Center will explore ways to reduce, conserve and improve power plant water use

Atlanta– Southern Research Institute, Georgia Power and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) today dedicated the new Water Research Center (WRC) at Plant Bowen near Cartersville, Ga. The state-of-the-art center will focus on finding new ways to reduce, conserve and improve the quality of water returned to the environment from power plants. The WRC is the first U.S. research facility of its kind, and is made possible through a partnership with EPRI, the Southern Research Institute and 14 other companies aligned with the power generation industry.

During the dedication, research center partners met with industry leaders, local citizens and media to discuss how the center will be used to test technologies and find more ways to protect water resources. The WRC will provide a site for testing technologies to address water withdrawal and consumption, as well as explore ways to recycle or improve the quality of any water returned to the environment. The research facility is expected to yield industry-wide insights that will help power companies minimize the use of water and increase conservation of this valuable natural resource.

“We’re proud to host the new Water Research Center at one of our largest generation facilities. Efficient water management is the responsibility of every energy company and, through the work of this center, we will lead the industry in developing new ways to use and conserve this critical resource,” said Paul Bowers, president and CEO of Georgia Power. “In all areas of our business, we’re committed to conducting cutting-edge research that helps us provide clean, reliable and affordable power to customers both now and in the future.”

“The results of the Water Research Center’s test projects are being shared among Georgia Power, EPRI members and the broader electric generation industry,” said Arshad Mansoor, senior vice president of the Research and Development Group for EPRI. “This helps electricity generators all over the world to understand the performance of new technology research and, where appropriate, implement cost-effective strategies to improve water use efficiency and reduce liquid pollutant discharges.”

“We are excited to be collaborating with our partners in the Water Research Center,” added Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., Southern Research president and CEO. “The goals of minimizing industry water use and positively impacting conservation not only benefit the power generation industry, but also the environment, and future generations to come. This is a win in every way.”

From steam-driven turbines to hydroelectric power, water is an essential component in the generation of electricity. Georgia Power said it is constantly working to find new ways to protect water resources and use them more efficiently. The company withdraws approximately 1.3 billion gallons of water every day from Georgia’s public water ways to generate electricity for 2.4 million customers and, with a focus on conservation and recycling efforts, returns as much as 90 percent directly to the original source.

During the dedication, research center partners highlighted a number of the center’s benefits including the seven distinct research areas of study:

• Moisture Recovery: Researching innovative technologies and methods to recover moisture that would otherwise be consumed or lost through emissions “scrubbing,” cooling tower plumes and flue gas.
• Cooling Tower and Advanced Cooling Systems: Examining new ideas for reducing cooling water use such as increasing cooling tower cycles of concentration, diverting/reducing cooling tower heat loads, assessing the feasibility and applicability of hybrid wet/dry cooling systems and more.
• FGD/Process Wastewater Treatment: Focusing on technologies to treat and reuse water from various waste sources throughout the plant – including flue gas desulfurization (FGD) discharges, cooling tower blowdown, floor drains and storm water runoff.
• Zero-Liquid Discharge: Exploring technologies that separate pollutant-bearing waters into a solid material that can be used or landfilled and a high-quality distillate that can be reused.
• Solid Landfill Water Management: Exploring water issues related to managing on-site landfills with the addition of new solids such as zero-liquid discharge salts and sludges.
• Carbon Technology Water Issues: Developing models to determine the impacts of various post-combustion, carbon-capture technologies on the use of water at the plant site to reduce the impact of carbon dioxide capture on plant water use.
• Water Modeling, Monitoring & Best Management Practices: Using results from each of the focus areas to model strategies for managing water use/reuse and to explore tools for evaluating overall water use (baseline and real time).

The center is an extension of a pilot project that began in May 2010 at Plant Bowen to identify opportunities to address water withdrawal, consumption and recycling. In the future, the center may also serve as an educational hub for members of the surrounding communities about the importance of water conservation, including schoolchildren, elected officials and community leaders.

To access media images of the new Water Research Center, visit http://gapwr.co/gpcphotos.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

About EPRI

The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment. EPRI’s members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries. EPRI’s principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.

About Southern Research Institute

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. Approximately 500 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC, and Cartersville, Ga.

