Archive for the 'Industry Insights' Category
Posted on August 22nd, 2008
NCSLI in Florida was the place to be in early August.
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John Zwak presented a paper on Using an Ice bath to approximate the Triple Point of Water (TPW)
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John and Bill Bergquist also participated in the EXPO. We had a little fun with the ICE theme.. It’s all about the ICE, ice bath, TPW, Minnesota ice fishing and the interesting combination of all three….
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At Burns we believe in bring to your PRT and Temperature Calibration needs a practical and valuable perspective that will have a positive Impact on your Business…. If you missed us, send us a note at: info@burnsengineering.com, comment on the BEblog, give us a call or stop by visit us in Minnesota. Remember if you wait until January, that ice theme comes back in full force.
See you next year at NCSLI 2009 in San Antonio. Metrology’s Impact on Global Trade
Practical temperature measurement insights is Burns’ contribution to Metrology’s Impact on Global Trade…
Join us…
Chuck
Posted on July 18th, 2008
Along with our Spring loaded RTD’s, spring has definitely busted out and summer is in full swing. The smell of fresh cut grass, sun glasses, shade, all the wonders mother nature has to offer. Sprinkle in a storm or 2 and some humidity and there’s no doubt summer in Minnesota has arived.
Back in the throws of spring, the Fun Committee at Burns thought we should bring a little GREEN inside. So given a small cup, a handful of dirt and a pinch of seeds, a little contest began to see who could care for and grow the biggest plant……Needless to say the results are varied.
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The winner were crowned at our summer picnic today. I’ll announce the winners next week…. May the greenest thumb win!
By the way, we are also breathing a little more life into our internal recycling program to promote awareness and better recycling throughout the organization. More on that and other environmentally conscious efforts in a future post.………………………………………
What creative activities is your organization doing to serve Mother Earth? Click the Comment button above and share…
Thanks
Chuck
Posted on July 11th, 2008
The best things come in small packages. I’ve heard that phrase many times. Recently the engineering team at Burns has been working on a stealth project to evaluate material and process approaches for the purpose of; mini, tiny, micro and just little RTD’s. We code named the project SLIM and gave it a mascot….
We discovered some interesting materials and process options, and broke a few assumptions and perceived constraints. Then, in the design mode, applied these ideas and created a few new RTD’s for various applications throughout the BioPharma, Food & Beverage, PetroChem and Ethanol industries. These little RTD’s play a role in Bearing temperature monitoring, product transit condition monitoring and various surface sensing and tight locations where addition temperature profile and awareness is important to the process.
The team had a blast think beyond the rules, historical approaches and known materials. In true “achieve, change and improve” mode, we are doing it again.
What paradigms have you busted through recently? Click the comment button and tell us a bit about your recent A-ha’s.
Chuck�
Posted on June 26th, 2008
The Burns team snapped a few photos at the FEW Expo…
What the talk is all about… 
Our friends from Yokogawa.
Some great guys at UNIVAR…….
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Did you grab a bobber at the BURNS booth?
Proof that there is more to producing Ethanol than Ethanol..
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Many of the organizations at the FEW event offered various perspectives regarding some of the controversy in the industry.
Fagen Inc. had this sign in their booth…
An interesting and informative Expo….
What were your observations or questions about Ethanol? Click the comment button and share…
Chuck
Posted on June 18th, 2008
Home from the FEW event?
Interested in what’s happening in the Ethanol Industry?
Have a few thoughts about Ethanol and want to be in conversation?
Here are three places to engage…
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> Burns BEblog… we’ll stay connected from the temperature measurement perspective. Also check out the Ethanol page.
Sponsored by Ethanol Producer Magazine, Jessica Sobolik Managing Editor
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> The FEW Blog.
> Talking Stalk Blog, with Tom Bryan…
Stay in touch and share your experience and wisdom about the Ethanol Industry, critical temperature measurement and all the challenges we face in the world of energy consumption and sources…
Chuck
Posted on June 17th, 2008
Ethanol and it’s expansive support industry at the FEW Event have rushed the gates at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. They are talking everything from filter bag systems, mixers, bacteria issues, biodiesel, fermentation and thermal oxidizers…. The conversation even dipped into the area of CIP (Clean in Place), posing the question, “Should the Ethanol fermentation process move toward the sanitary guidelines similar to the food and beverage industry?” This was driven by the co-product “Distillers Grain” entering into the food stream through the animal feed.
