Technology evening
The final technology evening of 2018 was held on the 5 December at the Durban Country Club. Ajanth Sewpersad, sales engineer for SICK Automation, gave an informative and well-balanced talk on emission monitoring, the legal requirements and techniques. The audience was introduced to The National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (2004), and the measures required therein for compliance were highlighted.
Other related standards that were listed included several British (EN) standards.
Following from there, Ajanth covered Quality Assurance of an Automated Measuring System (AMS) according to EN14181, and explained terms and definitions associated with emission monitoring before covering some basic principles of alternative continuous measurement techniques. The verification method using isokinetic sampling by an independent authority was then discussed, which led to some questions and subsequent debate later in the meeting.
The relative advantages and disadvantages of in-situ gas analysis and extractive analysis were explained, with the alternatives of cold dry and hot wet extractive systems being discussed. Examples were provided of dust monitoring as applied in industry to determine the efficiency of filtration/precipitation systems, achieved by measuring the dust burden before and after it has been extracted from a flue gas. The reasons for different applications requiring either light transmission or light scattering were also explained.
Ajanth concluded with an overview of typical applications of continuous emission monitoring in a coal fired power station as widely applied by Eskom. Some equipment was also on display so that members could view typical monitoring assemblies and ask more detailed questions after the presentation concluded. The meeting then adjourned to enjoy networking over a meal and drinks to the usual high standard of the Durban Country Club.
Annual year-end-function
2018 was a busy year for the branch, which finished in style at the year-end function, ably MC’d by Busani Sindibi at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club.
A balmy November evening (translate to hot and steamy for the out-of-towners) began with pre-dinner drinks and photographs before the 240 guests were invited into the main hall for the brief formalities. Celebrating the Platinum Award achievement, chairman Hennie Prinsloo thanked the committee for their hard work and commitment. President, Annemarie van Coller, then applauded the branch as being the first to achieve this status and praised the trail-blazing approach as it sets the bar high for all branches.
At the behest of the committee, Annemarie thanked Hennie for being such an inspiring and tireless leader, while everybody agreed all kudos to him for his contribution as chairman.
With the formalities over, the fun began with local comedian Jem Atkins breaking the ice and setting the scene for a relaxed and convivial evening. It was refreshing to listen to a comic who did not rely on bad language and cheap-thrill effects, but who was intelligent and clever-funny.
During the delicious buffet dinner guests were intrigued and bemused by the chef who wanted to say thank you and farewell as he was leaving the country. The emotional cook somewhat overstepped the mark with his confession of aspiring to be a famous singer promptly followed by a rendition of his favourite song – not very well delivered! He was sent back to the kitchen to ‘stuff the tarts’, but it wasn’t long before he (and the food and beverage manager) found their voices and came back to wow the audience with famous arias sung beautifully.
This was a hard act to follow given the surprise and fun nature of it, but Maskandi musicians David Jenkins and Maqhinga Radebe, who form the band Qadasi, followed it with aplomb: great singing, accomplished banjo and concertina playing, and some foot stomping thrown in for good measure. The audience loved it and it was a fitting finale to a wonderful evening and a great 2018.
The branch thanks all patrons and table sponsors, ifm for the drinks sponsorship, and Reed Exhibitors for the gift hampers.
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
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