Charles Fishman says we all think we know water, but we don't really understand water. In fact, our thinking about water, he holds, is sometimes dangerously wrong.

All the world's cultures and religions and languages are filled to the brim with images and stories of water. In the developed countries, clean drinking water is so easy to obtain and so cheap to use that we never give it a thought. Even in the desert, we can turn a tap and water flows freely into our glasses, fills our tubs and swimming pools, and waters our lawns and gardens and golf courses.

Fishman worries that this seeming abundance of water, and our resulting blindness to pricing and deploying water more efficiently, will likely lead to catastrophic water shortages.

Around the World of Water
Fishman seeks to cure our ignorance of water with a lengthy review of water facts and science, and a globe-hopping tour of water and how we use and misuse it in industrial, agricultural, commercial and residential applications.

In a visit to IBM's huge chip-making plant in Burlington, Vermont, we learn of the huge amount of super-pure water they must produce to create their computer chips. We see how they have learned over time to think of water as resource that can be managed much more efficiently, significantly reducing both water and energy costs. But even with all their savings this one IBM plant still uses 3.2 million gallons of water a day.

Industry and agriculture are prodigious users of water:

• Fishman notes one ton of steel takes 300 tons of water
• 49 percent of water use in the US is for power plants
• It takes 250 gallons of water per person per day to generate enough electricity for a single home
• It takes five liters of water to produce a two-liter bottle of coke
• In water-short Australia, a single wool processing factory uses 380,000 gallons of water daily
• Also in Australia, a single farmer needs 6 billion liters of water to grow rice on his 10,450 acres

The good news about water is that it is never destroyed or used up. Fishman writes that we're drinking the same water today that the dinosaurs drank. The challenge is to use water efficiently, and to find affordable ways to make it available where it is most needed. Fishman appears to favor greater use of market pricing so that everyone has an incentive to use water effectively. He cites examples, such as the IBM plant in Vermont, where industry has been a leader in developing technology and procedures that help us use water more efficiently.

"Except for air and water," he notes, "…we pay for almost everything else in life that is essential; we entrust everything, from electricity to hospitals, to private companies." But Fishman worries a few pages later that "…it's also vital not to let business get so far ahead that we cede the future of water to commercial interests."

Despite his concerns about how far to trust business, Fishman seems most optimistic about industry's ability to create technical solutions that can maintain our lifeline to water. "Technology is making it easier to solve almost any water problem," he writes. He sees the real problem will be getting people and political leaders to recognize the problems, and understand and accept the technical solutions before it's too late.

As Fishman points out, "…running out of water is like slipping off the edge of a cliff—it's hard to be saved." Fishman wants us to save our water supplies before it's too late for the whole of civilization to be rescued.

- The Big Thirst by Charles Fishman is published by Free Press (400 pages). I bought it as a Kindle eBook on Amazon for $12.99.

Don Dunnington
Blog Moderator

People have asked me what gifts are on my short list for those wanting the latest in technology. The short answer is anything that starts with "i" as in iPhone and especially iPad. The iPhone set speed records for its rate of adoption, and the iPad is proving to be even more phenomenal.

The business world's road warriors have led the charge. On every flight I take I see an increasing number of iPads as I walk down the aisle towards my seat. Before the flight they're checking last minute email, or getting the latest news. During the flight, they're watching a movie, reviewing a document or working on a presentation. You could do all these things with a notebook computer or a smart phone, but the iPad makes it so much easier and far more fun.

In September I talked with a lady at the Cincinnati airport, one of a half dozen or so using iPads as we waited for our flight. She's a corporate trainer, mostly working with small groups. With the iPad she can leave the PC and projector home, reducing both the weight and complexity of the equipment she must carry. Her company wasn't ready to spring for this new technology; so her husband bought her one for her birthday.

The iPad is one of those unique gifts that fits everyone of every age. I know a physician who is giving iPads to all five of his children, who range in age from 8 to 18. I'm giving one to my wife for Christmas, and I know several other men whose wives are getting the same. On Thanksgiving Day, my four-year-old grandson walked in the door playing "Angry Birds" on his mother's iPad.