The Expo opened Monday evening, breaking the ice with a Grand Opening and massive social in the expo arena. The spirit in the room was an interesting mix of excitement, passion and commitment to all the good aspects and value of Ethanol as a clean and renewable fuel energy source. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t questions and concerns about the interdependency with the other uses of corn, and the economic complexities as the ethanol industry grows…. It sounds like these folks are aware of all of this, and are committed to being good stewards of the resources they consume and at the same time looking for additional Sugar & starch sources to balance the demand for corn. One alternate fermentation product being discussed is ALGAE! Now that’s being creative!
More later from on the Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo and the passionate folks in attendance.
What are your thoughts and concerns about Ethanol… Click the comment button above and tell us your thoughts.
Chuck�
The MCAA 2008 Industry Forum 
wrapped today with an exciting and powerful exchange between the Members and representatives from 6 product approval agencies; FM, TUV, CSA, UL, Intertek, MET.
The members of MCAA were open, honest and frank with the testing lab representatives, directly sharing their experience, frustrations and disappointments with the level of service and perceived value.
What I observed was a large group of very passionate members of industry exchanging points of view with equally passionate representatives from the testing and approval labs.
In the end, there was a list of recommendations, a commitment to improvement and a better understanding of the needs and challenges for all involved.
Burns Engineering believes that through conversation an amazing level of understanding and be achieved. That understanding can lead to improved relationships between organizations as was created by the conversation at the 2008 forum. That conversation has also lead to a high level of problem solving and creative product development to support those we serve.
It was a great experience. Thank you MCAA for taking the bold step to facilitate the conversation, and Congratulation to both the MCAA members and the 6 agency representatives for your strength and commitment to a better future together.
Have you seen the power of this level of conversation? We would love to hear about it.
Chuck�
Posted on April 22nd, 2008
Posted on April 21st, 2008
Originally design in 1975, the Burns Engineering Underwater PRT has found itself serving many submerged needs in industries from Power generation to Paper processing; helping to protect the delicate aquatic environment.
In Minnesota it’s all about the Walleye…
The Burns Underwater PRT spends so much time underwater it’s beginning to grow gills
In my search, DNR within every state in the US has regulation and guidelines for Industrial water discharge temperature to insure protection of the lakes, rivers and streams.
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We all have a responsibility to care for our world. This is one way Burns Engineering supports a Greener Globe!
What can we do to help you protect the environment?
Chuck
Posted on April 15th, 2008
The Engineering folks at Burns are always looking for interesting temperature measurements and devices. Well here are a few of our latest finds. These are not typical PRT’s or RTD’s. They are unique and highly custom applications of classic technology and cutting edge brilliance.
If you have a fever or are planning a climb of Mt Everest you may find this device of interest. The ultimate Sanitary RTD.
Remember, it’s for single use only..
From Nova, Jan 2006; the Thermal Radio Pill was presented as part of the article on understanding the health issues during high altitude climbs.
This next device called a Shot Noise Thermometer presented by Yale in 2006 is nearly Quantum Physics based technology. This idea relates noise, not audible noise but electrical noise, to temperature. The intention is to develop this device into an operating primary standard for temperature down to 0.01 Kelvin. Calibration of this device is certainly a metrology challenge, covering multiple measurement techniques and requiring sub-millikelvin combined uncertainties.
In the area of Quantum Mechanics, is Nanotechnology. The International Nanotechnology Business directory shows some Nano-Pictures. Take a look! Then come back and see what Nanoway Cryoelectronics , a company in Finland is working on. Nanoway is launching a test program for their CBT (Coulomb Blockade thermometer) sensor chip. This Nano based device operates in the near absolute zero range.
We just thought these were fascinating and wanted to share.
Have you seen any interesting temperature measurement devices lately?
Click on the comment button above to share some of your discoveries!
Thanks
Chuck
