Cutting-edge research in asian cities
Corporate Technology (CT) has branches in Singapore and Japan.
Japan is one of the world’s leading economic powers, and it has many research institutes that are of great interest to Siemens as well as others. Because this island nation has always suffered from a lack of natural resources, Japan realized early on that it needs to continuously improve its industrial processes. This obligation, as well as the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, are the main reasons why the government and businesses in Japan are forging ahead with the use of renewable and sustainable forms of energy.
As a result, a smart grid infrastructure has been set up in many areas of the country. Thanks to the new infrastructure it has been possible to exploit advanced solutions for energy generation, distribution, storage, and metering. The use of smart grids makes it possible to integrate renewable sources of energy into the energy mix – a feature that cuts costs as well as emissions and allows the creation of a charging infrastructure for electric automobiles. The latter will form the backbone of a future environmentally friendly economy. In this context, CT has teamed up with the University of Tokyo to look at how energy storage technologies can promote the introduction and expansion of renewable sources of energy.
In addition, CT monitors technological developments in Japan in order to assist Siemens business units by providing them with essential information. Japan is doing sophisticated materials research, for example. CT is managing several different projects in this field, with a focus on obtaining new insights and transferring new technologies to Siemens. Examples include research on lead-free soldering to prevent the growth of filiform crystals (“whiskers”) during the production of electronic systems.
Besides being involved in a collaborative project for developing spray-coating methods, experts from CT Japan also conduct research in robotics, an area that has practically become synonymous with high tech in Japan.
Singapore: Extensive water expertise
Water technology is the focus of CT’s activities in Singapore, where the Industry Sector maintains a global competence center. Water is of strategic importance to Singapore, which is making efforts to reduce its dependence on imports of this resource.
Research in this area is progressing at an impressive pace thanks in particular to work being done by the team from CT. Among other things, this team of experts is involved in the development of a new seawater desalination system that will require at least 50 percent less energy than conventional technologies. As part of this project, CT researchers are investigating new ion-exchange membranes that remove salt from liquids.
In addition, experts are working on the synthesis, modification, and testing of hollow fiber membranes such as those used to remove dirt from water. A key research area here is the development of membranes for the selective filtration of hardening ions such as calcium and magnesium. These membranes will soften water with a high salt content, producing an effect similar to that of reverse osmosis for the desalination of seawater.
CT experts in Singapore also investigate the potential of new bio-electrochemical systems (BES). Such systems use microorganisms to produce oxidation or reduction reactions on the surfaces of electrodes. BES is a very promising technology – particularly when it comes to desalination and the elimination of organic substances in waste water.
Another area in which the team in Singapore conducts research is the corrosion resistance of various metals and polymers in seawater and chlorinated seawater. This work was conducted as part of the product certification process for the SiCURE ballast water management system from Siemens Water Technologies.
In Singapore, CT researchers are working on a water treatment filter. In Japan they are researching new energy storage systems.