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New facility devoted to powertrain studies
North America's only public testing facility for engines, fuel cells, electric drives and energy storage is open for business at Argonne-East.
The Advanced Powertrain Research Facility was formally dedicated Friday, Nov. 15, at ceremonies attended by officials from Argonne, the U.S. Department of Energy, and automobile manufacturers, as well as members of the U.S. Congress.
State-of-the-art performance and emissions measurement equipment at the facility is designed to enhance the development of advanced technology powertrain components for cars and trucks, support model development and validate advanced vehicle technology.
Instruments similar to those available at the Advanced Powertrain Research Facility are in use at research facilities operated by vehicle manufacturers, but this is the only such non-corporate facility in North America that combines the best available emissions instruments with such a wide range of fuels including gasoline, hydrogen, natural gas and diesel.
"This unique combination of analytical, development and testing experience provides DOE with the latest techniques to evaluate new vehicle technologies in both an emulated and real vehicle environments," said Bob Larsen, director director of Argonne's Center for Transportation Research. "Argonne's long history in modeling, developing and testing advanced batteries, fuel cells, advanced engines, hybrid-electric vehicle powertrains and control systems, traction batteries, fuel cells, and vehicles is a large part of making Argonne an important laboratory for vehicle technology development and validation."
Instruments in the Advanced Powertrain Research Facility include:
A four-wheel-drive
dynamometer system, which allows road load simulation, monitoring, tractive effort, coastdown and
calibration modes for two- and four-wheel-drive vehicles up to 14,000 lbs.
A sophisticated
emissions measurement system for gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, which provides particulate and
criteria emissions measurement of exhausts at Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle levels.
A data acquisition
system designed for testing fuel cell, hybrid electric and electric vehicles.
A safety system for
testing ventilation of hydrogen, hazardous gas, heat and smoke.
A state-of-the-art air
handling system that cleans and conditions test air and provides ventilation and
cooling.
— Catherine Foster
'Young Scientist Day' lets students meet, learn
Undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines enhanced their educational experience at Argonne by participating in the inaugural Young Scientist Day Oct. 24.
The event was coordinated by a group of graduate students working at the laboratory, and its purpose was to facilitate an academic and social environment.
"Young Scientist Day was a great way for graduate students and undergraduate students to get to know each other, but the event also provided a nice venue in which we could learn about the variety of research being conducted in the different divisions at Argonne," said Jason Shergur (PHY) a graduate student and co-coordinator of the event. "As students, we sometimes tend to become so absorbed in our own research that we become uninvolved in the advances in other branches of science."
The effort was coordinated with Argonne's Division of Educational Programs (DEP).
"We certainly encouraged the graduate students to develop this program," said Harold Myron, director of DEP. "Giving students an opportunity to interact and share research with their peers will strengthen their learning experience at Argonne."
Argonne's Deputy Laboratory Director Beverly K. Hartline addressed the students after lunch, focusing on career opportunities and prospects for graduating scientists, while also praising the event and the students involved.
"Not only do you gain from your experience at Argonne," Hartline told the students, "but the lab benefits enormously too. It is often the students, with their fresh outlooks, who ask the difficult questions that lead to novel insights and breakthroughs."
Graduate students were invited to submit abstracts of their research earlier this summer. Twelve graduate students gave oral presentations targeted at mid- to low-level undergraduate students, ranging in topic from grid computing to analytical chemistry's role in archaeology. Graduate and undergraduate students also presented posters of their research at a poster session.
Oral presentations and posters were judged by Fred Hartline (DEP), Andreas Woehr (PHY) and Rich Valentin (ET). In first place for the oral presentations was Aditi Majumder for "Color Seamlessness in Tiled Multi-Projector Displays." Barbara Truett (PHY) won first place for her poster, "Lifetime Measurements of Gamma Transitions in ²³Na."
— Katie Williams
APS detects earthquake
In addition to producing the nation's most brilliant X-rays, Argonne's Advanced Photon Source also makes a sensitive seismometer — a powerful earthquake in Alaska Nov. 3 triggered an unexpected beam loss.
About 4:30 p.m., electrons circulating in the main ring began to oscillate by a tiny amount, responding to faint ground movements. A few minutes later, the beam had veered off-center by two millimeters, tripping an interlock and shutting off the beam.
Accelerator physicist Stephen Milton later identified the source of the beam loss as the magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Alaska. Seismographs from the U.S. Geological Survey correlate almost exactly with the graph of the APS beam position. There was no damage, and the APS was quickly restarted.
Endowment honors reactor safety expert
Colleagues and friends of the late Bruce Spencer have created the Bruce Spencer Endowment Fund in Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
This endowment fund has been created in tribute to Spencer's many significant accomplishments in reactor safety and as a lasting recognition of his involvement with his alma mater.
This endowment fund will be used to support outstanding students in nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering at the university through scholarships and awards for both undergraduate and graduate students. Spencer received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While he was a student, he was active with the American Nuclear Society, Pi Tau Sigma, Sigma Tau and Tau Beta Pi.
He was also a research assistant professor in the heat transfer and fluid flow laboratory before joining Argonne for an illustrious 30-year career. He also served as a founding member of the Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering Alumni and Industry Advisory Board. He died in December 2001.
A group of alumni and friends have made lead gifts toward this effort to raise an initial $10,000. Their hope is to raise a total of at least $25,000 and to present the first award in Spencer's name at the Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering spring 2003 awards banquet.
