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October 19, 1998 -- Some of this week's stories
New technology promises cleaner diesels
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An energy and environmental breakthrough by Argonne scientists should lead to cleaner and more efficient diesel engines.
By controlling fuel and oxygen levels in diesel engines, the technique reduces particulate levels and nitrogen oxide emissions. Nitrogen oxide -- NOx -- is a precursor to ozone and contributes significantly to smog. The breakthrough technology also increases engine power.
Working with partners Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) and the research arm of the Association ofAmerican Railroads (AAR), Argonne's Raj Sekar and Ramesh Poola (both ES) found that changing oxygen levels and engine operating conditions improves the combustion process and lowers emissions. NOx emissions and particulates were reduced significantly.
"The research on controlling emissions is only one part of Argonne's extensive transportation research and development program," said Harvey Drucker, Argonne associate director for energy and environmental science and technology. "This latest innovation should have a tremendous impact because of its widespread applications in the transportation industry."
Diesel engines are the most efficient internal combustion engines, but their smoke and particulate emissions have prevented them from becoming a "clean" propulsion system. Interest in Argonne's new technology is further heightened because it is expected to be more cost-effective than alternative exhaust control systems currently being developed.
Funding from the partners and DOE's Energy Research/Laboratory Technology Research Program provided the resources for the breakthrough.
EMD also has a multi-year contract with Argonne's Transportation Technology R&D Center to improve the performance and emissions of its new four-stroke, 6,000-horsepower, direct-injection diesel locomotive "H-engine."
The new technology sprang from Argonne's new Transportation Technology R&D Center, dedicated Sept. 25 by Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. The center brings together scientists and engineers from both the public and private sectors and many disciplines to find cost-effective solutions to the problems of transportation. Research at the center ranges from alternative-fuel vehicles to intelligent transportation systems to vehicle recycling.
The Transportation Technology R&D Center at Argonne works closely with DOE's Office of Transportation Technology in the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles -- a government/industry initiative to create cleaner cars that operate at 80 miles per gallon -- and the truck research program. Diesel engines in both trucks and autos could benefit from Argonne's latest technology development effort.
-- Evelyn Brown
Rabinder (Rab) Malhotra, acting director of Plant Facilities and Services, has been selected to receive a 1998 Federal Energy and Water Management Award.
The award recognizes efforts by federal and contractor employees to save energy, reduce the federal deficit and promote a cleaner environment. It is presented by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Interagency Energy Policy Committee.
Malhotra's 20-year career at Argonne includes increasing responsibility for identification of energy conservation opportunities, development of studies and funding proposals and the implementation of funded projects. The award cites his exceptional strategic energy management, which allowed the lab to achieve all energy goals and obtain favorable electric energy rates.
Malhotra will be honored at a congressional reception Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. He will receive his award at a luncheon ceremony the following day at the National Press Club.
The online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica is now available to Argonne employees who use the World Wide Web.
Access to the Britannica Online is through the Argonne Information Management (AIM) system, a service of the Information and Publishing Division.
The Britannica Online can be reached throughthe AIM system home page. There are two routes to the Britannica:
Under
ALEC (Argonne Libraries Electronic Catalog), search the
title Britannica Online.
Select "General
Reference and Multidisciplinary" under "Resources
on the Internet."
A link to the Britannica Online also appears on the Argonnet home page.
Argonne's subscription to Britannica Online is available to employees at both Argonne-East and Argonne-West. Employees who have difficulty connecting should contact any of the Argonne libraries for assistance.
A household hazardous waste collection will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Darien Business Center, 8245 S. Lemont Road.
Employees can bring residential waste that is poisonous, flammable, corrosive or reactive for proper disposal.
Acceptable waste includes paint, cleaning solvents, household batteries, motor oil and other automotive fluids, driveway sealer and lawn and garden chemicals.
Unacceptable waste includes business and agricultural wastes, radioactive wastes (including smoke detectors), auto batteries, ammunition, explosives and propane tanks.
The event is sponsored by the DuPage County Solid Waste Department and hosted by the City of Darien. The Argonne Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Advisory Committee will provide volunteer support. For more information on this or similar events in the area, call Argonne's Pollution Prevention Hotline at ext. 2-6778.
