#refinery technology

[little-p-eng-engineering]

Expert Refinery Engineering Solutions by Little P.Eng.

In the dynamic and complex world of refinery operations, the demand for cutting-edge, reliable engineering solutions is more critical than ever. Little P.Eng. Engineering Services emerges as a beacon of excellence, offering bespoke engineering solutions tailored to the unique needs of refineries. With a deep understanding of the challenges and intricacies of refinery engineering, Little P.Eng. stands out as a premier choice for operators aiming to enhance efficiency, safety, and profitability.

Unmatched Expertise in Refinery Engineering

At the core of Little P.Eng.'s services lies a team of highly skilled and experienced engineers specializing in refinery operations. Our professionals are adept at navigating the latest industry standards, ensuring that all projects not only meet but exceed expectations. From process engineering to safety management systems, Little P.Eng. offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to address every aspect of refinery engineering.

Process Optimization for Enhanced Efficiency

Understanding the critical importance of process efficiency, Little P.Eng. employs state-of-the-art techniques and technologies to optimize refinery operations. Our approach focuses on minimizing energy consumption, reducing waste, and maximizing product yield, thereby significantly enhancing overall operational efficiency. Through detailed analysis and innovative solutions, we help our clients achieve their goals of cost reduction and improved productivity.

Safety and Compliance: A Top Priority

In the refinery industry, safety cannot be overstated. Little P.Eng. places paramount importance on ensuring that all engineering projects adhere to the strictest safety standards and regulatory compliance. Our safety management systems are designed to identify potential hazards, mitigate risks, and create a safe working environment for all employees. By staying ahead of regulatory changes, we ensure that our clients' operations are not only safe but also future-proofed against evolving industry requirements.

Customized Solutions for Every Challenge

Expert Refinery Engineering Solutions by Little P.Eng.

Partnering with Little P.Eng. for Your Refinery Needs

Choosing Little P.Eng. for your refinery engineering services means partnering with a leader in the field. Our commitment to excellence, combined with a client-centric approach, sets us apart in the industry. We invite you to discover how our expertise can transform your refinery operations, driving them towards unparalleled efficiency, safety, and success.

With Little P.Eng., your refinery is in expert hands. Contact us today to explore how we can support your engineering needs and propel your operations to new heights.

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process engineering

refinery engineering services

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energy consumption reduction

refinery optimization

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safety management systems

refinery technology

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innovative engineering

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bespoke engineering

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Engineering Services

Located in Calgary, Alberta; Vancouver, BC; Toronto, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; Houston Texas; Torrance, California; El Segundo, CA; Manhattan Beach, CA; Concord, CA; We offer our engineering consultancy services across Canada and United States. Meena Rezkallah.

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[mectech1]

Mectech Palm Oil Refinery Plant- A Legacy of Innovation and Excellence

Oil processing, often known as refining, is the conversion of crude oil into usable products such as petrol, diesel, kerosene, and other petrochemicals. The refining process consists of multiple essential steps, including separation, conversion, treatment, blending, and other refining processes.

Oil refining is a complicated and energy-intensive process that necessitates advanced equipment and technology. It is an important link in the worldwide energy supply chain, providing fuel for transportation, heating, and electricity generation, as well as raw materials for the petrochemical sector.

Of all the oil refining and processing industries, palm oil refinery is the most important sector as it is a very complex oil and for its production it requires good quality plant.

Palm Oil Refining

Palm oil refining industries are among the world's most important manufacturing sectors, and palm oil has grown to become the world's most traded vegetable oil. Indonesia and Malaysia are the main producers, with exporting enterprises for crude palm oil.

Crude palm oil is derived from palm oil's mesocarp. Extracted Crude Palm oil contains some undesirable contaminants, which must be eliminated partially or fully throughout the palm oil refining process to produce good edible oil with increased stability and keepability.

Palm oil is currently a popular cooking oil in many tropical nations, including South East Asia, Africa, and sections of Brazil. Its popularity is attributed due to its higher heat resistance as compared to any other vegetable oil and also because of its lower cost and good oxidative stability.

Palm's unique and finest quality is that it generates two forms of oil: palm oil and palm kernel oil.

Palm oil is derived from the flesh of the palm fruit, whereas palm kernel oil is extracted from the seeds or kernel of the palm fruit using the palm kernel oil process.

Palm oil is derived from fresh palm fruit flesh through pressing and centrifugation at a palm oil facility. To avoid deterioration of Palm Oil, it must be extracted from fresh palm fruit. As a result, countries that cultivate palm oil remove it to prevent it from deteriorating. The crude palm oil's colour is yellow-red or dark yellow, and its taste is sweet.

The crude palm oil extracted contains undesired contaminants, which hurt the oil's physical appearance, quality, oxidative stability, and shelf life. To eliminate the aforementioned pollutants, the oil is sent to a palm oil refinery plant, where it is refined, bleached, and deodorised. After refining the palm oil, the RBD oil is sent to the fractionation unit to extract palm olein and stearin.

