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William Ellingson and Jiangang Sun (both ET) were among a highly select group who received a 2001 Research Partnership Award from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Research Partnership Award, which was presented in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., recognizes outstanding research partnerships between DOE's national laboratories, private companies and universities that have resulted in technology advances with national energy significance.
Ellingson and Sun won the award for their work on nondestructive evaluation development for stationary gas turbine ceramic components. Other team members working on the project are researchers from Solar Turbines Inc., San Diego, Calif.; Honeywell Advanced Ceramics, Inc., Newark, N.J.; B.F. Goodrich, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, Conn. and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
This team has worked together for nine years to improve the performance of natural-gas-fired, electric-power-producing turbines through the use of advanced ceramic composite materials.
The advanced ceramics have been tested for more than 33,000 hours in full-sized industrial turbines. The materials increased power and reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Data from this project could lead to turbine products with higher efficiency and lower emissions, and help improve the competitiveness of U.S. industry in the worldwide market for energy generation products.
The Research Partnership Award was given as part of the 2001 Research and Development Awards presented by DOE's Office of Power Technologies.
Argonne employees submitted hundreds of slogan suggestions June 10-21, and it will take some time for the best ones to be selected.
Editorial Specialist Jessie McHenry (OPA), who collected the submissions, said 164 employees sent a total of nearly 600 slogans by fax or e-mail. Some submitted 10 or 12 slogan suggestions at once.
"One person had so many ideas, one e-mail wasn't enough," McHenry said, "so he had to send a second message with more."
Argonne's directorate is sorting through the entries, and will announce the winning slogan in a future edition of Argonne News.
Those who submit the best five suggestions will have lunch with Argonne Director Hermann Grunder and receive a ceramic Argonne coffee mug. The slogan may be used, as appropriate, in Argonne publications, presentations and Web sites.
Drill it, punch it, braze it and bend it. From experimental components to modifying existing hardware, Argonne's Central Shops Department (PFS-CS) can transform researchers' ideas and drafts into reality.
"There's not much we can't do," said Frank Bittles (PFS-CS).
PFS-CS demonstrated its skills June 20 at an open house for Argonne employees, displaying machines like the inert atmosphere brazing furnace. One of the newest machines at PFS-CS, the furnace can heat-treat or braze objects up to 1,600 C in a vacuum or a hydrogen atmosphere. In another area, electron beam welding machines unite parts by melting the base metals in a vacuum.
The Optics Shop prepares ceramics, crystals, metals, optical glass, plastics, semiconductors and other materials used for optical elements or precision instrument components. Operations include ultrasonic drilling and coring, surface grinding, polishing, diamond drilling and lapping. While about 90 percent of the specialty shop's jobs are destined for the Advanced Photon Source (APS), the Optics Shop works with many Argonne divisions.
Computer numerical control machines -- with spindle speeds up to 120,000 rpm -- mill, drill and turn materials from machining programs stored in their memory. Wire and ram electrical discharge machines slice through materials using powerful electrical currents. This equipment can produce components to the same degree of accuracy as splitting a human hair crosswise into 30 sections.
PFS-CS machine-repair employees clean, flush out and repair damaged vacuum pumps. The cost-effective treatments can repair pumps needed for experiments that require vacuum environments.
Before PFS-CS sends out components, inspection equipment -- like the 3-axis, computer-assisted and programmable coordinate measuring machine -- compare objects with their original design specifications. Also, Central Shops employees can certify materials.
More information on Central Shops is available online.
-- Jodi Genshaft
Argonne Director Hermann Grunder testified on "Fuel Cells and the Hydrogen Economy" at a House Science Committee Energy Subcommittee Field Hearing June 24. The following is an edited version of his prepared remarks.
I appreciate the opportunity to come before you today to provide an overview of fuel cells and the role they play in energy independence.
Fuel cells provide clean electric power with high energy efficiency by consuming hydrogen. They are promising for transportation and for homes, commercial buildings, portable power applications, and space and military uses. As such, they are attracting significant research and development investment.
Argonne has been engaged in fuel cell research and development for more than 20 years, drawing on a broad range of multi-disciplinary capabilities to create better materials and improved fuel cell designs.
