SIEMENS

Siemens Velaro trains for Russia stay cosy even under extreme test conditions.

The latest high-speed train from the Velaro family has successfully passed an endurance test in Russia. Before delivery to the customer, experts from Siemens tested the train in a climatic wind tunnel in Vienna. The train is slated to connect Moscow and St. Petersburg from the end of 2009, and it has to withstand severe weather conditions at all times. To ensure that this will be the case, fierce snowstorms were simulated at the Rail Tec Arsenal (RTA) testing facility in Vienna. During these tests, storm conditions raged at wind speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and outside temperatures were as low as –40 degrees Celsius. Siemens engineers had prepared Russia’s first high-speed train to withstand such conditions by incorporating special-grade materials such as steel and plastic that retain their properties even at low temperatures. In addition, special lubricants, a refined design, and auxiliary safety functions for the drive and switching systems were needed to ensure the smooth operation of the train under the most adverse temperature conditions. Besides demonstrating the train’s functionality in snow and ice, the test showed that passengers are in for a comfortable ride. Thanks to the use of enhanced thermal insulation, passengers can count on remaining warm despite the icy cold. na/sw

A testing system for drinking water detects chemical weapons agents.

Researchers from Siemens Corporate Technology have developed a fully automatic system to test drinking water for the presence of toxic substances. A lab demonstration model can analyze water samples every 15 minutes and can detect over 100 toxins, such as insecticides. At the heart of the system is a biosensor that measures the activity of special enzymes. The signal is transmitted electrically, which means that the system is fast, highly sensitive, and robust.

Airport “napcap” booths are outfitted with Osram LED lighting modules.

In Munich Airport’s Terminal 2, travelers can check into futuristic-looking “napcap” booths that make waiting a pleasurable experience. The booths are equipped with a couch, a desk, and Internet access. The right lighting for the booths is provided by a sophisticated concept from Osram that generates different colors and levels of brightness. Depending on the user’s preferences, this can either be a bright blue-tinged working light that promotes activity or a warm red light for relaxation.

The Acuson SC2000 recognizes anatomical landmarks.

The Acuson SC2000 is the world’s first ultrasound system that can generate full volume images of the heart in a single heartbeat in real time. An unprecedented information rate of 40 volumes per second at a depth of 16 cm replaces conventional techniques requiring four or more heartbeats to stitch together a volume. Enabled by the active cooling technology in the transducer, the system’s full-volume acquisition capability has the potential to improve diagnostic confidence and to reduce exam times. In addition, the new system allows the examination of a wider range of patients, including those with arrhythmias and those who cannot hold their breath or stay still long enough. Using intelligent software and an expert database, the Acuson SC2000 recognizes anatomical patterns and landmarks and enables automatic measurements.

Concept design of a coal-fired plant with a pilot CO₂ sequestration system.

Siemens and German energy producer E.ON are building a pilot facility for sequestering carbon dioxide (CO₂) at an existing coal-fired power plant near Hanau, Germany. Starting this summer, the companies will test a so-called “post-combustion capture” procedure, which is designed to mix the flue gas from combustion with a solution that absorbs about 90 percent of the CO₂ contained in the gas. The purified exhaust gas will then be emitted into the atmosphere with a minimal amount of residual CO₂. The technology has been tested in the lab and is especially suited for retrofitting in conventional power plants.

The Pictures of the Future team (standing, from left to right): Jürgen Winzeck (Picture Editor); Rolf Seufferle, Rigo Ratschke (Layout); Florian Martini (Managing Editor); Sebastian Webel (Editor). Seated: Irene Kern (Picture Editor); Natascha Römer (Illustrations); Arthur F. Pease (Publisher and Executive Editor English edition); Judith Egelhof (Picture Editor), Dr. Ulrich Eberl (Editor-in-Chief and Publisher).

Pictures of the Future, the Siemens magazine for research and innovation, recently received the two highest awards in the “Magazines” category of a competition that was organized by the Society for Technical Communication (STC). The STC is a professional organization for technical writers, editors, illustrators, managers and educators. With approximately 18,000 members in 2008, the STC is the world’s largest professional organization in its field. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Siemens’ flagship publication (circulation 100,000) not only won the top-rated “Distinguished” award, but was singled out for the “Best of Show” award, which means that the magazine was judged to be superior to all other competition entries with regard to its quality, concept, execution and presentation. Commenting on the publication, one of the judges remarked: “I am impressed that a translation from German can look so great, considering all the constraints. This is a huge effort, and was fantastically executed.” Added another, “This periodical successfully presents highly technical material by balancing the details with a general perspective and a sense of the human element amidst all of the technology.”

Henrik Stiesdal wants to make wind power more robust.

Henrik Stiesdal certainly has what it takes to be a top inventor. The oil crisis in the1970s and the debate about future supplies of energy prompted Stiesdal, at that time a recent high school graduate, to build one of the first wind turbines ever on his parents’ farm in Denmark. He got the materials mainly from scrap yards. Today, at 51, Stiesdal is one of the most successful pioneers in the field of wind energy, having made 74 inventions and filed 85 patents worldwide, some of them before he joined Siemens. “Wind parks have great prospects, especially if they’re on the open sea,” he says. However, several challenges still need to be overcome, such as the fact that wind turbines use a gearbox that converts the rotor’s low rotational speed into the high speed used to generate electricity. “But gear boxes are very complex machines that are liable to break down and expensive to repair,” explains Stiesdal. To overcome this problem, he is currently working on developing a turbine without a gearbox. Instead of a gearbox, the system uses a synchronous generator that is excited by permanent magnets so that it can directly convert the rotor movements into electrical energy. “If the concept works, wind park operators will be thrilled,” says Stiesdal.

CT scanning reveals that a concealed face is hidden under Queen Nefertiti’s visible face.

According to researchers working in Berlin, Germany, the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti originally had a completely different face. Under the outer layer of plaster is a second face, which at first glance looks much older than the outer one. For example, there are visible wrinkles around the mouth, and the nose fits in less harmoniously with the other features. The researchers uncovered this secret using a Somatom Sensation 64 computer tomograph from Siemens, whose image resolution is 0.3 millimeters. The scanner provided the team with a detailed image of the limestone core of the bust. Experts believe that more than 3,000 years ago the Pharaoh Akhenaten was dissatisfied with his spouse’s image and ordered the sculptors to remodel the bust of this queen of ancient Egypt. In line with his wishes, the sculptors emphasized Nefertiti’s cheek bones and straightened her nose. fm