Birmingham, Ala. — Southern Research Institute today announced that it has been awarded a critical new research program to study the potential impact of early life exposure to certain chemicals and to determine their impact to developmental and reproductive systems. The program will also evaluate the impact to other non-reproductive organ systems, including those that cause neurobehavioral and immunological health deficiencies which may not be discovered until later in life.

This National Toxicology Program (NTP) contract was awarded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)—a research institute of the National Institutes for Health—under contact number HHSN273201300010C which has a potential total contract value of more than $70 million over the next 10 years.

“During this time of uncertain federal funding, Southern Research is honored to have been selected to conduct this work, especially knowing that the data generated will provide valuable information to scientists, medical researchers, and clinicians about how these chemical test articles affect the development of early life and reproductive systems, and what other long-term effects that exposure could have,” said Andrew D. Penman, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Development at Southern Research Institute.

“Southern Research’s historically-rich general toxicology capabilities and prior NTP experience, together with the expertise of our developmental and reproductive toxicology group, enabled us to put forth our strongest possible offering to the NTP,” said Kellye K. Daniels, Ph.D., Director of Toxicology and Pathology Services.

Charles D. Hébert, Ph.D. will serve as the principal investigator. The NTP requires support to conduct short- and long-term toxicity studies following pre- and postnatal exposure to a variety of test articles by various routes of exposure. Agents studied may include environmental chemicals; food additives, colorants or flavorings; pharmaceuticals and herbal remedies; pesticides; ingredients found in a variety of consumer products including soaps and cosmetics; detergents and cleaners; nanomaterials; and chemicals used in manufacturing or industrial settings.

Three years ago, Southern Research made a significant investment in its reproductive toxicology program with the hiring of Eve Mylchreest, Ph.D., Program Leader of the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology (DART) program at Southern Research. Mylchreest has led the development of the program, ensuring that Southern Research had the facilities, equipment and training to deliver on commercial client work and government contracts such as the NTP.

“There is a growing need to look not just at the impact of chemical exposures on adult health, but also to specifically understand what impact they may have on the male and female reproductive systems and future generations of the species,” said Mylchreest. “DART testing is so critical in better understanding which chemicals in our environment could pose a hazard to sensitive life stages such as pregnancy and childhood, as well as in identifying the long term impact of these early life stage exposures.”

About the National Toxicology Program (NTP)

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) was established within the Department of Health and Human Services and charged with coordinating toxicological testing programs within the Public Health Service of the Department. The NTP, as part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is responsible for evaluating the toxic and carcinogenic potential of environmental agents that may pose a health hazard to citizens of the United States. NIEHS is a research agency of the National Institutes for Health.

About Southern Research Institute

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. Approximately 500 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC, and Cartersville, Ga.

Birmingham, Ala. – Alabama’s top commerce official was in Birmingham today to tour one of the state’s earliest economic development projects—Southern Research Institute, a not-for-profit research organization chartered in 1941.

“The Southern Research Institute has been ahead of its time for many decades, and now it is a perfect fit with our economic development plan for Alabama’s future—Accelerate Alabama,” said Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield. “We are actively targeting biotechnology and the scientific research it brings. We appreciate the trail that was blazed by Southern Research and hope to be working with them for many years.”

“Southern Research was established in Alabama more than 72 years ago, but its reach and representation for this state is both national and international,” said Art. J. Tipton, Ph.D., Southern Research president and CEO. “Every day in our interactions we are working with clients all over the world and laying the foundation for scientific and engineering advancements for the next 75 years. Alabama is a good home base for us, and we were very pleased to have Secretary Canfield tour our facilities and meet the men and women who are working to solve real world problems and improve our health, our nation’s security and the environment.”

Southern Research employs around 500 people primarily in Alabama, North Carolina and Maryland, and works with research agencies of the U.S. government, universities, defense and aerospace contractors, energy and fuel companies, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. It counts among its successes the discovery of seven FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs, more than any other organization in the country. Additional successful projects at Southern Research included finding the causative correlation between gas pump fumes and cancer, numerous contributions to manned space flight, and the development of combinatorial chemotherapy.

