CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS
CLUB
www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC
www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC
NEXT
MEETING_____________________________________
Monday, August 5 - 12:00 noon
Cellar Restaurant at Union Square
Monday, August 5 - 12:00 noon
Cellar Restaurant at Union Square
Topic: Methane Hydrates - An Abundant New Fuel or a
Troublesome Greenhouse Gas? - Dr. Roddie Judkins, ORNL
A methane hydrate is a cage-like lattice of ice with molecules of methane (the chief constituent of natural gas) trapped inside. Methane hydrates form in generally two types of geologic settings: (1) on land in permafrost regions where cold temperatures persist in relatively shallow sediments, and (2) beneath the ocean floor at water depths greater than about 500 meters where high pressures and low temperatures dominate. The hydrate deposits themselves may be several hundred meters thick. These crystals, although unmistakably a combination of both water and natural gas, will, at high pressures, form at temperatures well above the freezing point of ordinary ice.
A methane hydrate is a cage-like lattice of ice with molecules of methane (the chief constituent of natural gas) trapped inside. Methane hydrates form in generally two types of geologic settings: (1) on land in permafrost regions where cold temperatures persist in relatively shallow sediments, and (2) beneath the ocean floor at water depths greater than about 500 meters where high pressures and low temperatures dominate. The hydrate deposits themselves may be several hundred meters thick. These crystals, although unmistakably a combination of both water and natural gas, will, at high pressures, form at temperatures well above the freezing point of ordinary ice.
Worldwide, estimates of the natural gas potential of methane hydrates range
as high as about 400 million trillion cubic feet -- a staggering figure compared
to the 5,000 trillion cubic feet that make up the world's currently known gas
reserves. This huge potential, alone, justifies a search for technologies to
detect deposits and produce natural gas from methane hydrates.
Methane is also a very effective "greenhouse gas," and for this and other
reasons, all R&D associated with methane hydrates must include consideration
of the ramifications of massive releases of methane into the atmosphere.
Some recent events may have important implications with respect to the formation
and extraction of methane from methane hydrate deposits.
Dr. Roddie Judkins of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will describe
the nature of methane hydrates and the principal issues related to its ultimate
use as well as ORNL's current R&D activities related to gas hydrates.
Invocation: Jack Anderson
Fellowship: Almeada Frazier
Entrée du jour: Chicken Cordon Bleu, Cucumber Salad, Steamed Vegetables, and Banana Pudding
Fellowship: Almeada Frazier
Entrée du jour: Chicken Cordon Bleu, Cucumber Salad, Steamed Vegetables, and Banana Pudding
OUR PREVIOUS MEETING July 29, 2002
_________________________________
We are again indebted to Cathy Burnett
for providing us with these informative and detailed program notes.
Mr. Ed Vineyard, manager of ORNL's Buildings/Technology Center Program, provided an excellent overview of his program's activities. Mr. Vineyard identified many serious problems with current building refrigeration and heating systems and the tremendous opportunities for improvement. Mr. Vineyard detailed many of the award-winning R&D efforts that have garnered dramatic energy savings and then discussed their long-range goal of developing buildings that, on an annual basis, require no net external energy use. The objective of the ORNL program is to accelerate the introduction of highly efficient HVAC and water heater technology for residential and commercial applications.
We are again indebted to Cathy Burnett
for providing us with these informative and detailed program notes. Mr. Ed Vineyard, manager of ORNL's Buildings/Technology Center Program, provided an excellent overview of his program's activities. Mr. Vineyard identified many serious problems with current building refrigeration and heating systems and the tremendous opportunities for improvement. Mr. Vineyard detailed many of the award-winning R&D efforts that have garnered dramatic energy savings and then discussed their long-range goal of developing buildings that, on an annual basis, require no net external energy use. The objective of the ORNL program is to accelerate the introduction of highly efficient HVAC and water heater technology for residential and commercial applications.
With a keen focus on energy savings and pollution reduction, Mr. Vineyard
cited many facts about current energy use that removed any complacency about the
immediate and drastic need to find workable energy-saving solutions. The US
spends over $240 billion each year on residential and commercial energy
needs. Fully one third of our pollution is caused by energy use in
buildings. For example, carbon emissions are still increasing despite
green power efforts, and unfortunately have long-term consequences. The current
level of carbon emissions is about 278 million [tons] per year. Further, energy
use is still rising, with the average home now spending $1300/year on energy.
From research and analysis, specific areas were identified, and by
partnering with many construction companies and builders, Mr. Vineyard's
organization has developed some a wide range of prototype systems. Much
efficiency was gained by numerous improvements made in the delivery of
residential heating/cooling systems, refrigerating & freezing, and water
heating. Even more importantly, many of the designs were planned for
retrofit capabilities on existing systems. Mr. Vineyard is actively
encouraging anyone interested to consider such a partnership with his
organization.
Mr. Vineyard provided us pamphlets that described the Zero Energy Buildings
Initiative. The initiative is a design concept for future buildings that, on an
annual basis, use no net external energy. They incorporate numerous building
design improvements and extensive use of photovoltaics.
Click here to view an article of our program in the Chattanoogan:
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_24593.asp
FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS _____________________________________
August 19: Inter-basin Water Transfers from the Tennessee River
- An Issue Update - Dodd Galbraith, Commissioner for Tenn. Dept. of
Environment and Conservation
August 26: Urban Heat Retention-Cooling Our Cites
Down - Dr. Dale Quattrlouci, Marshal Spaceflight
Center
September 2: No meeting, in observance of Labor Day
September 9: Global Warming - How Real the Threat? - Dr.
Marilyn Brown, ORNL
September 16: Operating a Manufacturing Plant in
Chattanooga - How difficult has it become? Mark Collin, Magister
Corp.
September 23: TVA's Reservoir Operations - Resolving competing interests - David Nye, TVA
September 29: Plant Tour of the Olan Mills Digital Photography
Facility
October 7: An update on the TVA Regenesys Project" - Ian
Grant, TVA
WHERE WE MEET
_______________________________________________
Unless we note otherwise, all of our presentation meetings are held at the Cellar Restaurant in the Tallan Building, Union Square Downtown Chattanooga from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Our meeting room and luncheon service are open by 11:30 a.m. Lunch buffet is $10.00 per person (inclusive). No reservation is required. Free parking is available in the Days Inn Motel (on Carter St. and MLK Blvd,) courtesy of the Days Inn management. When you park there, be sure to place a note on your dashboard indicating you are attending the Engineers Club meeting.
Unless we note otherwise, all of our presentation meetings are held at the Cellar Restaurant in the Tallan Building, Union Square Downtown Chattanooga from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Our meeting room and luncheon service are open by 11:30 a.m. Lunch buffet is $10.00 per person (inclusive). No reservation is required. Free parking is available in the Days Inn Motel (on Carter St. and MLK Blvd,) courtesy of the Days Inn management. When you park there, be sure to place a note on your dashboard indicating you are attending the Engineers Club meeting.
QUESTIONS ? ___________________________________________
If you have any questions about program items please call Steve McGuire at 756- 4430 or e-mail him at stevemcguire@comcast.net. You can find references to other Chattanooga Engineers Club members at our web site: www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC .
If you have any questions about program items please call Steve McGuire at 756- 4430 or e-mail him at stevemcguire@comcast.net. You can find references to other Chattanooga Engineers Club members at our web site: www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC .