[Offered to the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee of the Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. DOE holding an open meeting on December 10th] If nuclear power generation is to have a future here in the U.S., the nagging issues surrounding spent fuel storage, nuclear waste and environmental radioactive contamination must be fully resolved. The scope of […]
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Common Centrifugal Pump Terms in Plain English
The terminology of a technical subject is key to understanding it. The language of modern pump technology has evolved for well over a hundred years. During this period, meanings of terms have changed. Good definitions are sometimes difficult to find. In nearly four decades of experience I’ve located key terms and their useful meanings. In […]
Suction – It’s Not What You Think It Is
Suction is often defined as a force that causes a fluid or a mixture to be drawn into an interior space. Some dictionaries more accurately define suction as a force or condition produced by a difference of pressures. Both definitions are correct. However, the first tends to support the illusion that suction is the action […]
Which pump engineering units do you use?
It was over 35 years ago when I began what was to become a career in pumps. The company was Byron Jackson, an American firm headquartered in Los Angeles. US Customary System (USCS) units remained prevalent within the company despite its international manufacturing presence and a growing global adoption of metric. Years ago there were […]
Castaic Lake Hydroelectric Power Plant Facility
Castaic Power Plant Tour, September 14, 2012 In the parking area Lois checked off the names of arrivals. Waiting for the final guests, I had 10 minutes to visit with some former colleagues from Flowserve before start of tour. Incidentally, this plant belongs to a short list of the world’s largest pumped-storage installations and is […]
Castaic Lake Hydroelectric Power Plant Tour
For all Californians: There is a rare opportunity to tour the Castaic Lake Hydroelectric Power Plant. This joint AIAA and ASME Tour takes place on September 14th, 2012. About the Castaic Hydroelectric Power Plant (from ASME): The Castaic Power Plant is a hydroelectric project which provides peak-load power from the falling waters on the West Branch […]