It all started with the iPod, and with each new addition to its cool iTools, Apple has created what Seth Godin might call an iTribe. In his classic little book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, Godin describes how today's successful organizations have leaders, not managers. Managers are cynics. Leaders have hope and infect their followers with hope. And magic. Every Apple iProduct has been filled with magic. The first time people hold the bright iPad screen in their hands, they say "Wow!"

That's why, like so many others, I put the iPad at the top of my gift giving list this year. It's magic.

Having spent the last 35 years of my life immersed in a wide variety of aspects in the process measurement and control industry I was recently asked for a recommendation regarding a level control device that would be able to control a bin filling operation and be "safe".  What a soapbox I was handed. 

The powder and bulk solids industry seems as though it lags in adopting some technology, at least from an instrumentation standpoint.  However, it isn't just the risk averse nature of most powder and bulk processors, but it is that much instrumentation technology developed for use with liquids (80% of the overall measurement business in level measurement) does not cross over directly or seamlessly to powder and granular material level measurement.  It takes time to adapt technology for the challenges of bulk solids.

The same exists in the area of instrument "safety".  Driven by large legal and financial ramifications in the chemical and petrochemical area, as well as standards writing bodies such as the global IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), most "safety" related approaches are quickly developed and adopted in liquid oriented industries, such as chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical etc.  So when asked, I summarize the four levels of basic safety regarding the function or output of a level measurement or monitoring device.

I recently posted to the Just Level Expert blog the following list.  You might want to setup an RSS feed from that blog so you don't miss anything.

SAFEST: Material detection sensors certified to SIS and SIL according to IEC 61508 and 61511.  Refer to this White Paper to explain more about this safety level.  There are level indicators certified at this level, but primarily technology for liquid applications.  It's an interesting subject if you are involved with process safety.  Check it out.

SAFER: Self-validating level sensor technology that verifies its health and communicates it to you.  This is only available with rotary paddle technology for solids and doesn't eliminate moving parts, the drive motor, and comes at quite a hefty price tag.  Fail-Safe rotary paddle, RF and vibrating element devices are just as reliable and protect against many sensor failures, those that occur due to power disruptions.

SAFE: Material detection sensors that are FAIL-SAFE so the sensor output indicates an alarm if the power supply to the sensor fails.  Rotary paddle units offer the highest value with this capability, but make sure you ask specifically for a unit that has a fail-safe output on power failure.  RF and vibrating element sensors commonly provide this capability on a standard basis.

TAKING YOUR CHANCES: This is any material detection sensor that does not offer at least the SAFE level or above.  This is common with some brands of rotary paddle bin level indicators, proximity sensors and also with tilt switches and diaphragm switches.  Consider switching these out for the "SAFE" kind.

One final point, thinking about relying on your inventory level sensor for control?  Don't!  And don't take my word, listen to what the accident investigation report said regarding their findings and recommendations regarding the fuel depot explosion and fire late in 2005 that was estimated to cost 1 billion pounds (that's pounds sterling British currency).  You can read about that in an editorial column from September 2009.


Got a question?  Give us a call at 888-61LEVEL or 815-625-2224.  Email us at bluelevel@blueleveltechnologies.com.

I was surfing around the other day and ran across the website of Spitzer & Boyes.  They are a consulting firm, they do training and write books and columns.  I spoke with David Spitzer, one of the authors, to see if he would be interested in guest authoring at the level measurement blog, but he gets paid to write and speak.  Any way, the book looks good but I haven't read it. 

The cost of the book is $250 and can be ordered from Amazon or click here.

Non-contact level sensors are a hot topic so this is why I thought you might be interested in this book.  However, contact level sensors (they are working on this book too) should never be ruled out and in fact I feel they are the best choice for most all applications. 

Open-air devices always have to deal with the internal vessel environment.  This especially true for powders.  I have found that the best technology available for continuous level measurement of powders is guided wave radar as this case history illustrates. 

And for granular plastics?  The leading technology is smart cable-based inventory monitors.  This is what ThomasNet can find on that subject.

