Chattanooga
Engineers Club
P.O. Box 4031
Chattanooga, TN 37405
www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org
NEXT MONDAY
October 29 -
"EPA Emergency Response and
Removal Program" - Matthew J. Huyser, On-Scene
Coordinator (OSC)
OSCs respond to environmental emergencies such as oil spills, chemical
releases, and major disasters. OSCs also conduct inspections and
time-critical removals across the country. This presentation will explain
the OSC rolls and responsibilities, and discuss EPA's roll in disasters of
national significance such as Hurricane Katrina. If time allows, a short
presentation will be made on the cleanup of a time-critical removal site.
Matthew graduated from
Lunch
will be available for $11 beginning at 11:30 am, and will be from the
outstanding Cellar Buffet. Location: Tallan Cellar Restaurant, 200 West ML King
Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Parking: use on street meters or the commercial
lot in the rear of the Tallan Building, or in one of the commercial lots
nearby.
November 5 - Bob Hay, P.E., confirmed to provide
a systems engineering overview of hydrogen generation, including a preliminary
design for what may become the first hydrogen fueling station in Tennessee.
November 12 - No meeting - Federal
Holiday
November 19 - Alan Field invited to explain
Spam Blockers, what
they are and why we need them
November 26 - Mark Hairr and Dan Simpson invited
to discuss plans for deploying a hydrogen powered fuel cell bus for the
UTC campus
LAST WEEK’S MEETING
- October 22 - "Mercury and the
Environment" Tom Burnett, Tennessee Valley Authority
Tom Burnett explained that mercury in the form of
methyl mercury is dangerous for people and animals, and the inorganic
forms (elemental, oxidized and particulate) are not a threat to humans.
Methyl mercury is dangerous because of bioaccumulation in
animals. Carnivorous fish would have higher levels of
methyl mercury, because they eat fish that may have eaten other fish
all that may have had small mercury levels. He told us the human body can
gradually remove methyl mercury if a person only occasionally
eats a carnivorous fish like swordfish, tuna, bass or shark.
Salmon and catfish served in restaurants are usually farm raised and
should not have a mercury problem.
The public may perceive that mercury is becoming more of a problem
because more mercury warning signs are up around fishing areas and some have
published high measurements. The number of signs has increased
because the minimum level of mercury (requiring a sign) has changed.
Mr. Burnett talked about studies of mercury levels in the Smokey Mountains and
mentioned that measurements similar to some published could not be
replicated. He did say that Asia's mercury levels are increasing as China
and India burn more coal.
He talked about Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCRs) retrofits TVA is
using on some of their coal-fired generation units for removing Nitrous Oxides
(NOx), because the SCRs have been successful in oxidizing mercury so it
can be removed in flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems, as
well. When firing bituminous coal in a plant with both an SCR
and an FGD system, >85% of the mercury in the coal is removed and the
remaining mercury emissions are primarily the inert elemental mercury
that doesn't deposit locally or regionally. Instead it enters the
global pool where it is dwarfed by the emissions from other countries.
Inorganic (i.e. elemental) mercury is not dangerous at the levels currently
being seen, i.e., the dose makes the poison. A dynamic computer model has been
been developed and to his surprise has been fairly successful at
predicting how much and what kind of mercury is in the coal-fired plant
plumes. At the moment, TVA is working to meet mercury levels set in the
Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR). Scientists continue to study the complex
chemical reactions in coal-fired generation units in anticipation of proposed
Mercury and other Pollutant Toxic standards where a percent reduction of
mercury may be required at each plant rather than an overall reduction in a
particular fleet of plants.
For more information about mercury in power plant emissions and the
environment, see: http://www.tva.gov/environment/air/ontheair/merc_emis.htm.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
- November 3 – First Lego League –
Tullahoma Local Invitational
CEC member Ed Chapin is supporting First Lego League teams in our area, some of
whom will attend a learning session at Tullahoma Nov 3. Our local event will be
two weeks later and many of these same teams will be invited. Ten teams will
have 3 opportunities to complete missions and 1 project presentation. The event
will be judged by same criteria as the state competition. Any interested
members who can attend should contact Ed.LOCATION: West Middle School,
Tullahoma
(http://westmiddle.tcm.schoolinsites.com/?PageName=’Directions’)
TIME: 9 AM – 1:30 PM LUNCH: ON YOUR OWN (several local establishments in
town) The local teams participating: WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL, HOMESCHOOLERS,
HANDSONSCIENCECTR, EASTTULLAHOMA, NANODEERE, LINDEN ELEMENTARY (Oak Ridge, TN),
CLEVELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, (Cleveland, TN), BRENTWOOD, CHATTANOOGA, HUNTSVILLE,
AL, SPRING HILL, TN, COOKVILLE, TN Contact ED CHAPIN if you can attend and
support our Chattanooga area teams.
- November 14, 2007 Presentation & Plant
Tour, Speakers: Aaron Haluska & Chad Gentry, Miller Industries, Topic:
Pro/Engineer® and the Design of Towing Equipment, Miller Industries,
Ooltewah, TN PDH: 1 hour Contact Ron Goulet ron-goulet@utc.edu or Bryan
Eldridge Bryan_Eldridge@mckee.com.
Career Mentors Needed!!! The Alumni Career
Mentoring Program is a great way for UTC students to get in touch with other
UTC graduates who can provide information or direction about career choices.
The program consists of a database of alumni who have volunteered to share
their career experiences and advice with students and other alumni. These
individuals have diverse academic backgrounds and represent many industries,
career fields, job functions and locations. The UTC Alumni Career Mentor
Program is sponsored by the Placement and Student Employment Center. The time
commitment is minimal and is a much appreciated way for you as an alum to share
your expertise in your career area and provide information or direction about
career choices with current students. As an Alumni Career Mentor a few of the
ways you can participate include: Career contact & networking, Company
& industry information, Employment trends (profession or industry), Job
function information, Job search strategies, Job shadowing. For more detailed
information and to complete the Alumni Career Mentor Participation form visit:
www.utc.edu/placement Click on Career Mentor Program under Quick Links on the
left side of the page. If you have questions please feel free to contact
Stephanie Hollis in the Placement and Student Employment Center at
423-425-4184.
Fire Eye Productions, Inc. has made available
many video recordings of events in our community by creating the Local Webcast
Network. Several Chattanooga Engineers Club programs are included; you may be
on there too! Go to www.localwebcastnetwork.com.
Speaking Opportunities! Volunteers needed to
address speaker requests from elementary schools, middle schools, high schools,
and youth groups to visit classrooms, assemblies, and group meetings. Contact
Lulu Copeland, copeland@chattanoogastate.edu. High
school student groups may schedule tours of CSTCC to visit mechanical,
electrical, civil, chemical technology classes and other locations of the
campus. Contact Shirley Moore at (423)697-2698.
QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? If you have any questions or suggestions about program items please contact Ron Bailey at 423-425-5536 or by email at Ronald-Bailey@utc.edu. You can find membership application forms, references to future programs, historical data, and other info at http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org. To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Cha. Technology Organization mailing list at http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org/email