Southern Research Institute was chartered as the Alabama Research Institute in 1941 to serve as an outsource R&D provider for state manufacturers who did not have in-house R&D capabilities. A consortium of business leaders and academics from across the state, led by then Alabama Power Company president and CEO Tom Martin, believed this support was key to the state’s growth. Research operations were delayed by WWII, but Southern Research began conducting research in 1945.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials and systems development, environment and energy, and drug discovery and preclinical drug development. Southern Research’s scientific and engineering staff supports clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Cartersville, Ga., Houston, TX; and Washington, DC. Learn more at southernresearch.org

Research could economically produce NPDES quality water from shale gas hydraulic fracturing wastewater

Durham, North Carolina — Southern Research Institute today announced it has entered into a contract with the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) — under the Unconventional Resources Program — to develop, and demonstrate the performance of technologies that will advance shale gas hydraulic fracturing water treatment in order to produce National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) quality water. The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program established through the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

“The 2011 Unconventional Resources Program selections focus on research that will add to the ability to develop the natural gas endowment of the U.S. in an environmentally protective and safe manner,” said Kent Perry, RPSEA Vice President, Onshore Programs.

The two-year project will develop advanced technologies that address issues related to processes and methods for handling and disposal of large volumes of hydraulic fracturing flow-back water, as well as water produced during the longer term production phase. The program will optimize four technologies—two for hydraulic fracturing water treatment and two for the treatment and disposal of residues (high solid slurry and membrane concentrate) from hydraulic fracturing water treatment.

“If successful in reducing the economic and environmental issues associated with shale gas production, this technology could have a major impact on energy security and sustainability in the U.S.,” said Robert Dahlin, Ph.D., principle investigator and director of Southern Research Institute’s Power Systems & Environmental Research Center (PSER) in Birmingham, Ala.

The hydraulic fracturing water treatment technologies are magnetic ballast clarification for removal of total suspended solids (TSS), metals, and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMS), and vortex-generating and nano-filtration membranes for removal of TSS and/or total dissolved solids. The residue treatment/disposal technologies are hydrogel adsorbent for metals, NORMs, trace element removal, and precipitation, solidification and stabilization. Several combinations of the technologies can be envisioned and will be explored as part of this research project.

The program will be managed and executed by teams from Southern Research’s Advanced Energy & Transportation Technologies Center in Durham, NC, and the PSER operations in Birmingham, Ala. and Cartersville, Ga. Southern Research also teamed with partners from M2 Water Treatment, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, and BKT United in Anaheim, Calif. to conduct this work. Southern Research is interested in partnering with additional oil and gas industry leaders to further demonstrate, commercialize and deploy the technology.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities/offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; Cartersville, GA, and, Washington, DC.

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., has been selected by its Board of Directors to serve as president and CEO of Southern Research effective July 8, 2013.

Tipton replaces John A. “Jack” Secrist, III, Ph.D., who served as president and CEO of Southern Research Institute for seven years. Secrist announced his retirement earlier this year after 34 years of service at Southern Research.

“The Board is extremely pleased that Dr. Tipton will lead Southern Research Institute, and I look forward to working with him,” said Ray L. Watts, M.D., president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and chairman of the Southern Research Board of Directors. “This is a critical time for research, with both opportunities and challenges, and his experience and strategic vision are ideal to grow the organization’s portfolio of contract research in biomedical science, drug discovery and advanced technology/engineering.”

Tipton previously served as senior vice president and general manager of Evonik— Birmingham Laboratories in Birmingham, Ala. During his career, he has helped lead the growth of three pharmaceutical/biotech companies and launched four commercial products. He holds 31 U.S. patents with numerous foreign equivalents, and he has more than 70 publications, presentations and invited lectures to his credit.

In 2004, Tipton joined Southern Research to lead the formation of a new, wholly-owned drug-delivery company—Brookwood Pharmaceuticals—which was launched with Tipton as president and CEO. When Brookwood Pharmaceuticals was acquired by SurModics in 2007 for about $50 million, Tipton oversaw the most significant payment to Southern Research in its history. The SurModics business was then acquired by Evonik Degussa Corporation in 2011.

“A Birmingham native, I know and have great respect for the record Southern Research Institute has in research initiatives and the impressive history of innovation,” Tipton said. “I am familiar with the Institute’s great people; I look forward to leading this exceedingly talented and dedicated team capable of pushing research and development in a range of science and engineering markets. I am equally excited to work closely with UAB and look forward to making this close relationship even stronger.”

