Engineering Topics

Antilock braking system: prevents a car's wheels from locking up as the brakes are applied. Speed sensor: sends wheel speed measurement to the ABS computer. ABS computer: analyzes wheel speed data from sensor to determine when a wheel is locked up and beginning to skid. Differentials: lets the two wheels rotate at different speeds while receiving power from the car's engine and transmission Early differentials: provide power to one wheel only on turns (traction wheel) Posi-traction differentials: clutches inside the differential engage when the traction wheel begins to spin as the non-traction wheel receives some of the drivetrain's power.

Active traction control: Wheel speed sensors: monitor how fast the wheel is rotating. Non-rotating sensor: as reluctor teeth move past it, the sensor generates a voltage signal sent to the Reluctor: a small toothed wheel that rotates at the same speed as the nearby wheel.

Traction Control

The Internet

Infrastructure Routers: designed to send high volumes of network traffic. Maintain large tables of IP addresses. Switches: optimized to forward information to many small destinations. Servers: contain the content of the web.

Protocols: communications using the Internet that utilize computer languages called protocols to create messages that remote devices can understand. TCP & IP: the most basic protocol on the internet. The building blocks for network traffic. HTTP: hypertext transfer protocol. Used for browsing the internet.

Fire Alarm Systems

Operations Sequence of operations: the detailed plan of the order of system actions to be performed. Supervised systems: the integrity of everything connected to the system is constantly monitored  Polling: every few seconds, FACP asks a device if is is functioning correctly. Feedback loop: informs the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) of a specific condition that must occur before a follow-up action can occur.

Types: Addressable systems: the FACP can determine which devices are indicating fire conditions. Analogue / Addressable systems: devices are able to send & receive 2-way communications with the FACPLayout Single-line diagram: simplified layout of the fire system components only. Floor plans: the fire system layout as incorporated into the construction floor plan layout.

Fire Alarm Systems - Components

Field Devices: system devices installed throughout the structure capable of communicating with the FACP.Initiating Device Photoelectric smoke sensor: smoke particles enter the sensor and scatter light onto the photocell, tripping the alarm. Manual pull-station Notification Appliance: audio or visual signaling device Dedicated device: serves no other purpose outside fire control Non-dedicated devices: devices and systems that receive inputs from the FACP whose main purpose is not fire control.

Components Remote annunciator: the systems 'face.' Mimics the Fire Alarm Control Panel in a summarized display. Fire Alarm Control Panel: the brains of the fire alarm system

Chemical Processing Plant

EquipmentHeat exchangers Mixers: mixes or combines different materials. Can be active or static. Separators: separates different materials (i.e. centrifuge, settling tank). Instrumentation: devices in industrial environments that monitor operating conditions (gauging) Reactor: tank or other piece of equipment where a chemical reaction takes place

Process documents:Block flow diagram: high-level process flow diagram Lines: represent movement of product from unit to   unit. Also called process streams. Blocks: represent pieces of equipment Piping and instrumentation diagram: shows all the connections between process equipment and also includes specifications.General equipment layout: plant's physical configuration and equipment locations.Isometric drawings: show 3D object information

Electric Power Generation

Types