Palm Oil Refinery Plant

Palm oil refining is divided into the sections below:

In most palm oil refining plants, the refining process is a vital stage in the manufacture of edible oils and fats. The finished product's properties that must be monitored include flavour, shelf life, stability, and colour.

Crude vegetable oil can be refined in two ways: physically or chemically. During crude palm oil refining, FFA is removed to obtain a maximum FFA level of 0.1%.

Physical refining typically has a smaller environmental impact than chemical refining.

Bleaching edible oils and fats is an important step in the refining process for crude oils and fat. It does eliminate numerous contaminants, which hurt the physical look and quality of the oil. Generally, the oil is taken to the bleaching section first, and the gums are treated with phosphoric acid so that they may be separated in the pressure leaf filter after bleaching.

During this stage, the adsorptive activity of bleaching earth removes trace metal complexes like iron and copper, colouring pigments, phosphatides, and oxidative products.

This bleached oil is next filtered through industrial filters such as a filter press, a hermetically sealed vertical leaf pressure filter, a plate, or a frame filter.

Mectech's unique bleacher design keeps the bleaching earth in full suspension, resulting in no dead zones and lower utility use. Mectech Bleacher guarantees high-quality oil because the bleaching procedure for crude palm oil is carried out under controlled conditions.

Mectech also excels in supplying facilities for rice bran oil processing refinery in India and abroad. Mectech Rice Bran Oil Extraction Machinery in India and abroad offers the following advantages.

[afrotumble]

[rahulcmi]

Refinery Catalyst Market Technological Advancements And Covid-19 Impact Analysis

The Refinery Catalyst Market has undergone significant technological advancements in recent years, coupled with a noteworthy analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the industry. Refinery catalysts play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and yield of various refining processes, such as hydrocracking, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), and hydrotreating. These catalysts facilitate the conversion of crude oil into valuable products like gasoline, diesel, and petrochemicals.

In terms of technological advancements, researchers and Refinery Catalyst Market players have been focusing on developing catalysts with improved activity, selectivity, and stability. The integration of nanotechnology has led to the creation of nanostructured catalysts, which exhibit higher surface areas and better catalytic properties compared to traditional catalysts.

Additionally, the use of advanced materials, such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), has enabled the design of catalysts tailored for specific refining processes, leading to enhanced performance and product quality. The development of intelligent catalysts embedded with sensors and data-driven capabilities has also gained momentum, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization of refining operations.

However, the technological advancements in the Refinery Catalyst Market have not been immune to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The outbreak of the virus led to widespread lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, and reduced demand for refined products due to restrictions on travel and economic activities. As a result, many refineries faced challenges in maintaining their operations and adjusting their production levels to align with the decreased demand. This had a direct impact on the catalyst market, as refinery operators postponed or scaled back their catalyst procurement plans.

The pandemic also highlighted the importance of resilience and adaptability in the refining industry. Refineries that were able to quickly implement remote monitoring and control systems, as well as adopt digital solutions for catalyst management, were better equipped to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic. This experience accelerated the industry's shift towards digitization and the adoption of Industry 4.0 principles, further driving technological innovation in catalyst development and deployment.

Crude Oil Flow Improvers refer to a class of innovative substances utilized within the oil and gas industry to optimize the movement of crude oil from extraction sites to processing facilities.

The Refinery Catalyst Market has witnessed significant technological advancements that have revolutionized the way catalysts are designed and utilized in refining processes. However, the Covid-19 pandemic served as a stark reminder of the industry's vulnerability to external shocks and the need for greater flexibility and digitalization. As the world recovers from the pandemic and the demand for refined products rebounds, the market is likely to continue its trajectory of innovation, with a renewed emphasis on technological solutions that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in the face of future challenges.

[petracarbonsg]

One must be careful when performing any bolt-tightening work. As many a time, mistakes might occur if using the carbon steel parameters for tightening bolted joints of stainless steel bolts. If this has occurred, the stainless steel bolts may yield due to excessive bolt loads. And this may lead to failure and/or result in serious leakages during equipment start-up.

Check out below how to determine the bolt yield strength.

[bedrockfactory]

What's the tovoxran(?) society like, is it comparable to how it is or was anywhere on earth?

Thanks for asking! Sorry for extremely late response too, I needed some time to think about it.

I think Tovoxran society can be comparable to that of humans to a certain extend. Here are some facts about it, the first ones can be about their overall civilization tho:

- First of all, the term "Tovoxrans " is pretty much how humans and a few other species call them. The original name of their species (and how they call themselves) is "Tharr". This is totally not a trial to change their name

- Mainly before they invented technology for space travel and colonization of other planets, they lived in large, densely populated cities built around volcanoes. Later, their technology allowed them to build gigantic heat generators instead of having to settle around volcanoes.

- Due to their economy (and kind of their whole civilization too) being heavily industry-based, their cities and pretty much their whole planet is extremely polluted. Their planet's nature has always been the last thing they cared about, hence their civilization' expanding has forced various animal species to retreat from their natural habitats.

- They were forced to enter the space stage for various reasons, the main ones being massive overpopulation and a shortage of resources on their home planet.