The widespread application of fuel cells presents some challenges. To see what these challenges might be, let's look at some of the underlying elements of an economy based on hydrogen instead of fossil fuels. First, hydrogen is very common, but it is mostly tied up in compounds such as water, natural gas, alcohol and gasoline. To make hydrogen usable, we must separate it from one of these compounds and distribute it to fuel cells, where it combines with oxygen. This produces energy and water, and the water becomes the starting material for the next cycle. Separation and distribution consume energy, while the fuel cell itself needs to be sized and cost-effective for specific applications.
Because the national retail distribution infrastructure to supply hydrogen is limited, it is also desirable, in the near term, to develop compact fuel processors that would fit in a vehicle adjacent to the fuel cell. These convert conventional fuels such as gasoline or natural gas into a hydrogen-rich gas stream. For the longer term, the goal would be to establish a hydrogen production and distribution system comparable to our current network of fossil fuel refineries, pipelines, trucks and gas stations.
For transportation applications, a fuel processor must be small, lightweight, able to start up quickly and responsive to rapidly changing power demands. Meeting all of these requirements for such a system is a substantial challenge, and one of our major accomplishments has been developing a novel catalyst material that efficiently produces hydrogen from a wide variety of hydrocarbon fuels, including ethanol, natural gas, propane and gasoline.
Coupled in an automobile with a fuel cell and an electric motor, this reformer offers the immediate advantage of a 30 percent increase in miles per gallon of fossil fuel. Plus, the driver will continue to use the present gasoline retail infrastructure.
One of the catalysts developed under this program has been licensed to Süd-Chemie, Inc., of Louisville, Kentucky, and is now used by industry. We continue to lead the field in compact and efficient fuel processors, and we are developing a natural gas version under private sponsorship from H2Fuel, Inc., to provide fuel processors for residential fuel cell systems.
Another potential transportation-related application for fuel cells is as an auxiliary power unit.
A major application would be in heavy-duty tractor-trailers to provide refrigeration during overnight idling periods. A leading candidate for this application is a solid oxide fuel cell. The Department of Energy has established a major new initiative, the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance, or SECA, to achieve this goal. Argonne is engaged in materials development for such a lower-temperature solid oxide fuel cell.
Argonne supports the U.S. Department of Energy's fuel cell program by providing a world-class test and evaluation facility, and by developing and disseminating simulation models which aid fuel cell developers in their designs. Our analysis and modeling have examined the effects of different fuel cell types, fuel compositions, fuel storage methods, fuel processing techniques and vehicle fuel economy.
Since internal combustion engines are being manufactured in high volume and at low cost, making fuel cell systems competitive remains a major challenge. To that end, the stationary distributed power application is viewed as a stepping-stone. General Motors and several other companies have announced plans to initially market polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems for houses and remote applications. These systems would operate on natural gas or propane.
Argonne, along with other national laboratories, has a number of significant programs that will contribute to the hydrogen future. We are working with the offices of Energy Efficiency, Fossil Energy, and Nuclear Energy in DOE to create useful processes for building a hydrogen economy. We at Argonne are excited at the prospect of helping our nation in its transition to environmentally friendly, domestically produced sources of power.
Motivational speaker Charlie Morecraft will return to Argonne-East Tuesday, July 16, for a series of talks on safety in the Advanced Photon Source Auditorium (Building 402).
His talks, "Safety, Everyone's Responsibility," and "Remember Charlie?" emphasize the need for following safety procedures and taking responsibility for personal safety.
Morecraft was severely burned in an industrial accident and suffered years of agonizing pain and rehabilitation. Since then, he has worked to motivate workers and management to turn a possible adversarial relationship into a unified team effort to establish a safe work environment.
His talks discuss the high cost of an accident to one's self and family and emphasize the significance of positive attitude and personal responsibility.
Morecraft's presentations will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., noon to 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. All Argonne, DOE and contractor employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend.
Registration is not required but will be available through the Training Management System or by signing in at Building 402.
The talks are sponsored by the Office of the Chief Operations Officer and Plant Facilities and Services Division.
The Argonne-East pool is now open, offering relief from the summer swelter.
A special employee swim period is offered weekdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $1 per person. Open swim periods are 1-8 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. Cost is $3 for adults and $2 for children under 12.
Family season tickets are $95 for families with children under age 18. Individual season tickets are $50.
Swimmers must provide their own towels, and children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Flotation devices are not allowed.
