CAER News Archive: August 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
The research of Darrell taulbee and Burt Davis are in the news. Taulbee's work on 'blast-less' fertilizer appears is S&T Snapshots, the Department of Homeland Security's on-line newsletter.
Also, an article recently appeared in Aviation Week on Glenn Research Center activities in alternative fuels and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The
article described the three new FT reactors that were built for NASA by members of the Clean Fuel Technologies Group at CAER, led by Dr. Burt Davis.Posted by Marybeth McAlister [Link]
Friday, August 24, 2007
With funding by the the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, the CAER has developed two new tools for the general public to learn about clean coal technologies. The web site (http://www.caer.uky.edu/cct/ccthome.html) and DVD are intended as means to inform policy makers, legislators and the general public about clean coal technologies. Public education about, and acceptance of, the need for clean-coal technologies must be realized if a long-term strategic investment in these technologies from the state is to be sustained. Topics covered include: Energy Security and Clean Coal Technologies; Gasification for Electric Power Generation (IGCC); Transportation Fuels from Coal (Coal to Liquids); Synthetic Natural Gas from Coal (SNG); and Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration. For more information, contact Marybeth McAlister (mcalister@caer.uky.edu).
Posted by Marybeth McAlister [Link]
The University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research has published its fifth podcast. This Podcast is produced for anyone interested in energy issues.
It explored the Evaluation of Ionic Liquids for Green Separations, presented by Dr. Samuel A. Morton III of Lafayette College located in Easton, PA.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Dr. Rodney Andrews, currently serving as the Acting Director of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, will become Director of the Center effective August 15, 2007, subject to UK Board of Trustees approval.
Dr. Andrews received his Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky and his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Michigan State University. He joined the research staff at the Center in 1999. He began leading the Carbons Materials Group in 2001. His research interests include production of pitches and heavy aromatics from coal and other fossil resources, thermochemical conversion processes for coal and biomass, carbon fiber and composites, activated carbon materials, pitch chemistry and characterization, synthesis and application of carbon nanomaterials. Since 2003 he has been an Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky.Dr. Andrews has directed major multi-university and industry-academic collaborative projects. He has published more than 40 peer reviewed journal articles and 3 book chapters. He has been granted four patents.
In addition to his UK achievements, he is on the Advisory Board of the American Carbon Society and the Executive Council of the Consortium for Premium Carbon Products from Coal (CPCPC). He is on the Honorary Editorial Advisory Board for the journal Carbon, and has organized several very successful workshops on adsorbent carbons.Rodney has been extremely effective as Acting Director and the University is very pleased to appoint such a fine researcher and administrator to this important position.
Posted by Marybeth McAlister [Link]
Monday, August 6, 2007
The CAER Carbon Materials Group presented a strong showing at the 2007 Carbon Conference in Seattle, WA. The American Carbon Society's 50th Anniversary was partially organized by Teresa Epperson, and Rodney Andrews is a board member. In addition, several researchers and students made oral or poster presentations.Posted by Marybeth McAlister [Link]
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
CAER researchers recently taught sessions at an all-day workshop designed to help teachers teach science. Specifically, Bob Rathbone, Jim Neathery, and Dennis Sparks taught demonstrations ranging from how to build a battery, to minerals separations. Five energy demonstrations/experiments were used as methods to illustrate scientific concepts to students. Twenty six teachers from Fayette and surrounding counties signed up for this workshop, which took place at Kentucky Geological Survey's Well Sample and Core Library facility. This event was planned in conjunction with the Tracy Farmer Center for the Environment, through a grant from the Governor's Office of Energy Policy.Posted by Marybeth McAlister [Link]
Kentucky House Bill 299 - "Report on Coal to Liquids and Synthetic Natural Gas Technologies" produced by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (Lexington, KY) has been made available in PDF format.