- They have a council-based government, which was supposed to rule the whole Empire, but in practice, their management is limited to their home planet and a few closest colonies. The vast majority of the Empire's territory is ruled by corporations and industrialists.

Bonus illustration of a Tharr factory

  Now some facts more regarding their society:

- Underage Tharr (I'm now going to be calling them like this I hope it's not a big problem) is raised by one parent, usually of the same gender as them (son is raised by his father and a daughter is raised by her mother). There can be exceptions, for example when the parent of the same gender as the kid has died or can't take care of a child from another reason.

- They are a gregarious species and tend to stick together. A Tharr leading a completely solitary life is a rare sight.

- Their society and way of thinking is extremely ultilitarian, hence they tend to avoid to produce or use things that aren't that much necessary for their lives. It also means that for example, there aren't multiple brands producing bottled water or things like this. Water is water after all.

- Majority of their population inhabits mining colonies on various planets belonging to the Empire.

- Tharr society is still very stratified and divided to 3 main classes. 1st class are the most educated and important individuals, including industrialists, exceptionally important scientists and diplomats. 2nd class are mostly Tharr with more common jobs and service proffesions. Main occupation for the 3rd class with only basic education is usually a soldier or a "workforce" like an industrial worker, like a miner, factory or refinery worker (don't forget that Tharr supply many other Empires with raw and refined materials so it's kinda necessary). Also the class doesn't necessarily define the respect an individual receives, it's more like a division in terms of living conditions. In most cases 2nd class and 3rd class are very similar.

- Individuals getting the least respect from others are definitely the ones unemployed from choice. They are considered lazy and unnecessary by others.

[solarpunkwitchcraft]

"When the British Empire occupied Palestine and set about implementing the Balfour declaration, the fossil fuel of the day was not coal. It was oil. Promising deposits had been located in the countries bordering the Persian Gulf, and the central industrial project of the Mandate came to be the pipeline that brought crude oil all the way from Iraq, across the northern West Bank and the Galilee, to the refinery of Haifa. The Mandate as such cannot be understood outside the deepening control over the region in the pursuit of oil; and the Mandate used oil to reallocate land from Palestinians to Jews. In his forthcoming Heat: A History, a wonderfully rich history of high temperatures and fossil fuels in the Middle East, On Barak shows, among many other things, how the Yishuv wrested citrus production from Palestinians by linking up with the most modern circuits of technology: irrigating their orchards with fossil-fuelled pumps, loading their fruits on lorries, sending them over roads to ports, offloading them onto steamers to the European market – a symbiosis with the fossil empire by which the natives could be squeezed out of their iconic citriculture. The Mandate authorities systematically privileged the building of roads between colonies. Oil-based infrastructure tilted Palestine in the direction of the settlements on the coastal plains and further towards their patrons on the other side of the ocean."

[darkmaga-retard]

August 06, 2024

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the massive push to transition to green energy. The goal is to have wind and solar replace coal and natural gas; the electric vehicle (EV) will supposedly replace internal combustion engines. Directives are coming from the highest office in the land; the current administration has made green energy a large part of its agenda.

We are being told that these technologies are clean and will save the planet from climate change. However, these alternative forms of energy being espoused are riddled with their own problems.

Hidden behind the solar panels, wind turbines, and EV batteries are some dirty secrets that get swept under the rug and ignored by climate enthusiasts. Fossil fuels are constantly put under a microscope and condemned as an evil destructive polluter; green energy is typically put on a pedestal. Green energy, however, is not as perfect and wonderful as we are made to believe. Yet, we are putting a lot of trust into these energy sources, without considering their ramifications.

The American Consumer Institute just released a report detailing many of the environmental impacts associated with the so-called green energy forms being heavily promoted. The life cycle of all three—the wind turbine, solar panel, and EV battery—involve significant environmental consequences that should not be overlooked and need to be part of the discussion when implementing energy policies.

One of the biggest issues involved with these forms is the extraction and manufacturing processes of various critical minerals that are required for wind turbines, solar panels, and EV batteries. Many underdeveloped nations, where there’s an abundance of minerals, are at risk. The operations and procedures not only overtake land but contaminate surrounding soil and water sources. In the worst cases, this work is accomplished through slave labor.

Various toxins and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, where workers and even nearby communities are potentially affected. Landscape is tarnished and various animal habitats are shrinking and/or experiencing stress. The massive amount of land occupied by both wind and solar may never be recoverable.

China dominates the green energy supply chains, but their environmental standards are subpar. CO2 emissions associated with refineries in China are 1.5 times greater than those in the EU or U.S.

[depths-of-hyrule]

I have a Rauru/Zonai headcanon inspired by this post [link]. I think the Zonai are from the depths and changed the story of his takeover of Hyrule to sound more like the good guy.

I mean, Zonite is found almost exclusively in the depths. They have ancient structures in the depths. And if you squint, their evelutionary characteristics could hint at existing at the depths. I'll go over my points to try and be more specific with what I mean.

First of all, the zonite that they almost exclusively use for their machinery is only found in the depths (save for the extremely rare locations elsewhere). Where they use Zonite a lot for their machines, it makes sense that they would actually be from where you find it in the largest quantities.