Got an application you need to discuss?  Post a comment.  It's easy.

Joe Lewis

Technical industry blogs are not rampant, but there are some.  Why does this matter to you?  Because good blogs are a great source of technical data, application information and solutions to problems that you might have.  They can be, and typically are, more informative and less promotional than the typical manufacturers' website. 

What is a blog?  Well, you're reading a post at one of the leading industry blogs for powder and bulk solids.  A blog is typically a journal of postings on a certain subject.  Industry blogs tend to deal with technology, applications, technical product detail and problem solving rather than promotion.

In regards to instrumentation, and level sensors in particular, there have not been any blogs to speak of.  That has changed.  Just launched is the Level Measurement blog.  This blog discusses technology, applications and problem/solutions regarding level measurement.  It also has a post that will help you get the most out of RSS feeds and syndication by using a newsreader for your favorite blogs. 

Take a look and don't be afraid to post a comment.  No one is going to give you a hard sell as the primary mission of this, or any good blog, is to help you.

Joe Lewis
Vice President
Monitor Technologies LLC

Flyash is a result of the combustion process that takes place in coal fired power plants.  This ash is collected and disposed of.  However, in recent years use of flyash has increased.  Cement producers and concrete manufacturing batch plants all use flyash to enhance the composition and value of the product they produce.

However, flyash is collected and stored in silos at the power plant, cement plant and concrete batch plant and the inventory of this material needs to be monitored for various reasons.  Flyash is lightweight, low in dielectric constant and extremely dusty, especially during silo filling operations.  These characteristics present challenges to nearly every form of level measurement technology.  This makes obtaining a consistent, accurate and reliable measurement very difficult.... until now.

A new "white paper" is available that discusses the nature of flyash, why it is difficult to measure and where it is used.  This paper then proceeds to offer a solution for measuring and monitoring the level and inventory of this increasingly used and valuable commodity and by-product of coal-fired power plants.

Click here for access to this free "white paper" entitled "Flyash Level Measurement Solutions".

If you have any questions or comments about this free "white paper", please let me know.  Thanks!

Joe Lewis
Vice President
Monitor Technologies LLC
jlewis@monitortech.com
www.flexar.info
www.monitortech.com

Recently E-85 was added to the list of fuels being sold by two local Johnson Oil Shell fuel stations in the area in which I live.  For those of you that haven't been paying attention, gasoline prices have risen substantially in the past 24 months and Ethanol has become increasingly popular as an alternative fuel.  Auto manufacturers are ramping up to manufacture more and more FFV's (flexible fuel vehicles) that can run on "E-85", a fuel that is 85% Ethanol and 15% gasoline.

E-85 is a lower cost fuel at the stations I have seen it offered at.  At these stations regular gasoline is priced at $3.09 per gallon while E-85 is $2.49 per gallon.  What vehicles can run on E-85?  How is Ethanol made?  Why is there so much energy (no pun intended) being put into ramping up the availability of Ethanol and E-85?  All of these, and more, questions can be answered by a quick review of a free "white paper" made available by Monitor Technologies LLC.

The "white paper" is available free of charge by visiting the web page and downloading it.  Click here.  In addition to information about the Ethanol industry, this white paper reviews the production process used in "dry mills" that produce Ethanol from corn.  The white paper also identifies key players in the design and construction of Ethanol production facilities and solutions available for monitoring and measuring various material levels within a typical Ethanol production facility.

Joe Lewis
Vice President
Monitor Technologics LLC
800-766-6486
jlewis@monitortech.com
www.monitortech.com
www.flexar.info

Finding the best level measurement solution for your bulk solids is not always simple and easy.  There are several different technologies to consider, including smart weight & cable, guided wave radar, ultrasonic, through-air radar and laser.  For the vast majority of bulk solids applications, especially for powders, the use of through-air technologies like ultrasonic, through-air radar and laser can be very problematic.  That leaves the smart weight & cable devices and guided wave radar as the most viable candidates.

