TUFFCELL -- Argonne researchers have developed a unique solid oxide fuel cell design that holds great promise for use as auxiliary power units. Such units would provide electricity in tractor-trailers for operational needs, such as cargo refrigeration, and comfort, such as cabin heating and cooling.

Fuel cell can reduce truck idling, emissions

By Evelyn Brown

A rugged, solid oxide fuel cell developed at Argonne may soon provide a clean, affordable  alternative to noisy, emissions-producing overnight idling of   tractor-trailer trucks.

Fuel cells cleanly convert chemical energy into electricity without combustion and emissions. Fuel cells have been used for decades to power everything from hospitals to space shuttles.

Argonne’s TuffCell features metal supports for higher mechanical strength, easier fabrication and increased performance at a lower cost than current solid-oxide fuel-cell designs. Developed by the Chemical Engineering Division’s Fuel Cells Materials Group, TuffCell could be ready for commercialization in the next five years.

The innovation by materials scientist J. David Carter (CMT) replaces the traditional costly, fragile ceramic cell support with a less-expensive, stronger metallic bi-polar plate.

The new design also simplifies manufacturing. Traditional solid-oxide fuel cells, built with

ceramic supports, require up to four separate high-temperature processings, or sinterings — one for each layer.

The Argonne method spreads four thin layers of the oxide and metal materials needed — one on top of the other — and requires sintering only once.

“The combination of reduced materials cost and elimination of high-temperature processing steps should significantly reduce the cost of solid-oxide fuel cell production,” said Deborah J. Myers (CMT), Fuel Cells Materials Group leader.

Impact tests have shown that TuffCell is four times tougher than traditional solid-oxide fuel cells, Myers said.

TuffCells should overcome the cost and durability issues that have been barriers to introducing solid-oxide fuel cells as auxiliary power units for tractor-trailers and other portable power applications. Tractor-trailer engines often

run overnight to keep refrigeration units powered or to provide electricity for microwaves and cooling or heating in the cab.

According to a study by Argonne mechanical engineer Frank Stodolsky (ES), a single long-haul truck idles 1,830 hours a year, while emitting about 22 tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas; 390 pounds of carbon monoxide; and 1,024 pounds of nitrogen oxides. There are nearly half a million such trucks on America’s roads.

Auxiliary power units are beginning to replace idling for economic, efficiency and environmental reasons, as states are beginning to ban truck idling. TuffCell-powered units would offer higher power density and efficiency and would last longer than current units.

Until hydrogen is readily available, fuel reformers could reform diesel fuel into hydrogen to run the fuel cell. TuffCell researchers are collaborating with other CMT scientists who patented fuel reforming technology to combine the fuel cell and fuel-reforming technologies.

Lab director thanks inventors

Argonne Director Hermann Grunder has thanked Argonne inventors and their division management for reporting new laboratory inventions in the first half of fiscal year 2003.

“Timely reporting of inventions is an important duty of each Argonne employee,” Grunder said, “and is the essential first step in a process that protects DOE’s and Argonne’s intellectual capital. I encourage every employee and all of Argonne’s managers to report their new inventions and discoveries. This product of Argonne inventors’ genius and diligent efforts is greatly appreciated.”

Inventions can be reported online at www.anl.gov/invent/.

Inventors reporting to DOE in the first half of fiscal year 2003 were: Rajesh Ahluwalia, Shabbir Ahmed, Oyelayo Ajayi, Saud Aldajah, Randy Alkire, Khalil Amine, Thomas Askew, Orlando Auciello, Uthamalingam Balachandran, Sergei Bavykin, Ilias Belharouak, Amrit Boparai, Zhonghou Cai, Gerard Caneba, John Carlisle, Kathleen Carrado Gregar, Yung Cha, James Cunnane and Ryan Cunningham.

Rathin Datta, Stephen Dorris, Jeffery Elam, Ali Erdemir, Earl Feldman, George Fenske, Stephan Ginell, Nachappa Gopalsami, Dieter Gruen, Yufeng Han, Mark Hash, Andrew Hebden, Michael Henry, Jamie Hestekin, Axel Hoffmann, John Hryn, Thanh Hua, Eliezer Huberman, John Hull, Yoo-Eup Hyung, Andrzej Joachimiak, Christopher

Johnson, Michael Kaminski, Sun-Ho Kang, Jeom-Soo Kim, Riza Kizilel, Raymond Klann, Greg Krumdick, Wah-Keat Lee, Peter Lee, Sheldon Lee, Tae Lee, Leonard Leibowitz and YuPo Lin.

Derrick Mancini, William Miller, Daniel Nocher, John Noonan, Vincent Novick, Bookeun Oh, Michael Pellin, Alexander Pemov, Curt Preissner, James Ralph, Apostolos Raptis, Cecile Rossignol, Giselle Sandi-Tapia, Robert Schuessler, Deming Shu, Seth Snyder, Edward St. Martin, Fred Stevens and Jiangang Sun.