This is followed up by the point that the Zonai have structures already built in the depths like the temples, mines, and refineries. While I guess the game wants us to think that they descended from the sky, met with Hylians with their technology, and eventually found the depths and made those structures. This doesn't make much sense to me as the only place that has zonite in the sky is the tiny cave system you find on the great sky island. I may be wrong about this, but it's still odd to me that they have such little zonite in the sky where they allegedly already had lots of Zonite devices made to show off to Hyrule.

Now, my more obscure point is that I think it makes sense for them to evolve in the depths. Big ears is my main selling point on this as having large ears to hear when you have less sight to go off of. The earrings could also assist as a tell when another Zonai is approaching. They also have a smaller animalistic nose that would make sense for filtering out and breathing in fewer air particles that the depths are full of. (Which we know are hazards given muddlebuds, puffshrooms, and the general spores you can see floating in the depth air.) The brightbloom seeds are also another thing that aren't in the sky (minus the one cave), and this is relevant because Rauru's design has brightblooms seed patterns in his hair.

My final secret point is that it doesn't follow through with the lore already present in the Legend of Zelda timeline as we know Skyward sword takes place in the sky before and established the Kingdom of Hyrule when they reached the surface. The Skyward Sword erasure bothers me a lot as a SS enjoyer (i am biased it was my first zelda game, no i dont care). If the zonai lied about their origins, then we have a good way to interpret Tears of the Kingdom without it either being an alternate universe or forcing SS to take place in an alternate universe.

As I see it, the Zonai evolved in the depths and mined Zonite, which they discovered to be very powerful and created Zonai devices that were also powerful. Discovering the land above their own, they used the Zonai devices to leave the depths and create a society on the surface. They either straight up lied about where they came from and then later created the sky islands to back up their story or created the sky islands using the zonai devices with floating abilities. Then come back down to the surface pretending to be holier beings that can "save" and "protect" Hyrule from dangerous monsters that they are skilled in killing as the depths trained them well in combat and helped them improve their technology.

[manilaxmiindustrial]

Carbon Pipe Fittings : Astm A234 WPB Pipe Fittings Manufacturers

Introduction:

ASTM A234 WPB pipe fittings, also known as carbon steel pipe fittings, have largely become standard parts in many industries. The fitting elements will be used to adapt straight pipe or tubing sections, to maintain different size or shape, and to control the rate of flow of liquids.

Always resistant to strength and versatile, ASTM A234 WPB fittings play a critical role in industries dealing with oil, gas, petrochemicals, and power generation.

What are ASTM A234 WPB Pipe Fittings?

They are used to connect pipes in shapes such as elbows, tees, reducers, and caps. The prime factors that make the use of these fittings highly prevalent are their excellent mechanical properties, like high tensile strength and resistance to corrosion. They are very important in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of piping systems across industries.

Manilaxmi Industrial also supplies Carbon ASTM Pipe Fittings around the globe.

Real-Time Advancements in Industries

Ranging from new manufacturing technologies and materials science to improved performance and reliability, these fittings have carved out a niche in use. Applications of the ASTM A234 WPB carbon steel pipe fitting have greatly improved in the industrial sector.For example, refined heat treatment processes leave behind fittings that are easier to manipulate and work under higher pressure and temperature conditions.

Besides, numerous coating and lining innovations provide improved corrosion resistance and give extended life expectancy.

Manilaxmi Industrial the Indian manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters have been among the most active adopters of these developments to ensure that the country is retained as a main supplier of quality pipe fittings in the global market.

Technology and Need in Various Countries

Demands for ASTM A234 WPB carbon steel pipe fittings are ever-increasing in the global scenario. This demand has been hastened further by the requirement of strong, efficient piping systems in the developing countries and renovated or rejuvenated ones in the developed nations.

Such as setting up power plants and oil refineries. In contrast, developed nations always require update works and servicing of already existing facilities. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology in the manufacturing process, these fittings comply with strict standards that make them very important and cardinal for maintaining efficiency and safety during industrial operations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ASTM A234 WPB pipe fittings are the most essential material in the industrial market, possessing qualities of high durability, adaptability, and tolerance toward extreme situations. With relentless development in the manufacturing technologies, further improvements are made in their performances, making them trustworthy for different applications.

[baudshaw]

TEXT WALL INCOMING

Timeline of the Sky universe as presented by me (not canon, just an interpretation)

**Age of Starlight**

The stars descend and became all the light creatures we know and love, including some we don’t know. The Ancestors (living versions of the Spirits) also arrive during this age.

**Age of Exploration**

(Switch Trailer and Runaway part of Aurora Concert)

The Light Creatures roam the world, while the Ancestors seek to claim it. It is likely during this time that the Elders also arrive.

**Age of Production**

(All is Soft Inside part of Aurora Concert, Warrior part of Aurora Concert, Season of Prophecy, Season of Sanctuary, Season of Passage)

As the Ancestors settle down and form the kingdoms of Sky, they mine darkstone, a powerful mineral. This mineral can then be charged with light, forming power diamonds, which are used to open doors and power boats, along with much more. The darkstone mining is crude and ineffective, but it works for now, and the Ancestors build flying boats to easily transport through the realms.