When you need continuous measurement updates and prefer no moving parts, guided wave radar is your best choice.  Why?  Because, unlike most other technologies, radar technology is practically immune to process conditions such as temperature, pressure and atmospheric composition.  In addition, guided wave radar uses a continuous cable wave-guide to direct the radar pulses to the material surface.  The radar energy does not disperse, unlike through-air radar and ultrasonic.  This is important as only a small portion of microwaves will be reflected off the material surface.  The amount and strength of reflection is based on the dielectric constant of the target material.  The lower the dielectric constant, the less energy is reflected.  However, because the radar pulses are guided along the wave-guide stronger reflections exist than with through-air devices.  This is a major advantage of guided wave radar and is why it works!

Guided wave radar can effectively and reliably be used on challenging applications such as cement powder, flyash, slag powder and so many other bulk solid materials whether powder or granular.  And guided wave radar does not require high dielectric materials to work.  Guided wave radar, using TDR (time domain reflectometry) technology can measure materials with dielectrics as low as 1.4.

Need a solution?  Need a reliable and high-value level measurement system?  Look at today's guided wave radar units!

www.flexar.info

Joe Lewis
Monitor Technologies LLC
jlewis@monitortech.com
www.flexar.info
www.monitortech.com

I recently did a search to find background material on the Hall effect.  In the process I found this great website that I just had to tell everyone about.  You can link to it on the picture to the left or click here.

This site is fantastic!  I can't understate this.  Not only did I find a concise understandable discussion on the Hall effect but I also have referred back to several times for other topics.  I've bookmarked it and suggest you do as well.  This site covers over 500 topics (I gave up counting at that number).  Subjects from "acceleration" to the "zeeman effect".

The site is produced by Dr. C. R (Rod) Nave in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University.  The topics are generally contained within ten application areas.  These include: Mechanics, Electricity, Vision, Hearing, Thermal, Solids, Astronomy, Nuclear, Relativity and Quantum

The intellectual property rights of the HyperPhysics site and the responsibility for accuracy reside wholly with the author, Dr. Rod Nave at Georgia State University.

I hope this information is useful for you.  Check it out and let me know what you think, or if you know of other similar sites that you'd like to share.

Joe Lewis
Vice President
Marketing & Sales
Monitor Technologies LLC
Phone: 800-766-6486 or +1-630-365-9403
Email: jlewis@monitortech.com

While many think of blogs and RSS newsfeeds as synonymous, there are an increasing number of websites that offer RSS subscription to their web pages. A website whose RSS feed I subscribe to is physorg.com, which offers news on science, technology, physics and space.

I first came across physorg.com about a month ago in a short news item on a new trigonometry developed by Dr. Norman Wildberger of the University of New South Wales, Australia. Dr. Wildberger has eliminated the need to use sines, cosines and tangents in trig and calculus.

"Generations of students have struggled with classical trigonometry because the framework is wrong," says Wildberger, whose book, Divine Proportions: Rational Trigonometry to Universal Geometry, is published by Wild Egg books.

Could Wildberger’s rational trigonometry lead more young people loving math, or entering careers in science and engineering? Wildberger thinks so. "Once you learn the five main rules of rational trigonometry and how to simply apply them," he writes, "you realise that classical trigonometry represents a misunderstanding of geometry."

Here are two other websites that offer free tools that I use myself:

Free K-Convert Translates Measurements
K-Convert will convert metric measures to US standards and US to metric. I’ve been using this freeware program from K-Tron for more than a decade. Originally written for Windows 3.1, this small conversion utility works great and runs on any Windows platform including XP. You can join the thousands who have downloaded it from K-Tron's "free tools" page (requires registration).

Pennsylvania Crusher’s Handbook of Crushing Now Online
Penn Crusher’s classic Handbook of Crushing offers a solid introduction to size reduction technology. Where once the handbook was available only through limited distribution directly from Penn Crusher, you can now see much of the content 24/7/365 on the web, including an animated explanation of the four basic ways to reduce material. You can also download the entire handbook free (requires registration).

We invite you to share your favorite tools and tips on this blog. Tell us about the machines, the tools, or even a free download from a website that makes your job easier, faster, or just more fun.

Don Dunnington