Michael Thackeray, Vijaya Tirumala, John Vaughey, Richard Vilim, Donald Vissers, Arun Wagh, Hsien-Hau Wang, Shuangyan Wang, Thomas Wei, James Willit and Xingcheng Xiao.

Plane tickets are top ACA raffle prize

One lucky raffle winner will win two round-trip tickets from United Airlines to anywhere in the continental United States in the 2003 Argonne Combined Appeal (ACA) raffle.

Raffle tickets will be sold during lunch in Argonne-East’s Building 213 Cafeteria Monday, June 30, through Thursday, July 3, and the week of July 7-11. Tickets cost 50 cents each or 12 for $5. Employees can buy tickets from ACA steering committee members and ACA coordinators, or at the Argonne-East picnic.

The raffle supports the ACA, which allows employees to contribute money to metropolitan Chicago’s United Way/Crusade of Mercy Inc., United Way of Will County and 18 other health and welfare agencies.

The raffle drawing will take place at the picnic Saturday, July 12. Winners do not need to attend the event to claim their prizes.

Other prizes include gift certificates to Tassos Porterhouse, Omega and Tallgrass Restaurants as well as three one-hour massages from Caring Hands Massage Therapy and a pair of one-night stays at the Baymont Inn.

More information is available on the ACA home page.

Argonne’s glassblower hosts Churchill fellow

By Jennifer Wisz

Philip Murray, a 23-year-old recipient of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust fellowship, traveled to Argonne-East recently to learn from master glassblower Joe Gregar in Argonne’s Chemistry Division glass shop June 2-5.

Argonne was one of Murray’s seven chosen stops as he tours scientific glassmaking shops in Europe and the United States on a Churchill fellowship. The fellowship, a memorial for British statesman Winston Churchill, is designed to help British citizens gather knowledge and experience from different countries. The fellowships are available to any British citizen, male or female, old or young, in any occupation. When they return from the fellowship, their workplaces and communities will benefit from the knowledge they have gathered from studying abroad.

“I’m encouraged to take my time during the fellowship to let everything I’m learning sink in,” Murray said.

Murray worked at Argonne with Gregar to learn and experiment with different glassblowing techniques, equipment and methods.

Murray said he has learned about cultural differences in glassblowing from traveling during his fellowship as well.

As a master glassblower in Argonne’s Chemistry Division glass shop, Gregar creates custom-made and scientific glassware vacuum systems for Argonne’s researchers. He also sits as chair of the Junior Liaison Committee for the American Scientific Glassblowers Society (ASGS). The Junior Liaison Committee helps young members of ASGS receive a professional, quality education about scientific glassblowing. Gregar has been chair of the junior glassblowing committee since 1991.

Since Murray is still young in the field, Gregar said he has enjoyed teaching Murray new methods and techniques about glassblowing. He said the Winston Churchill fellowship is a wonderful opportunity for a young scientific glassblower who is beginning a career.

“He gets the social aspects and can learn methods from different artists,” Gregar said.

For information about ordering glassware, contact Gregar at 2-5549 or at jgregar@anl.gov, or visit the Argonne Scientific Glassblowing home page

MANAGEMENT CORNER

Warm weather brings out joggers, bicyclists

By Adam Cohen, EQO Director

As summer approaches and the temperatures increases, so does the number of people participating in outdoor activities both on and off site. Both those participating in outdoor activities — walkers, joggers, bicyclists — and those driving on site need to be more alert and cautious than usual.

Be aware of surroundings. Look for approaching vehicles or pedestrians.

Avoid busier streets and intersections. Bicyclists, walker and joggers should minimize their use of Meridian Road, especially near the fire station, and Inner Circle. Stick to the trails and less-traveled roads.

Increase visibility. Bicyclists, walkers and joggers should wear light-colored clothing to help improve visibility during evening hours. Drivers should keep their lights on in the evening, even before dark.

Slow down. The speed limit on site is 30 mph and 15 mph through the gates, and all drivers should follow the rules of the road, both on and off site.

Stop for pedestrians. This includes slowing down or stopping to allow pedestrians and bicyclists through crosswalks.

Watch for animals. Hitting a deer can cause extensive damage to vehicles, seriously injure the driver and is usually fatal to the animal.

Gypsy moth control to begin July 1

As part of a gypsy moth control program, the Illinois Department of Agriculture plans to apply pheromone flakes by airplane to wooded portions of Argonne-East and Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve Tuesday, July 1.

The application will begin between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In case of inclement weather, the flakes will be applied Wednesday, July 2, or Thursday, July 3. 

Winners named in
X-ray exhibit competition

Two teams of high school students have tied for first place in an interactive-exhibit design contest sponsored by Argonne.

Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Ill., and Delphi Community High School in Delphi, Ind. took the top honors.

The students designed exhibits that demonstrate the principles of synchrotron X-ray science. Their designs will be used for public exhibits at the Advanced Photon Source (APS).

“There is no better way to get exciting exhibits illustrating the science of the APS than by asking creative young students to design them — it has been very stimulating both for them and us,” said Murray Gibson, associate laboratory director for the APS.

All teams were required to design exhibits for the following APS themes:

Diffraction

X-ray brightness

Scientific uses of X-rays

Making X-rays with an accelerator

How the APS accelerator works

Studying materials with the APS

Using the APS as a research tool

The Delphi team’s design focused on diffraction. The Maine East team design featured a linac, booster and storage ring model.

“The teams competing in this first-ever event submitted an impressive collection of prototype exhibits, making our judges’ job both delightful and agonizing at the same time,” said Fred Hartline (DEP).

Several organizations donated awards and materials. Pasco Scientific, American Science and Surplus, Vernier, Kendry Company and iMedia all donated for the contest.

ACA helps feed hungry in Chicago

By Megan Mills

The Argonne Combined Appeal (ACA) has donated $1,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an amount that will help provide up to 4,000 meals. The ACA is the laboratory’s annual charity campaign, allowing employees to donate money to nonprofit health and welfare agencies.

ACA co-chair Bryan Schmidt (IPD) and steering committee members Fran Coose (ER) and Sandra Biedron (XFD) presented the $1,000 check to the depository June 12. Money given to the organization came from last year’s ACA campaign fundraising efforts in lieu of thank-you gifts to contributors.

“The Greater Chicago Food Depository has the largest budget, largest staff, and more programs than any other food bank in the country,” said executive director Mike Mulqueen.

The depository provides food for more than 300,000 Cook County residents. In the last fiscal year (2001-02), 600 of the food depository’s partner agencies distributed more than 40 million pounds of food, equivalent to about 83,500 meals a day for a year.

The depository receives food donations from more than 500 different sources, and makes additional purchases via grants.

“Not only do we supply food to soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters, we provide food for other food banks in the area too,” said Mulqueen. “This is because food banks in some rural and suburban areas just don’t have the resources we have here.”

A new food bank and training center is being built a few blocks north of the current facility. Once completed, the food depository’s capacity to feed the area’s families will double. The facility will be able to offer more programs to continue to strengthen their partner agencies.

‘Hams’ to test emergency readiness

By Jennifer Wisz

On-air demonstrations and emergency preparedness activities are on tap for members of the Argonne Amateur Radio Club (AARC) as they prepare to participate in an amateur radio “Field Day” at the Clarendon Hills Park pavilion.

The 24-hour event begins at noon, Saturday, June 28. Operators set up their equipment in local parks, shopping malls, and in their own backyards, and get on air using generators or battery power. Field Day tests operators’ abilities to operate portable stations under emergency conditions, such as the loss of electricity.

“While people often think that cell phones or other communications technologies have replaced ham radio, we can still provide an important communications service that others can’t,” says club vice-president Chuck Doose (XFD).

Field Day is a test of skill and also a contest to be the largest “on air” operating event. More than 30,000 Amateur Radio operators across the country and Canada participated last year. Anyone who is interested in amateur radio is welcome to come out for field day. To find out more about amateur radio, contact Chuck Doose at (630) 325-8277 or doosec@attbi.com.

Social Security rep to visit

George Cutwright, a representative of the Social Security Administration’s Joliet office, will visit Argonne-East Wednesday, July 16, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Cutwright will be available to:

Enroll employees in Social Security.

Take applications for new Social Security cards, including original cards for newborns, corrected cards due to marriage, or replacement cards.

Help with earnings posting problems.

Answer general questions about the Social Security program.

To schedule a meeting, call Fran Perri (HR) at ext. 2-2989.

Lab’s retirement vendors
to visit Argonne-East

Representatives of the laboratory’s retirement vendors will visit Argonne-East during July to meet individually with employees to answer questions about retirement plans and retirement plan assets.

Fidelity and TIAA-CREF appointments last a half-hour. Prudential offers half-day sessions in the morning. To schedule an appointment with these representatives, call the number listed.

For appointments, call:

Fidelity — Tuesday, July 8, and Tuesday, July 22; (800) 642-7131 

TIAA-CREF — Wednesday, July 9, and Thursday, July 10; (800) 842-2005

Prudential — Wednesday, July 2, and Wednesday, July 16; (847) 619-3519 

RETIREES

Lorac S. Chow (CMT) retired May 29 with 28 years of service.

Paul H. Froehle (NE) retired May 29 with 34 years of service.

Bang-Jean Hsieh (NE) retired May 29 with 29 years of service.

Paul L. Johnson (CMT) retired May 29 with 28 years of service.