**Age of Contrasts**

(Gratitude, Belonging, Lightseekers, Rhythm, TLP)

Years later, the realms differentiate themselves in major ways. Valley of Triumph is enjoying a golden age, with interests in the arts, music, and sports. Golden Wasteland, however, is plagued with strife, causing it to slowly decay. One thing unites the realms, however, and that is darkstone: Forest and Wasteland now become prime spots for darkstone gathering, with large mines and refineries being built. To fuel this demand for darkstone, they sacrifice light creatures to power it.

**Age of War**

(The Seed part of Aurora concert, Season of Remembrance)

This massive and complex war has two sides: the Sun Shield, and the Diamond Shield. The Diamond Shield wishes for darkstone to continue to be mined and light creatures to be used, while the Sun Shield wanted to protect the environment and light creatures that were being hurt. Eventually, the Wasteland Elder sided with the Sun Shield, and eventually won, but it was a pyrrhic victory. Valley of Triumph got involved with the war near the end, souring the relations between the two. Many citizens became refugees, fleeing to the Vault of Knowledge as their old lives got destroyed.

**Age of Rebuilding**

(Season of Assembly, Season of Enchantment, Season of Dreams)

After the war, the kingdoms were shook. They became more independent, less willing to cooperate. Inspired by the Lightseekers’ actions years prior, a group of Scouts form their own version of it as the Treehouse. A group of magicians board the Forgotten Ark to settle in the Golden Wasteland, trying to create a magical utopia. However, they fail, and the magic is scattered across the world. In Valley, however, things return to somewhat normalcy, as advanced darkstone technology improves enough to create ski lifts.

**Age of Stress**

(Season of Flight)

The Eden Elder decides they are going to make a massive darkstone contraption at the very top of Eden. The kingdoms experience more and more problems that start to pile up. Meanwhile, a group of Ancestors from the Wind Paths try to reject the horrible practices done to light creatures and make a land where Ancestors and light creatures are free to roam.

**The Shattering**

(Season of Shattering)

The Eden Diamond is built, but it explodes. The Eden Elder tries to fix it, but fails. They turn into the Void of Shattering, nothing but a husk. Meanwhile, devastating shards rain down in the Sky world, but not everyone is completely out yet.

**Age of Final Whispers**

(Season of Performance, Season of Abyss)

Although most realms are horribly damaged, the Valley of Triumph barely holds on. A group of spirits in the Village Theater still try to finish their play, but die while doing so. The darkstone mines of Wasteland flood, becoming the Treasure Reef. After a few years, it is teeming with life. A group of survivors venture into this abyss in hopes of spare darkstone. However, they die too.

A LONG TIME PASSES…

**Age of Sky**

(Us!)

The Skykids fall, determined to save the land and prevent the darkness from ever consuming the world.

[dailyanarchistposts]

The Basis of the Environmental Crisis

There is a fundamental problem here: The dynamics of capitalism have an inherent tendency towards ecological devastation. To understand why this is so, we need to look at how firms are constantly searching for ways to minimize their expenses. This is how they ensure the firm can make the maximum in profits. Because capitalism is made up of relatively autonomous firms, they are in competition. If a firm doesn’t continuously seek ways to make profits, they won’t be able to expand their business, move into new markets, invest in new technology. Other firms will out-compete them. And minimizing expenses is central to the pursuit of profits. Thus minimizing expenses is central to survival for the capitalist firms. And to do this, firms do cost-shifting at the expense of both workers and the environment.

First, companies try to keep compensation to workers as low as they can get away with. They may look to cut taxes that support services working class people rely on. They try to find new forms of technology or new ways to organize the work that reduces the number of worker hours it takes to produce a unit of output. They might automate a production operation with robots, or they will seek ways to intensify work through “lean production” methods. For example, they’ll use computer tracking of a warehouse worker picking items for an order so that they have no rest time after finishing an order but are pushed to a new task through computer control. Work intensification and computer monitoring puts workers under more stress which can have damaging health effects over time. This means the employers are imposing a human cost on workers. If workers in a furniture factory are constantly breathing in finishes or paints being sprayed on furniture in the open, or electronics assemblers are breathing in solder fumes, these are also cases where capital is shifting costs onto workers. And these are cases where the costs could be avoided. For example, there are soldering tools that have a vacuum to suck off solder fumes so workers don’t breath it, but a firm may not want to pay the expense of installing that equipment. These are examples of how the capitalist mode of production tends to shift costs onto workers.

Second, emissions into the air and water are another form of cost-shifting. A utility firm may burn coal to generate electricity. This creates emissions that damage the respiratory systems of people in the region and also contributes to global warming. But the power firm is not required to pay anything for these damages. These costs to others from emissions are “external” to the market transaction between the power firm and its customers who pay for electricity. This is an example of a “negative externality.” Externalities are a pervasive feature of the capitalist mode of production. The fossil fuel industry generates many “negative externalities.” Fracking operations insert chemicals underground which can pollute the underground water sources. A large gas field or leaky oil refinery will generate large amounts of volatile organic compounds — including carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Studies of gas fields show effects in the surrounding area such as goat herds and barn cats losing the ability to have viable offspring, due to the endocrine disruptors. Gas fields also contribute to global warming by leaking large amounts of methane. Contrary to gas industry claims, gas power plants contribute as much as coal-fired power plants to global warming due to all the methane leaks.

