Exam Preparation

Exam in technical chemistry, based on 350 slides shown in the lecture - not impossible, but still a huge effort. I try to condense everything down to the bare essentials for learning. But what do you leave out and what not? That's why I ask my mental advisors to tell me the key points. On the evening before the exam, I feel reasonably well prepared and ask again if any of the topics are particularly important. I am shown a very specific slide, the one on "hydrocracking". So, I pick out this slide and memorize it.

The next morning, I sit outside the building for a while before going in to see the professor. I ask inwardly, feeling a little uneasy now: "What grade can I expect?" - "You'll get a 1.7." Well, that would be OK.

My exam begins and the professor's first question is: "What can you think of on the subject of 'cracking'?". Bingo, I thought to myself: “hydrocracking, thermal cracking, catalytic cracking." - "Well, then tell me something about hydrocracking!" So, I draw up the formulas that were on the slide. There's only a slight hitch when he asks additional questions. But now I have so much confidence in my advisors that for the rest of the exam I just think: Nothing can happen to me here with you! And so, for the rest of the questions, I usually remember the right context or make the right considerations. It always takes a little time for the thoughts to come.

When it's over, the professor consults briefly with his assistant, calls me back in and says in a hurried tone: "So, you get a 1.7." Haha! He continues: "But only because you had an advocate. Tell me, you didn't really study at all, did you? You got out of the affair with the right ideas, but... aren't you interested in the subject? You could do more if you wanted to!" I'm far too happy to find it necessary to say anything in response. I immediately sense that this is just his way of treating students, that it shouldn't be taken personally. I have the feeling that he actually gave me the grade against his convictions. How funny! Later, the assistant takes me aside again and says that I was very good and that he particularly liked my ability to "think" ;-).

I felt incredible joy and gratitude after this experience!

Technical Service

Case 1:

We had to repair a machine for a customer, specifically dismantle it and fix it in the workshop. What no one expected was that two components were glued together. Since we hadn’t anticipated this, we were completely unprepared for such a task, although there wouldn’t have been much preparation possible anyway. Not only were we missing the right tools, but the component was also very heavy and difficult to access. After my boss tried everything and walked away somewhat frustrated, I was left standing there as a complete beginner, thinking... then it occurred to me that I could ask using the NATHAL technique, and since I was alone at that moment, I did just that. After just a few seconds, images came to me showing how it could be done... When my boss returned, I asked him if we should try it that way. He looked at me puzzled, grabbed his tools, did what I suggested, and within seconds we had the part out. He was thrilled with my idea, and I was even more thrilled with NATHAL!

Case 2:

One day, my boss had to leave urgently and left me alone in the workshop. I thought this was my chance to show that even as a beginner, I could work independently. Full of enthusiasm, I promptly pressed part of the pump onto a shaft incorrectly. In principle, this isn’t a big problem since such parts can usually be pulled off again. But in this case, there was no way to attach a puller to the back of the part. This time I didn’t wait long and immediately asked using NATHAL. Again, I received images showing me how to solve it. I hesitated a bit because I was shown that I should loosen a few screws. The reason for my hesitation was that I didn’t have much experience with this type of work nor was I familiar with this machine, so there was a risk that loosening additional screws could cause more damage. But since I knew I could trust the method, I went ahead and did it. Within a few minutes, I had pulled off the part and pressed it back on in an absolutely unorthodox way that has not been repeated since. Thanks, NATHAL!

(by Darko D., service technician)

Recovery of Wet Wood Pellet Storage Room After Flooding

During the “flood of the century” in Lower Austria, the entire village was submerged, causing basements to flood. The heating system of the house operates on wood pellet heating. 15 years ago, the old oil tank room was emptied and lined with roofing felt. Wooden walls were subsequently installed in a V-shape to channel the pellets to three suction points along the centreline of the room, from where they are transported to the heater.

However, the flood allowed groundwater to penetrate the room through the roofing felt, causing the pellets at the suction points to swell. The pellets expanded, drawing moisture further upward. Unfortunately, the room had just been refilled prior to the flood, containing a full 6.5 tons of pellets. We managed to clear one suction point to maintain heating functionality. However, we quickly realised that the sodden pellets had compacted to the extent that they could only be removed with a hammer and chisel. The problem was compounded by the fact that the three suction points lay directly on the roofing felt, putting the pellets in direct contact with the water.

Initially, we searched the entire region, then across Austria, for assistance, but no pellet or suction company was available, as many firms were obligated to address the sludge-filled sewer system. Laboriously shovelling around 20 bags of pellets by hand soon proved futile against the total volume of 6.5 tons.
Working conditions and the need for dust protection further complicated the task. Numerous ideas were considered, yet I was determined to find a technical solution.
I contemplated purchasing a second-hand 400V chip extraction device from an old carpentry shop, which, with a modified intake hose, could have been used to suction the pellets directly into bags. However, this raised the question of where to store the filled bags, as everything in the vicinity was wet, and no pallets were available. Moreover, 6.5 tonnes of pellets would require nearly 300 bags.

After a week and a half of waiting and increasing frustration, I decided to seek a solution with NATHAL:
 

I was shown the pellet storage room with the V-shaped wooden walls. The spatial configuration was clearly explained, allowing me to see down to the roofing felt. It became apparent that the room itself was barely wet and that it would suffice to drill into the cavities between the wooden panels and the wall and insert a slanted 110mm duct pipe on each side, extending down to the floor. This measure was to be applied on both sides. A high-power fan would then extract the damp air from the cavities and vent it outside.
When I enquired about how fresh air would enter, I was informed that warm air would naturally flow in, which would be sufficient for drying. Initially, I was disappointed, as I had anticipated a more technical, hands-on solution. I asked if I could still use my planned pellet suction system, as the air extraction alone seemed insufficient to me. However, I was assured again that drilling the holes and air extraction would be entirely adequate.
 

As I still had 150 mm flexible hoses, connectors, and an unused high-performance fan from my mushroom cultivation, I was able to repurpose these materials.
In fact, “NATHAL” reminded me that I still had a spare fan that had remained undamaged by the flood.

The next day, I decided to follow the advice I had been given, as I had not found a better solution.

When drilling the wooden panels, I discovered that the floor was not submerged, as expected, but only damp. To my surprise, the situation matched the descriptions I had received precisely. The information was accurate.

The readings from the exhaust showed the following values:
- Humidity: 90%
- Temperature: 25°C
- CO₂: 2000 ppm

The high temperature was due to the adjacent heating room, while the elevated CO₂ levels were caused by the damp pellets.
 
After one week, the values had dropped to:
- Humidity: 70%
- Temperature: 22°C
- CO₂: approximately 900 ppm
 

Four weeks later:
- Humidity: 58%
- Temperature: 21.5°C
- CO₂: approximately 400 ppm

The humidity continued to decrease, and the temperature stabilised at around 21.5°C. I am pleased that we received the correct information and did not have to destroy the 6.5 tonnes of pellets or remove them from storage manually or by any other labour-intensive method. The decision to drill the wooden panels and extract the air was undoubtedly the right choice.

This experience has deepened my trust into the NATHAL method.

(by Juergen S., entrepeneur)