, the fault can be quickly and easily corrected simply by replacing one printed circuit unit with another. The all-important ‘chip’ itself is smaller than the nail on a little finger. The new ‘Vactronic’ should appeal especially to hospitals, computer rooms, electronic product assembly areas, etc. and wherever cleaning operations demand low noise levels and high filtration standards. The new machine is fitted with a simple regulator dial which performs two useful functions. First, it enables the operator to reduce the motor’s maximum 1000 watts power input and adjust the suction to suit the particular cleaning job, thereby making the most economical use of power. Secondly, by decreasing the power the noise is effectively reduced to a level where it will not disrupt conversation and work whilst cleaning is carried out-in hospital wards, for example. A diffuser fitted to the exhaust airflow is yet 119