You’ll notice here that I’m focusing on how environmental devastation is rooted in production — not consumption. Some environmentalists try to suggest that we should understand the global warming problem by looking at consumption practices, and they use ideas like a person’s “carbon footprint” to focus on personal consumption. But consumers of electric power don’t have control over the decisions of power firms on the methods of electricity generation, or what technology firms rely on to move cargo around in the global supply chains.

Another useful concept here is throughput. The throughput of production consists of two things: (1) All the material extracted from nature for the production process, and (2) all the damaging emissions (“negative externalities”) from the production process. In addition to the damaging emissions into the air and water, capitalism is an extractivist regime with a long history of land-grabbing to minimize expenses — as in the US government handing over mineral wealth to mining companies, lands for commercial ranching and extraction of logs and wood debris from forests for the lumber and paper industries. The search for short-term profits can lead to unsustainable practices such as clear-cutting of forests or use of huge nets to scarf up all the fish in a coastal region without regard to the future of that fishery.

With the concept of throughput, we can define a concept of ecological efficiency. If a production process is changed in ways that reduce the amount of damage from emissions (or amount of extracted resource) per unit of human benefit, then that change improves ecological efficiency. And here is a basic structural problem of capitalism: It has no inherent tendency towards ecological efficiency. If nature is treated as a free dumping ground for wastes, there will be no tendency to minimize damaging emissions per unit of human benefit from production. Also, there will be no tendency to minimize materials extracted from nature except to the extent firms have pay for these resources.

A production system that could generate increasing ecological efficiency would tend towards reductions in pollution and resource extraction. This would require a non-profit, non-market type of eco-socialist economy where production organizations are held socially accountable — required to systematically internalize their ecological costs. Capitalism’s tendency to ever greater environmental devastation happens because firms have an incentive to not internalize their costs, but dump them on others.

The devastation wrought by the cost-shifting dynamic of capitalism is not limited to global warming. Capitalism has favored the evolution of agricultural practices that aim at highest output at lowest financial cost to the firm. Intense competition has led to ever-greater concentration in ownership of farm land. The capitalist setup allows the growers to rely on labor contractors to pay laborers as little as possible and get rid of workers who try to organize. Growers often own lands in various locations and pursue different crops to minimize their risks. With encouragement from the chemical industry, growers have adopted industrial production of a single crop in a large field with increasing usage of pesticides and inorganic fertilizer over time. Inorganic fertilizers typically provide some mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium. Over-use of these fertilizers has led to excessive runoff, polluting water courses and leading to ocean “dead spots” around the mouths of rivers. Destructive effects on fisheries is thus one of the negative externalities from capitalist agriculture.

Since World War 2 chemical pesticide production world-wide grew from 0.1 ton to 52 million tons in 1976 and 300 million tons in 2015. Pesticides produced by the chemical industry are damaging to the health of farm workers, and pollutes water courses, and leaves residues on food. Pesticide overuse also destroys the natural predators of insects and breeds pesticide-resistant pests. This leads a kind of agricultural arms race as more and more pesticide is needed. As Fred Magdoff and Chris Williams report in Creating an Ecological Society, pesticides also reduce “presence in the soil of organisms that stimulate plants to produce chemicals to defend themselves.”

As with pesticides the chemical industry has also vastly pumped up the production of petroleum-based plastics which do not biodegrade but end up as vast scourge of pollution in the oceans. Plastic bags have grown in use because they take a lot less energy to produce than paper bags, and thus cost less. Production has increased from less than 5 tons in 1950 to over 340 million tons by 2014, according to the Plastics Europe trade association. At least a third of all plastic produced is not recaptured, but mostly ends up in the ocean where it is destructive to living organisms. The plastics industry does not have to pay for the negative effects on living things in the oceans.

If we bring in our definition of throughput, pollution and dumping of wastes are one aspect, but we need to also look at the destructive extractivist tendencies in capitalism, such as clear-cutting of forests or over-fishing. According to a 2003 study, “90 percent of all large fishes have disappeared from the world’s oceans in the past half century,” since the onset of industrial fishing with huge nets in the 1950s. “”Whether it is yellowfin tuna in the tropics, bluefin in cold waters, or albacore tuna in between, the pattern is always the same. There is a rapid decline of fish numbers,” according to Ransom Myers, a fisheries biologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax. To address the problem, many countries have banned long drift nets and untended longlines, and have instituted elaborate systems of licensing, and have instituted quotas and third party observers working on boats. Nonetheless, capitalist fishing outfits frequently ignore or evade these rules.

[afrotumble]

The New Dangote Refinery: The Powerhouse of Progress

[kivaember]

APV Character Bios

Since I'm bored and want to talk about my Armoured Core 6 blorbos, here're the character bios of some of the main characters so far (621, Rusty, Flatwell, Iguazu and Walter) in my fic alis propriis volat! I've linked their designs as well, which were all drawn by Mango! (I recommend checking their stuff out!)