Successful Project Management will be the topic of aHuman Resourcesseminar (HR 241) at Argonne-East Dec. 14-15.
The seminar, to be presented by Arnold Ruskin in cooperation with the California Institute of Technology Industrial Relations Center, is designed to help employees develop the insights and skills necessary to effectively manage large and small projects, design efforts, field studies, laboratory investigations, major maintenance efforts, and software development.
Participants will learn how to define, plan and assign work; obtain meaningful commitments; manage risk; monitor and evaluate results, and correct mistakes within approved budgets and schedules.
The cost is $650 per person for the two-day seminar, based on an enrollment of 20 participants. The course will be offered on-site in the Argonne Guest House.
Deadline for registration is Wednesday, Oct. 28. Enroll through a division Training Management System representative.
For more information, call John Hyzer (HR) at ext. 2-3410.
Environmentally minded Argonne employees are invited to take part in a cleanup walk on Friday, Oct. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Participants will meet at Westgate and remove trash along Lemont Road. Bottled water and other refreshments will be provided for clean-up walk volunteers, courtesy of Marriott Corp.
The walk is sponsored by the Argonne Club and the Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Advisory Committee.
To volunteer, or for more information, call Keith Trychta at ext. 2-1476 or the Waste Management and Pollution Prevention hotline at ext. 2-6778.
A recent letter to theArgonne News contained the following poem attached to the clipping of an Aug. 3 story about a group of employees who rescued a snapping turtle from an Argonne-East roadway.
There was no return address, although it was postmarked in Pocatello, Idaho.
Perhaps I will be seen as being politically
incorrect
And maybe environmentally incorrect as well,
Hell, maybe judged as anti-multi-cultural-whatever,
But the snapping turtle has only one value
And that is discovered amidst a multi-flavored soup.
In life, the snapper has no redeeming feature,
None, none, none whatever.
To those who would worry about a flattened snapper
Because it paused in the middle of the road,
Test it. Hit one at 50 mph in your sporty red Chevy.
Mr. Snapper will survive well. You may not.
Save your teary goo-goo eyes for a species
Of less incarnate, unyielding evil.
If he bobbed his head as he left, he was probably
saying,
"If only I could had gotten a taste of your index
finger."
Yours in search of common sense,
Four-finger Jake
Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Oct. 25. Clocks should be reset one hour earlier.
LifeSource will conduct its annual fall blood drive at Argonne-East on Monday, Oct. 26, at three locations: Building 617 (Exchange Club), and in mobile collection vans in the parking lots of Building 203 and 301.
For a donation form, call the Medical Department at ext. 2-2803.
NEW ARRIVALS
A girl, Miya Nicole, born August 5 to Tanya and Mike Gomberg (MCS); a boy, Drake Sean, born August 22 to Heather andTom Taxon (DIS-ACAG); a boy, Brett Allen, born July 8 to Jeanne andBruce Jensen (OP); twin boys, Kyle and Jared, born August 15 to Leigh andMichael Anderson (OP); a boy, Bryne John, born August 4 to DeAun andRon Tollner (CMT); a girl, Laurel Anne, born August 5 to first-time parents Terri andCandido Pereira (CMT); a boy, Michael Casey, born to Mary Beth andRob Piorkowski(EMO); a boy, Aaron Asher, born August 8 to Colleen andDean Wyncott (ASD); a girl, Katherine Mae, born August 8 toDave Lichty (ASD).
Proud grandparents: a granddaughter, Cara Rae Potts, born June 25 forFaith Ruppert(RE); a grandson, James Walter, born August 14 for Jerry andDiana Grygiel (ESH).
ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations toFred Yapuncich (NT) who passed the Professional Engineering Examination in the area of Mechanical Engineering and will be licensed in the state of Idaho. Congratulations toRay Klann (NT) on receiving his PhD.Paul Vanderwallafter making a "Hole in One" at a golf outing held at the Glenn Eagle Golf Club sponsored by the St. Cyril Methodina Church.