To contribute, send a check payable to the University of Illinois Foundation to the Bruce Spencer Endowment Fund, University of Illinois Foundation, P.O. Box 3429, Champaign, IL 61826. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information, contact Renée Mullen at (217) 244-7716 or rmullen@ uiuc.edu, or Jeffrey Farlow-Cornell at (217) 244-5382 or jfarlow@ uiuc.edu.
Junior College to offer on-site registration
Joliet Junior College will offer on-site registration for the spring 2003 semester at Argonne-East Tuesday, Nov. 19.
College representatives will be available from noon to 3 p.m. in Building 201's Human Resources offices to register students and provide advice. Employees must bring completed and approved Educational Assistance forms (ANL-89) to the registration.
For more information, call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410.
'Strategies for Sucess' topic of seminar
A Wellness Series Seminar on "Strategies for Success and Freedom" by Argonne Staff Psychologist Michael Atella will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 20, at noon in the Building 200 Auditorium.
Atella will discuss ways to leverage success and self-actualization and minimize self-defeating habits and attitudes.
Gifts offered for sale by Craft Club, Pioneers
Handcrafted items, cat mats, science humor T-shirts and more will be offered for sale at the Argonne Arts and Craft Club's annual holiday craft bazaar Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The bazaar will be held in Argonne-East's Building 212, Room A157, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For more information, call Valerie Gaines (IPD) at ext. 2-5610 or Carolyn Arthur (HR) at ext. 2-9023.
Pioneer pens
The Argonne Pioneers will sell patriotic pens and travel alarm clocks at Argonne-East Tuesday, Nov. 19, Wednesday, Nov. 20, and Friday, Nov. 22.
The items will be available in the Building 213 Cafeteria lobby from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. all three days. Both have the Pioneers' running deer and Argonne logos.
Forum will provide tips on everything green
A "Greening the Government" forum will be held Thursday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria. The forum will provide employees with information about "Greening the Government" federal requirements such as green purchasing, waste reduction, pollution prevention, energy efficiency and environmental management systems.
The Department of Energy (DOE) Chicago Operations Office will be on hand to provide information on energy efficiency and renewable energy in the home. Other organizations to be represented include:
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Midwest Efficiency Alliance
U.S.Environmental
Protection Agency's Center for Neighborhood Technology
Sears Roebuck and
Co.
The Pollution Prevention Program and Argonne-East's Environmental Remediation group, which won a 2002 DOE Pollution Prevention Award, will also have exhibits. Prior to the forum, the Pollution Prevention Advisory Committee will present the Pollution Prevention Spirit Awards to this year's winners.
For more information, contact the Pollution Prevention hotline at ext. 2-6778.
Thanksgiving will change deadline
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the deadline for news, seminars and classified ads for the Monday, Dec. 2, issue of Argonne News will be Friday, Nov. 22.
The last issue of 2002 will be Monday, Dec. 16. The deadline for the first issue of the new year, on Monday, Jan. 13, will be Monday, Jan. 6.
IN MEMORIAM
Tony Rauchas, APS
Operations Director
Antanas "Tony" Rauchas, director of the Advanced Photon Source Operations Division (AOD), died Nov. 3 in Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, Ill. He was 56 years old.
Rauchas began working at Argonne in 1967 as a scanner in the High Energy Physics Division. In his 35 years at Argonne, he held numerous positions, including engineering specialist in the former Accelerator Division, electronics engineer for the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, and associate division director for the Experimental Facilities Division. He was promoted to director of AOD in 1999.
"This is a terrible loss to the Advanced Photon Source community," said APS Associate Laboratory Director Murray Gibson. "Tony was an inspiring leader of the APS Operations Division, and a superb manager. A compassionate man, Tony always displayed a great sense of humor even under stress. We will all miss Tony dearly."
Rauchas is survived by his wife, Aldona, and his daughter, Lina.
Credit union seeks new directors ...
The Argonne Credit Union is looking for volunteers to become directors or serve on committees. All ACU members in good standing are encouraged to apply.
Directors and committee members represent their fellow members and have a voice in setting policy and approving plans and budgets. Application packets are available at all Argonne Credit Union locations and will be accepted through Nov. 27.
For more information, contact the nominating committee chairperson Timothy Klosowski at (630) 789-1749 or tklosowski@ aol.com.
... and sets holiday hours
All Argonne Credit Union Offices will be closed Nov. 28-29 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The Green Ridge Center Branch will be open Saturday, Nov. 30, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The branch is located at at the intersection of 75th Street and Woodridge Drive, one mile west of I-355 in the Green Ridge Center strip mall.
Pie orders taken for holiday
Sodexho is currently taking Thanksgiving pie orders at Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria. Ask a cashier or manager for an order form.
Orders must be received by 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, and picked up by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27. A 50 percent deposit is needed at the time of order; checks can be made payable to Sodexho.
'Baker's rack' available on Fridays
Employees who want to pick up fresh baked goods for the weekend can visit the new "baker's rack" at Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria every Friday. The rack will have freshly baked pies, cookies, mini loaves of bread and bread sticks available for purchase.
MetLife rep to visit ANL-East, offer quotes
A representative from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) will visit Argonne-East Tuesday, Nov. 19, to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the "METPAY" group automobile and homeowners insurance program.
To schedule an appointment, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143.