C4-621

Name: ****

Callsign: Raven

Aliases: Asset 04, C4-621, 621, Walter's Hound, Raven

Age: ???

Homeworld: ???

Augmentations: Allegedly Gen Four

Gender: Male

Sexuality: ???

Occupation: Mercenary

Backstory: Once a black ops agent of Coral Integrated Technologies (CIT), a Pre-Fires research group that operated mostly from Earth and focused more on the medical advances Coral could grant humanity. Suffered a catastrophic injury to his throat on a mission that resulted in total memory loss and the inability to speak. Was sold on from CIT after a mission went terribly wrong, and was purchased by Walter 30 years later from a black market auctioneer.

While on first meeting, many think of him as cold and distant, C4-621 is simply poorly socialised and struggles in expressing himself - both emotionally and in conversation (the mutism doesn't help). He has difficulty with understanding his own identity as well, and has periods where he thinks of himself more as his AC than an actual human pilot, that that is what people actually care about, not him. Understandly, most are put off or weirded out by C4-621's behaviour and odd habits, making him seem almost... alien.

His past is shrouded in mystery, and it seems he knows more than he admits when directly questioned about it. He continuously plays dumb about his life before being purchased by Walter, or only gives vague non-answers in response. Most people on Rubicon know to let sleeping dogs lie, though, and it's not as if C4-621's past is relevant to the Coral war on Rubicon... right?

RUSTY

Name: ****

Callsign: Rusty

Aliases: Rusty, V.IV Rusty, V.IV, Ortus, Raven (APV)

Age: 32 years old

Homeworld: Rubicon-3

Augmentations: Allegedly Gen Eight

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Bisexual

Occupation: Freedom Fighter

Backstory: Born on Rubicon almost 20 years after the Fires, Rusty grew up on a harsh world where survival was something that was fought for almost every day. After the settlement he lived in was destroyed by the PCA for the crimes of possessing and using Coral technologies (actually an old terraformer powered by Coral that granted refertilised soil and potable water), he was taken in by Flatwell when he was a young preteen.

The attack on the settlement left him with extensive burn scars across most of his body, though these are usually hidden beneath his clothes. His violent experiences, however, radicalised him to liberate Rubicon at any cost, to ensure that no one suffered like him in the future. He all but threw himself into AC piloting training, and even consented to having very risky black market augmentations - his dedication and determination paid off, however.

Once he'd proved himself as the most skilled AC pilot on Rubicon, and cutting his teeth against the PCA and the Corporate expedition forces probing Rubicon's ashes for Coral remnents, Flatwell chose him as his successor for his corporate espionage duties while Flatwell focused on the Liberation Front's military operations on Rubicon. This allowed Rusty to eventually infiltrate the Vespers and climb the ranks to V.IV.

Now that he's back with the Liberation Front, however, he's more determined that ever to kick the corporations off his home and allow the Rubiconians to decide their own fate.

FLATWELL

Name: ****

Callsign: Middle Flatwell

Aliases: Flatwell, Middle Flatwell, Uncle, Chief

Age: 69 years old

Homeworld: Rubicon-3

Augmentations: Gen Three

Gender: Male

Sexuality: ???

Occupation: De Facto Leader of the Rubicon Liberation Front

Backstory: Once an augmented AC pilot for the Rubicon Milita, whose day-to-day job had been chasing off corporate saboteurs from the Coral refineries in what is today known as the Central Ice Fields, Flatwell is a survivor of the Fires of Ibis and one of the main founders of the Liberation Front.

Due to his Gen Three augmentations slowing his aging rate, Flatwell is still rather spry for his age and a capable AC pilot. He spent a considerable amount of time off-world as a corporate spy, gathering resources and connections required to maintain a rebel force on a blockaded planet. As such, Flatwell has many contacts, both unsavoury and not, across the galaxy, and is one of the main reasons why the RLF still exist today, despite the PCA's and the Corps' attempts to crush them.

Has done a somewhat subtle takeover of the RLF ever since Father Dolmayan and Ring Freddie vanished one day (killed by C4-621, though whether he's aware of this or not, he keeps close to his chest). By APV time, Flatwell is the main leader of the RLF, and is very adept at what he does. He's widely respected for his experience and dedication to Rubicon's liberation, and is fondly referred to as 'Uncle' by the younger Liberation Front members, and 'Chief' by the older ones.

IGUAZU

Name: ****

Callsign: G5 Iguazu

Aliases: G5, Iguazu

Age: 27 years old

Homeworld: Earth

Augmentations: Gen Four (Experimental)

Gender: Male

Sexuality: ???

Occupation: Corporate Mercenary

Backstory: Having fallen deep into debt after consecutive losses on the gambling circuit on Earth, Iguazu was forced to enter another risky gamble to have his debts to the aggressive loan sharks paid off. By agreeing to a highly experimental Gen Four augmentation procedure from a rather shady black market augmentation surgeon, the aforementioned surgeon will pay off the debts... provided he survived.

