NEXT MEETING
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Monday, March
18- 12:00 noon
Cellar Restaurant at Union Square
Topic: The Future of Coal in the Power
Industry - Steve Smith, TVA
Coal-fired power plants, once considered dinosaurs of the
industrial era, are now broadly perceived as vital options for increasing the
nation's electricity generation assets. More than 50 percent of the electricity
we use today is generated from coal. There has been a surge of new coal fired
plant construction announced this year, including several projects in the
Tennessee Valley. Stephen Smith, Senior Chemist at TVA's Coal Lab will explore
the future of coal in the near and far term, starting with a visual tour of the
Powder River Basin coal fields of eastern Wyoming, where increased quantities of
low sulfur coal have come to the market since the 1970s. From there he we
explore some of the environmental aspects of coal use, including some of the new
technologies for reducing acid rain, sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions from
coal use. Beyond 20 years, the technology of CO2 sequestration is being
explored. Steve says that advances in coal utilization technology are vital to
the nation's security and economic development.
Steve is the Senior Chemist at the Coal Laboratory,
Analytical Services, TVA Central Laboratory. He comes to the lab from TVA Fuel
Operations, Fuel Supply and Engineering Services, where he held positions as
Senior Systems Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Combustion Engineer, and Assistant
Manager. Steve is also a long-time member of our Enginners Club.
Invocation: Richard Smith
Fellowship: Jim Bell
Entrée
du jour: Sliced Roast Beef
OUR PREVIOUS MEETING March 4
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Superconductivity - Bob Hawsey,
Director of ORNL's Superconductivity Section
Bob provided us a good
perspective of the current technology of superconductivity, especially as it
applies to electric power transmissions and substations. He says that what makes
superconductivity in these applications a near reality is the fact that current
developments involve not only the research labs but also interested product
manufacturers and end-users. He says that while the costs of superconducting
transmission lines are greater that conventional lines the reduced size of the
line and the reduced power loss makes the newer technology economic attractive.
FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS
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March 25 Topic: National
Transportation Research Center Overview. Dick Ziegler, Director of ORNL's
Transportation Technologies Program.
April 1 Topic: UTC Senior Design
Project Presentation - Team 1 & 2
April 8 Topic: Improved Student
Learning - Glenda Russel
April 15 Topic: UTC Senior Design
Project Presentation - Team 3 & 4
April 22 Topic: Micro-turbine Power
Engines- George Courville- Ecotera Energy
April 29 Field Trip - Location to be
determined
WHERE WE USUALLY MEET
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All of our presentation meetings are
held at the Cellar Restaurant of the Tallan Building, Union Square, Downtown,
Chattanooga from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Our meeting room and luncheon service
are open by 11:30 a.m. Lunch buffet is available for $10 per person. No
reservation is required. Free parking is available for these occasions at 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 you dashboard
indicating you are attending the engineers club meeting.
NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES ANYONE?
______________________________
Recent changes in Comcast's Internet
Service Provider have resulted in changes to some e-mail addresses. If you are
one of the ones so affected, please tell us of your new address by sending a
note to stevemcguire@comcast.net