When was the last time that you thought about heavy industry and how it affects your daily life? You may be taken aback by that question. Heavy industry is probably not something you think about very often. However, if something changes that requires substantial industrial fixes, you certainly can feel inconvenienced.
Because of this, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to note some of the basics regarding large-scale industrial activities that affect your everyday life.
What would be a few examples of these to think about? What happens when water goes down your drain or when you flush your toilet? Are you familiar with wastewater treatment processes? If not, it might give you a new respect for the plumbing surrounding your living space.
Then there is the matter of gas purification. Without some very powerful industrial equipment, a lot of the things that you take for granted wouldn’t be present. And a third example would be regarding energy production. You expect your lights to turn on when you flip the switch. Where is that energy coming from?
Wastewater Treatment
When you use water at your house, you’ll typically take it for granted. You figure when your dishwater goes down the drain or your toilet water gets flushed, it disappears into some magical realm. But this is not the case. A lot of brilliant industrial designers have created the plumbing system that you use every day.
And to make sure that resources are used in the best way possible, industrial wastewater treatment is the norm rather than the exception, especially when it comes to larger urban areas. Respecting the effort and design that went into the system can give you a greater appreciation for your everyday conveniences.
Gas Purification
Oil makes the world go around. But how does it go from this black, slimy stuff underground into all of its applications that you use every day? How does oil turn into a fuel source or a part of plastic creation or a construction material? To get into its different forms, it will usually have to pass through various kinds of filtration systems.
One of the more intriguing industrial uses of nitrogen gas is as part of the oil purification system. The technicalities behind this process are far beyond the scope of the article, but it’s a fantastic and fascinating topic to explore.
Energy Production
Do you know how power grids work? You probably see all of the signs of electricity all around you. There are electrical cables that run parallel to the streets in your community. But where do those cables come from? Where is the nearest power plant to you? How does a resource get converted into electricity? The more you look into how power is produced, the more you’ll be grateful that you live where and when you do.