Since significant funds are expended for replacement, an investigation was launched into the effects of mechanical activity and corrosion in the degradation of the concrete poles.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory are working on the development of a new oil-resistant filter technology to prolong the life of equipment in industries such as oil and gas. The new invention consists of a type of coating that produces thin films of oil-repelling molecules on the surface of filter membranes. According to the researchers, the metal oxide molecules grab onto any loose water atoms while resisting oil.

There are certain fundamental considerations that should be understood in relation to open recirculated systems, starting with the concept of cycles of concentration. If three cups of boiling water in a tea kettle were allowed to boil away to one cup, the residual cup would contain a three-fold concentration of soluble water salts, assuming that only steam was driven off.