Engineering news

Cumbria coalmine inquiry and a big step for fusion energy: 10 top stories of the week

Professional Engineering

How the new Cumbria coalmine could look (Credit: West Cumbria Mining)
How the new Cumbria coalmine could look (Credit: West Cumbria Mining)

Record-breaking magnet could unlock commercial fusion energy

The Engineer

MIT spin-out Commonwealth Fusion Systems and the university’s Plasma Science and Fusion Centre have successfully tested what they said is the world’s strongest high-temperature superconducting magnet. They said the device, which sustained a magnetic field of more than 20 Tesla, could pave the way to commercial fusion energy.

Two-fifths of UK manufacturers still do not have a sustainability policy

Professional Engineering

Two-fifths of UK manufacturers are operating without a sustainability policy, a new poll by Subcon has found. The number of companies without a policy document committing to environmentally-friendly practices in the country’s most energy-intensive industry remains high, despite increasingly frequent examples of extreme weather linked to the climate emergency.

Public inquiry begins into new Cumbria coalmine

The Guardian

A public inquiry into plans for the UK’s first deep coalmine in 30 years has begun. Opponents to the Cumbria mine say it would increase carbon emissions and threaten the UK’s ‘net zero’ plans.

NMITE welcomes its pioneer cohort

Professional Engineering

A new university with a unique approach to engineering education has welcomed its pioneer cohort of about 30 students. NMITE in Hereford aims to deliver ‘work ready’ graduates through a ‘challenge-based’ curriculum without lectures and exams.

Printed catalysts could cool hypersonic aircraft

The Engineer

Researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, have developed 3D-printed catalysts for hypersonic flight. The ‘ultra-efficient’ catalysts could provide power and cooling.

First Graphene project finds concrete uses for material

Professional Engineering

First Graphene Ltd has worked with the University of Warwick on a project where graphene is added to thermoplastic systems and engineering polymers to improve their properties. The new PureGraph material could be used in sectors including automotive, aerospace and construction.

BAE Systems pursues active flow control

Aerospace Manufacturing

BAE Systems has received a Darpa contract to design and test flow control technologies for future military aircraft. Active flow control, such as supersonic streams of blown air, could supplement or replace moveable control surfaces for performance improvements.

Heavy-duty vehicles face extreme temperatures in UTAC’s new testing chamber

Professional Engineering

Heavy-duty and four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles will face extreme temperatures of -20ºC to 50ºC in a large new variable temperature emissions chamber (VTEC). UTAC officially opened the new facility at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire yesterday (9 September).

Siemens Gamesa wind turbine blade can be recycled after use

E&T

Siemens Gamesa has launched a recyclable wind turbine blade. Unlike other blades, it can reportedly be separated into its constituent materials and recycled after its end of use.

Government announces heat network fund

Professional Engineering

A new £270m fund will support the introduction of low-carbon heat networks in England. The government announced the Green Heat Network Fund on Tuesday (7 September). The money will be used for low-carbon technology such as heat pumps, solar and geothermal energy, which will enable more towns and cities to adopt heat networks from 2022.


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