Youth swim lessons begin Monday, July 15, at 9 a.m. There are two sessions: July 15 - July 26 and Aug. 5 - Aug. 16. The cost is $26 per session, per child. Intermediate lessons are held from 9 - 9:30 a.m., intermediate/beginner lessons are from 9:45 - 10:15 a.m., and beginner lessons are from 10:30 - 11 a.m.
Lesson registration and ticket sales can be arranged at the Argonne Pool. For more information, call ext. 2-7602.
The New Brunswick Laboratory will be the topic of the July 12 meeting of the First Friday Forum.
Usha Narayanan, a scientist from the New Brunswick Laboratory, will give an overview of the research done at the laboratory and how it is applied and used.
The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. in Argonne-East's Building 362 Auditorium.
The First Friday Forum is an informal gathering usually held on the first Friday of each month. The group explores career and gender issues related to women.
All employees, including summer students, are welcome to join the forum.
Argonne Security reminds employees that all employees and visitors must wear badges or passes so they are clearly visible while on the Argonne site.
Anyone not wearing a badge should be politely challenged to determine whether or not they belong on the site. Security may be asked to perform the check. To report suspicious persons, call ext. 2-5737.
Human Resources has scheduled a variety of classes for July and August.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System Representative. For more information, call Betty Iwan at ext. 2-3410, or for full course descriptions visit the HR Web site.
All classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 190. Participants must register for these classes by Monday, July 8 unless otherwise stated.
"Win the Paper Chase" (HR400). Monday,
July 29, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Building 402, Room A1100.
"Desk for Success" (HR401). Monday,
July 29, 1-5 p.m., Building 402, Room A1100.
"Myers-Briggs: Style and Strengths in
the Workplace" (HR258). Thursday, Aug. 1, 1-5 p.m. Register by Monday, July 22.
"Dealing with Conflict in the
Workplace" (HR253). Thursday, Aug. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"Managing Communication" (HR263).
Friday, Aug. 9, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics for
Professionals" (HR262). Thursday, Aug. 15, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Register by July 19.
Service Awards for June include:
40 Years
Robert G. Barr (ECT), Hope D. Rihel (TD), V. Svirtun (ASD).
35 Years
Janet B. Anderson (ASD), James M. Boyle (TD), Yanglai Cho (APS), Clarence E. Clark (ASD), Kenneth W. Dritz (DIS), Ray E. Larsh (FAC), Beverly J. Woelfer (ERA).
30 Years
Benigno T. Banez (RAE), Michael H. Derbidge (OPS), Patricia A. Moonier (PFS), George F. Vasilopulos (IPNS), James L. Woodring (EQO).
25 Years
Joan S. Brunsvold (OPA), John J. Devenney (PFS), L. A. Franek (ES), Diana J. Hurst (ECT), Edgar E. Morris (RAE), Kenneth V. Sidorowicz (ASD).
20 Years
Roger L. Cooper (FAC), Ahmed M. Hassanein (ET), Lynnie D. Johnson (PFS), Chun-Keung Loong (IPNS), Vanessa V. Mendez (OTT), Yen-Cheng Pan (RAE).
15 Years
Juan C. Campuzano (MSD), Cheryl A. Casper (FAC), Mark C. Hash (CMT), Angela M. McKay (OPA), Gary K. Pilon (PFS), Deborah L. Vervack (CHM), Richard C. Vondrasek (PHY), Gayle E. Woloschak (BIO), Charles E. Zimmerman (ECT).
10 Years
Deborah Busch (ER), Stephen Butala (EQO), Kevin P. Carney (NT), Bruce Herdt (RAE), Mary E. Hoff (OCF), John Hoyt (ASD), Dennis D. Keiser, Jr. (ENT), Jeffery McGhee (PFS), Mark Sreniawski (CMT), Martha Teitlus (CMT), Raymond Wysocki (PFS), Raymond Ziegler (IPNS).
5 Years
Steve W. Berg (ASD), Sandra J. Bittner (MCS), Lisa C. Childers (MCS), Joan Christensen (OCF), Gregory A. Edwards (AOD), Miriam R. Legan (LEG), John-Paul F. Navarro (MCS), Janet Sayre (MCS), Brian R. Toonen (MCS), Carol T. Warczak (MCS).