Tipton served as executive vice president at Durect Corporation, a California-based, publicly traded drug-delivery company, and held a variety of positions in Southern BioSystems, including vice president and chief scientific officer, where he led all efforts on biodegradable technology from 1993-2001. At Southern BioSystems, Tipton invented the SABER Delivery System and led its development into multiple clinical campaigns. He was a member of the negotiating team for the acquisition of Southern BioSystems by Durect. Prior to joining Southern BioSystems, Tipton was with Atrix Laboratories (now part of QLT) from 1988-1993.

Tipton holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Spring Hill College and a Doctorate in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has served on the boards of the Society for Biomaterials, American Institute of Biological and Medical Engineers, Brookwood Pharmaceuticals, and Southern BioSystems, and he serves on the boards of the Biotechnology Association of Alabama, Birmingham Venture Club, and the Controlled Release Society. He chairs the external advisory Board for UAB’s Biomedical Engineering Department.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities/offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; and, Washington, DC. Learn more at southernresearch.org.

Research could encourage blending of bio-oils into refinery streams for producing renewable diesel and gasoline

Durham, North Carolina — Southern Research Institute today announced it has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Dept. of Energy to develop a mild liquefaction process that will economically convert biomass to petroleum refinery?ready bio?oils. The process will convert biomass to stabilized bio?oils that can be directly blended with hydrotreater and cracker input streams in a petroleum refinery for production of gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbons.

“We hope the project will advance liquefaction by demonstrating cost-effective biomass conversion to stable bio-oils at mild conditions. Other liquefaction processes either use severe conditions or expensive catalysts to achieve stability,” said Santosh K. Gangwal, Ph.D., Southern Research principal investigator. “We will also evaluate the suitability and process economics of directly blending our bio-oils with refinery hydrotreater and cracker streams for co-production of diesel and gasoline.”

Gangwal said co-processing of bio-oil with petroleum refinery streams can help refineries comply with new renewable fuels standards (RFS-2.) The process will be evaluated and optimized using a continuous flow lab?scale biomass liquefaction system simulating the commercial embodiment of Southern Research’s liquefaction process. Also a lab?scale reactor will be constructed and tested for hydrotreating and cracking the bio?oils to produce gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbons.

Southern Research is seeking a refinery partner who will help to further define bio?oil quality specifications that meet requirements for direct insertion at various points in the petroleum refining process. Based on the experimental data, a technical and economic evaluation and life?cycle assessment of the process will be carried out. Requirements for scale-up and commercialization of the liquefaction process will be determined.

“Development and commercialization of a cost?effective biomass liquefaction process using a high impact feedstock such as wood waste to produce renewable gasoline and diesel can reduce the nation’s requirement for importing oil from foreign countries, help to stabilize the prices at the pump, and lower the emission of greenhouse gases” said Tim Hansen, director of Advanced Energy and Transportation Technologies.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities/offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; and, Washington, DC.

Year-long, in-field evaluation of ORC generator as new energy source for remote military installations begins

DURHAM, NC — Southern Research Institute today announced it has finalized plans to demonstrate an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generator at the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Mobile Utilities Support Equipment (MUSE) Division in Port Hueneme, Calif. which could potentially produce up to 624 gross megawatt hours of electricity in a year using waste heat and deliver a new source of energy to remote military installations.

This evaluation, conducted by Southern Research under a program funded by the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s (DoD’s) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), is expected to provide independently verified information about the efficiencies and value of using waste heat to power technology to reduce energy costs, and environmental impacts, for military facilities. The mission of the ESTCP program is to find solutions that will advance the military’s high-priority environmental and energy goals.

Technicians at the MUSE facility will initially operate the generator—which produces electricity using low-grade waste heat—and then deploy it as part of a remote DoD field operation. Data will be collected and analyzed by Southern Research engineers and technicians.

“Our work with ESTCP continues to showcase promising technologies that will advance progress being made to achieve the DoD’s aggressive renewable energy, energy security, and environmental goals,” said Tim Hansen, program manager and director for Southern Research’s Advanced Energy & Transportation Technologies Center. “By using unique technology to generate electricity from otherwise wasted—but useful—energy, a new energy source is made available, improving generating efficiency, reducing operational costs, and reducing emissions.”