WEDDINGS/ENGAGEMENTS
Congratulations toDawn R. Rees, Engineering Services Department Manager, Argonne-West, wed Sept. 12 to Richard Fringley,Karen Towes (NT) on her marriage to Blaine Hirsche.Mark Kamiya(EMO) andCorrie Patterson (TD) were married on July 26.George Carter (PFS-CU) on his marriage to Brena Susanna Campos on August 1.Gary Turpin (PFS-DR) andMona Beavers (PFS-MAT) were married on August 29.
GET WELL
Get well wishes forKatie Dimick (ED) who is recovering from shoulder surgery.
WELCOME
MCS welcomesSteven Benson,John Bresnahan, Henrik Nordborg andCheryl Zidel. DIS-SSG welcomesKimberly Hausknecht. NT welcomes Steve Sherman. RPS welcomesTehren C. Killpack. ED welcomesLaura B. Cotton,Linda A. Heilig, Gerald F. Olsen,Yeon Soo Kim andWharton Sinkler. OD welcomesJohn G. Lathouris,Eric Papaioannou andAnita Wanstrom. MSD welcomesKotaro Ono,Takeshi Soeda,Robert Fenollosa,Ralph Vogelgesang,Nancy Sanchez andJenny Crones.
WELCOME BACK
Welcome back toVicki Jennings (PFS-CU) who returned to work after an illness.
CONDOLENCES
Our condolences toPat Canaday (OPA) on the death of her mother-in-law;June Townsend(ESH) on the death of her mother;Ken Bateman (NT) on the death of his mother;Connie (OP) andBob Tessmer (OP) on the death of Connie's mother;Peggy Hanny (OP) on the death of her grandmother;Larry Jensen (ED) on the death of his father;Richelle Walker (RPS) on the death of her grandfather;James Bulka (ECT-EE) on the death of his father;Yvette Woell (IPD-TIS) on the death of her mother-in-law;Irving Vaughn (EMO-WM) on the death of his mother.
PROMOTIONS
Congratulations toBob Benedict the new Division Director for Nuclear Technology.Paul Henslee is the new Associate Division Director for Nuclear Technology.
TRANSITIONS
Good luck toPhillip Finck who transferred from RA to TD;Scott Pinkerton who transferred from DIS-ACAG;Grant McClellan who tranferred from OD to NT;Marla Harms who transferred from HR to PFS-SP.
FAREWELL
Good luck toPat Scholz (DIS-ACAG) who has left the laboratory.
CONTRIBUTORS
Thanks to this issue's contributors:Judy Beumer (MCS);Barbara Burke (ECT); Loretta Cescato (CMT);Bonnie Gianpetro (EMO);Diana Grygiel (ESH);Barbara Hall (APS);Eileen Johnson (RA);Sheila Jungman (MSD);Karen Kroczek (PFS);Dolores Lagerquist (ERA);Cathy Nelson (IPD-TIS);Jean Slater (DIS); andKim Tomasko (RE).
Retirees for Aug. and September include:
Larry J. Duncan(ED) retired Aug. 20 with 31 years of service.
Donald A. Gacek(TD-DES) retired Aug. 28 with 33 years of service.
Robert F. Giese (ES) retired Sept. 15 with 25 years of service.
John D. Gonczy (CMB) retired Aug. 11 with 30 years of service.
Vivian Granat(ERA) retired Sept. 4 with 31 years of service.
Joe Dell Heileson (OD) retired Sept. 25 with 32 years of service.
Thomas F Kassner(ET) retired Aug. 31 with 36 years of service.
Charles F. Konicek(ET) retired Sept. 30 with 38 years of service.
In Young Lee (ER) retired Sept. 30 with 19 years of service.
Peter C. Lindahl(CMT-AC) retired Sept. 18 with 14 years of service.
Dan Meisel(CHM) retired Aug. 31 with 22 years of service.
Sally A. Moll(ET) retired Sept. 30 with 27 years of service.
Kenneth W. Poupa(OCF-SPM) retired Sept. 30 with 31 years of service.
John Rusnak(TD) retired Aug. 18 with 38 years of service.
Vipinchandra L. Shah (ET) retired Sept. 30 with 20 years of service.
M. G. Srinivasan (RE) retired Sept. 15 with 24 years of service.
Peter Turula(ET) retired Sept. 30 with 25 years of service.