Since brutal death by criminal loansharks seemed more certain than possible death by risky surgery, Iguazu took the gamble, and it paid off. The surgeon kept to his word, and Iguazu, buoyed by his success and the new advantages the augmentations gave him, dove right back into the gambling circuit.

And lost. Again. More critically, this time, as he made bigger bets.

In the midst of his life burning down once again, Iguazu had a fateful encounter with the Hero of Jupiter himself: Michigan. Said encounter earned him a long hospital stay, permanent physical disfigurement... and a ten year contract with the Redguns, where his debts would be paid off by the end.

This time, his gamble didn't pay off, as everything went wrong when the Redguns went to Rubicon, seven years into his contract. Now, he's in custody of Arquebus, shipped off to their Re-Education Camp, while in his head a mysterious, nameless voice that refers to itself as "us" and "we" continues to speak to him.

HANDLER WALTER

Name: Walter Kohler

Callsign: Handler Walter

Aliases: Handler

Age: 63 years old

Homeworld: Rubicon-3

Augmentations: None

Gender: Male

Sexuality: ???

Occupation: Independent Mercenary Handler

Backstory: Born on Rubicon to two Coral researchers, Walter grew up mostly within Lab Alpha - the birthplace of Coral Augmentations. While his life was initially lonely, being mostly surrounded by adult scientists day in, day out, Walter was mostly happy - until the day his father began to spiral into insanity regarding the potential of Human-Coral integration.

His mother volunteered to be the first test subject for what is known as Gen Zero augmentations, and while it was initially successful, her health and mental state rapidly degraded after a few months, resulting in her untimely death. The green light had already been given to the project, however, and his father, driven by determination to ensure that his sacrifice hadn't been in vain, threw himself into his work, creating, in Walter's words, a carnival of horrors.

It had a severe impact on Walter, who only internalised the dangers that Coral represented to humans. After the Fires, he and Carla managed to escape Rubicon in time, and ended up on Ganymede, a colony based on one of Jupiter's moons. From there, Walter worked his way up from the slums that many Rubiconian refugees ended up in, taking on a sponsorship from Furlong Dynamics to become an AC pilot, hoping it would grant him the foothold he needed to listen out for any whispers of Coral amongst the corporations.

His time in the AC academy allowed him to cross paths with Michigan, where they struck a strange relationship that was a mix of rivalry, friendship and genuine affection. Walter, however, cut things off almost twenty five years before the events of AC6, vanishing into the outer regions of space to begin his work for landing on Rubicon and burning the Coral for good.

It was during this preperatory phase that he began buying his 'Hounds' and sending them off to do his work. A year before he landed on Rubicon, he managed to buy one last Hound, a strange Gen Four that didn't come with any sort of name, past or identification.

Beggars can't be choosers, though, so Walter gave him the identity C4-621 and took him to Rubicon-3...

[elepharchy]

One of many consequences of the invasion of the @union-replicants has been the cessation of their exotic gas delivery. With much of our technology relying on coolants like algidane vapour and field media like visdyne gas, we have had to set up a great number of new gas refineries to cover the shortfall. Fortunately, our industries are adaptable and our allies are capable of providing a steady supply of mineral inputs.

[solarpunkbusiness]

When it comes to sustainability innovation, seaweed has become a hero on many fronts: From its carbon-sequestration ability to its potential as next-generation packaging materials, methane-reducing livestock feed, sustainable dyes and more, the marine superplant offers innumerable environmental benefits and practical, circular applications.

Thalasso — a Norwegian startup whose Ocean Harvester technology and micro-biorefineries offer a circular solution for both harvesting sargassum from affected coastal areas and transform it into valuable products.

Thalasso’s autonomous Ocean Harvester is being developed to harvest sargassum in a way that is both sustainable and applicable. Powered by electricity and equipped with battery-driven systems, the harvester will integrate solar panels into its design to partially fuel its energy needs. The harvester will be equipped with the technology to detect nearby sargassum, tracking its movement, and is also designed to minimize harm to marine life, incorporating features to prevent bycatch. Each harvester boat will be able to collect 20-40 tons per hour.

After the Ocean Harvester has collected the sargassum, Thalasso's network of mobile micro-biorefineries can convert the unwelcome seaweed into valuable chemical compounds for industries including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, feed, fashion, textiles and bioplastics.

Unlike traditional biorefineries, Thalasso's micro-biorefineries are easy to install — making them suitable for remote seaweed farms. By enabling on-site conversion of seaweed into high-value products, these refineries promote sustainable utilization of marine resources while mitigating transportation emissions.

“The pilot refinery currently processes 1.5 tons of sargassum per day, but we’re hoping to scale it in terms of capacity and amount of refineries very soon. Plus, the sun-drying protocol is expected to dry and store many more tons,” Sønstebø explained.

Along with the environmental benefits of removing the invasive algae from the affected ecosystems, the micro-biorefineries will support economic growth and job creation in the affected areas. By engaging local communities, Thalasso aims to create jobs in harvesting, processing and research — driving inclusive, sustainable economic development in affected coastal regions.