The ORC generator being evaluated is the Green Machine manufactured by Nevada-based ElectraTherm, Inc.  This technology uses low-grade waste heat—with a current focus on fossil fuel-fired electrical generators—to generate additional local power to boost overall system efficiency. The ability to successfully deploy this technology in remote or portable military installations where fuel costs are high, and the delivery of fuel poses a safety risk to troops, could be particularly beneficial.

The system could potentially boost the overall fuel efficiency of a one megawatt diesel-fired electric generator by six- to eight-percent, capturing heat from the engine’s exhaust and radiator coolant and safely and efficiently converting it to electric power.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research has facilities and offices in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC., Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., Houston, TX., and Washington, DC.

About ESTCP

ESTCP is the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s environmental technology demonstration and validation program. The Program was established in 1995 to promote the transfer of innovative technologies that have successfully established proof of concept to field or production use. ESTCP demonstrations collect cost and performance data to overcome the barriers to employ an innovative technology because of concerns regarding technical or programmatic risk, the so-called “Valley of Death.” The Program’s goal is to identify and demonstrate the most promising innovative and cost-effective technologies and methods that address DoD’s high-priority environmental requirements. For more information, visit www.estcp.org.

About NAVFAC EXWC MUSE Division

The MUSE Program enhances Naval core competencies with specialized title 10 capabilities that enable DoN and DoD global mission successes while supporting the warfighter by; ensuring operational capabilities for mission critical utilities and energy infrastructure, addressing deficiencies in fleet readiness, providing sustainment for forward presence operations, and supporting energy assurance and security initiatives.

About ElectraTherm, Inc.

ElectraTherm, Inc. is a small scale waste heat recovery company headquartered in Reno, Nevada. ElectraTherm’s product, the Green Machine, generates fuel-free, emission-free power from low temperature waste heat using the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and patented technology. ElectraTherm’s machines are modular, robust power generators with an attractive payback. For more information on ElectraTherm and its clean energy products, please visit www.electratherm.com.

Research could make new alternative coal fuel processes more environmentally and economically competitive with petroleum-based processes

DURHAM, North Carolina—(January 7, 2013)—Southern Research Institute today announced it has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Dept. of Energy to test an innovative method for producing liquid transportation fuels from coal and biomass thereby improving the economics and lifecycle impacts of coal-to-liquid (CTL) and coal-biomass-to-liquid (CBTL) processes. The novel approach eliminates the typical Fischer-Tropsch (FT) product upgrading and refining steps and enhances the ability of CTL and CBTL processes to compete with petroleum-based processes.

“We hope the project will advance CTL and CBTL processes by demonstrating a cost-effective, novel FT catalyst that selectively converts syngas derived from the gasification of coal and coal-biomass mixtures predominantly to gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbons, thereby eliminating expensive upgrading operations,” said Dr. Santosh K. Gangwal, Southern Research principal investigator. “We will evaluate the impact of adding moderate amounts of biomass to coal on CBTL products and process economics, and compare the carbon footprint of CBTL processes with petroleum-based fuel production processes.”

The Southern Research team includes research partners from Southern Company Services and Nexant Inc. The project will implement a full coal and coal-biomass to liquids bench-scale FT synthesis reactor system to produce liquid transportation fuels using the selective, wax-free FT catalyst provided by Chevron. Gangwal says the research team will use an existing demonstration scale coal gasifier at the DOE’s National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) in Wilsonville, Ala.—an air-blown transport gasifier (also known as TRIGTM) operated by Southern Company Services—as the source of both coal and coal-biomass derived syngas.

“If successful in reducing the production costs and environmental impact of alternative fuel processes , this project could lead to commercialization of CBTL processes, resulting in a decrease in U.S. dependence on foreign oil, new jobs, and reduced fuel prices at the pump,” said Tim Hansen, Director, Advanced Energy and Transportation Technologies.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities/offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; New Orleans, La.; Houston, TX; and, Washington, DC.

Southern Research prime contractor—Black & Veatch—awarded continuation of Ukrainian contract to help counter biological threats

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that its prime contracting partner, Black & Veatch, has been selected by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to continue its work in Ukraine to enhance the nation’s sustainable capacity to detect, diagnose, report, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Southern Research will continue working with Black & Veatch on this program, as it has since the first award in 2008.

