PHYS.org reports: Scientists of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) have developed a turbo expander electric generator operating on high-pressure natural gas. Natural gas, compressed at the power station, releases a large amount of thermal energy into the environment as waste; the use of such derived energy may represent a step toward sustainable energy. The focus of the research is an expansion turbine that triggers a significant pressure drop at a low volume flow of natural gas with electrical power of 1 kW. The plastic turbine is manufactured via 3D printing; the turbo expander electric generator converts part of the emitted energy into electrical power, thus reducing thermal pollution of the environment. Additionally, the derived energy that previously would be wasted can be used to generate electricity without any additional fuel. “The implementation of the turbo expander electric generator can become a no-break power supply of sustainable electricity,” says Viktor Rassokhin, of the Institute of Energy and Transport Systems SPbPU. For more visit phys.org or click the following link http://bit.ly/2kfThRv

The NASDAQ reports: Oilfield services provider Baker Hughes said late Friday that the number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. increased by 17 last week, the 13th gain in 14 weeks. That brought the total count to 583, the most since November 2015. The data raised concerns that the ongoing rebound in U.S. shale production could derail efforts by other major producers to rebalance global oil supply and demand. Futures have been trading in a narrow range around the mid-$50s over the past month as sentiment in oil markets has been torn between hopes that oversupply may be curbed by output cuts announced by major global producers and expectations of a rebound in U.S. shale production. For more visit nasdaq.com or click the following link http://bit.ly/2kg1C7F