“We are honored to continue working with Black & Veatch to support this important global program, using Southern Research’s unique knowledge and expertise about biosafety and advancing critical research to protect the world against infectious disease health threats,” said Mark J. Suto, Ph.D., vice president of the Drug Discovery Division at Southern Research.

Under the contract, Black & Veatch will support implementation of the agency’s Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) with the Government of Ukraine. This award has a potential contract value of about $85 million over five years. The CBEP program enhances the animal health system by providing modern lab facilities, equipment and training. Black & Veatch is completing support for similar program activities it began in 2008 to strengthen the human health system in the Ukraine.

The DTRA rated Black & Veatch and its integrated partner companies at the highest “exceptional” level for contract performance in the first implementation phase of the Ukraine program from 2008 to present. In 2010, under the existing contract, Southern Research helped develop the Ukraine’s first Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory to enhance the existing biosurveillance system to detect and respond to bioterrorism and potential pandemics.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. More than 520 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., and Washington, DC.

Birmingham, Ala. — At a building dedication ceremony held today, Southern Research Institute leaders said that rapid business growth in engineering research and development necessitated the construction of a new $5.6 million high-tech engineering laboratory on its Engineering Research Center (ERC) campus in Birmingham.

“Over the past five years alone, the engineering division has grown over 60 percent, to now over $36 million in revenue,” said Michael D. Johns, vice president of Engineering. “This is the type of growth the leaders at the Institute envisioned over 20 years ago when we built the first world-class engineering laboratory building on this campus. Two years ago, we had to ask ourselves what are the necessary steps we need to take to continue that growth trajectory? The new ERC Phase II building was the answer.”

“For Alabama’s economic development, having this world-class engineering institute is critical to supporting the sustainability of companies located here, as well as enhancing our continuing efforts in attracting new industry,” said Bill Taylor, president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA).

Southern Research’s engineers work primarily in areas that make the country stronger, safer, and cleaner—in bioenergy and alternative fuels, clean-coal technologies, next-generation composite materials for advanced space flight, lightweight materials for advanced transportation and power delivery, and imaging systems for airborne flight platforms.

Because of this expansion, Johns estimated that during the next two years, Southern Research will hire approximately 12 new senior level engineers and 12 technicians, and potentially generate $6 million in new revenue annually. In addition, Johns said the building will serve as a technology proving ground for Southern Research’s new engineering business spin-out opportunities.

“We are a market-driven research business and pride ourselves on our ability to rapidly change and adapt to changing government and commercial funding environments,” said Johns. This expansion will allow Southern Research to expand current programs in airborne imaging systems, advanced materials, light-weight composite materials, and structural integrity research of large complex systems, such as aerospace vehicles. The building will house:

• A large structures evaluation laboratory to conduct complex multi-axial load studies on aerospace and industrial structures as large as rocket components and composite utility poles,
• A lab to conduct composite structures development and prototyping to spin out technology and products,
• A lab for material conditioning and aging programs that play a critical role in aerospace and national security; and,
• A lab to conduct electro-optic systems, electronics and hardware assembly that requires vibration isolated floors.

Construction of the $5.6 million ERC Phase II facility—a 19,000-square-foot building with three high-bay labs and two floors of offices—was completed in July 2012. Construction costs were vetted through a formal estimation process using Hill International in Atlanta, GA. KPS Group served as the architect for the project. Brasfield & Gorrie was selected as the building contractor. Funding for the new facility was supported by grants from the Daniel Foundation and the Alabama Power Foundation and through tax-exempt bond financing approved by the City of Birmingham.

Also participating in today’s dedication ceremony were Congressman Spencer Bachus, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Bill Taylor, president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama; and Dr. Richard Marchase, interim president of The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

“The work of our engineers has been recognized by a number of their clients—most notably NASA— for our efforts on behalf of the space program,” said John A. “Jack” Secrist III, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research. “And that our engineers so often link with other Alabama research entities proves that our founders were correct that Southern Research Institute could play a supporting role to create new products and technologies here in the state.”

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 500 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research operates facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and has offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., and Washington, DC.