March 2012 - Che-student-staff-list

Seminar Abstract-Bio/Announcement for Tuesday, April 3, 2012
by Heide, Karen Kay 30 Mar '12

30 Mar '12

Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Prof. Warren D. Seider Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering University of Pennsylvania "Risk Analysis Using Large Alarm Databases" April 3, 2012 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15 in FRNY Atrium Abstract: In most industrial chemical plants, hundreds of variables monitor the dynamics of their processes. When the variables move out of their normal operating ranges, alarms are triggered to notify the operators. Often, vast amounts of alarm data are recorded in databases associated with their distributed control and emergency shutdown systems that often remain "under-utilized". In this work, these large databases are utilized efficiently to: (a) project probabilities of occurrence of shutdowns and accidents, (b) assess the real-time safety and operability performances of processes and improve their alarm systems, and (c) develop leading indicators to forewarn operators of approaching incidents several hours in advance. Abnormal events, which occur when process and quality variables depart from and return to their normal operating ranges, are recognized as near-misses - as they could have propagated into incidents. Consequently, vast amounts of near-miss data are available for analyzing the performances of the regulating (process control) and protection (emergency shutdown) systems. A novel dynamic risk assessment methodology is introduced that uses the alarm databases to calculate the failure probabilities of regulating and protection systems, and the probabilities of the occurrence of incidents. The methodology consists of three steps: (i) tracking of abnormal events over an extended period of time, (ii) event-tree and set-theoretic formulations, and (iii) Bayesian analysis. New event-trees and set-theoretic formulations are introduced to compact the massive numbers (millions) of abnormal events, over several months of operation, leading to significant improvements in the efficiency of the probabilistic calculations and permitting Bayesian analysis of large databases in real-time. The Bayesian model accounts for the interdependences among the regulating and protection systems using copulas, which occur due to the nonlinear relationships between the variables and behavior-based factors involving human operators. As a case study, the methodology is applied to an industrial, fluidized-catalytic-cracking unit (FCCU) at a major petroleum refinery. A new leading indicators methodology using the alarm data is introduced to help identify an escalation in the probability of the occurrence of incidents - permitting the system to alert the operator(s) of a major problem likely to occur in the near future. Bio: Warren D. Seider is Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He received a B.S. degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. For many years, he has contributed to the fields of process analysis, simulation, design, and control. In process design, he coauthored FLOWTRAN Simulation - An Introduction (with J.D. Seader and A.C. Pauls) and Product and Process Design Principles: Synthesis, Analysis, and Evaluation (with J. D. Seader, D. R. Lewin, and S. Widagdo). He has coordinated the design project course for over 30 years involving projects provided by many practicing engineers in the Philadelphia area. He is recognized for research contributions in phase and chemical equilibria, azeotropic distillation, heat and power integration, Czochralski crystallization, nonlinear control, and safety and risk analysis. He has authored or coauthored over 110 journal articles and authored or edited seven books. Professor Seider was the co-recipient (with Professor J. D. Seader) of the AIChE Warren K. Lewis Award in 2004, and the recipient of the AIChE Computing in Chemical Engineering Award in 1992. In 2011, he received the AIChE F. J. Van Antwerpen Award, and in 2008, he was recognized by the AIChE Centennial Committee as one of "Thirty Authors of Groundbreaking Chemical Engineering Books." He was elected as a Fellow of AIChE in 2005 and as a Director of AIChE in 1983, and has served as chairman of the CAST Division and the Publication Committee. He helped to organize the CACHE (Computer Aids for Chemical Engineering Education) Corporation in 1969 and served as its chairman. Professor Seider is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Computers and Chemical Engineering.

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FW: COMMUNICATION: Warehouse and Surplus Club Car Sale through April 3
by Valley, Jeffrey L 27 Mar '12

27 Mar '12

FYI...................... From: Terry, Rebecca L [mailto:rlterry@purdue.edu] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 3:11 PM Subject: COMMUNICATION: Warehouse and Surplus Club Car Sale through April 3 Communications Announcement Purdue University - Physical Facilities TO: Building Deputies (Please distribute and post) FR: Purdue University Warehouse and Surplus DA: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 RE: Warehouse and Surplus Club Car Sale through April 3 Purdue Warehouse and Surplus has the following Club Cars for sale: * Two 1997 Club Cars (no hour meters) * One 1998 Club Car (2,153 hours) * One 2000 Club Car (1,096 hours) * One 2002 Club Car (2,082 hours) * One 2005 Club Car (759 hours) Interested individuals are encouraged to inspect the units between 12 and 4 p.m. on weekdays prior to placing their bids. Bids are being accepted through Tuesday, April 3, and the winning bidders will be contacted on Wednesday, April 4. Bid forms are available at the Warehouse and Surplus cashier window or at the following website: https://www.purdue.edu/salvage/graphics/forms/Bid_Form_GENERAL.pdf. Questions may be directed to Tom Tibbet or Mike Allen at 765-742-4414.

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ChE Staff Awards - 2012 nomination window open
by Farmus, Cristina D 27 Mar '12

27 Mar '12

Good Morning, The Staff Awards Committee in the School of Chemical Engineering is happy to invite nominations for the 2012 ChE Staff Excellence Award. The criteria, nomination form and details are attached. Nomination Process: Any ChE faculty member, staff, graduate or undergraduate student can nominate any ChE permanent staff member. A nominator or contributor with a letter of support can endorse only one candidate. Nominations should be submitted to Cristina Farmus at cfarmus(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cfarmus@purdue.edu> by March 30th, 2012. Nominations should not be more than 2 pages long and need to include specific examples. Two letters of support are required (one page maximum), of which at least one must be from someone in our School. Due Date for Nominations: March 30th 2012, with the award to be presented at the May appreciation reception. Decision: The decision will be made by the ChE Staff Awards Committee and communicated to all School employees and students. Sincerely, Cristina, on behalf of the ChE Staff Awards Committee Cristina Farmus Administrative Director Chemical Engineering Purdue University 765 494 0027 cfarmus(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cfarmus@purdue.edu>

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Grad Seminar Announcement -March 27
by Mamph, Jennifer A 27 Mar '12

27 Mar '12

Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Dr. Michael S. Strano Department of Chemical Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology "New Concepts in Molecular and Energy Transport within Carbon Nanotubes: Near Infrared Sensors, Resonant Ion Channels, and Thermopower Waves" March 27, 2012 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15 a.m. in Henson Atrium Abstract: Our laboratory has been interested in how 1D electronic materials such as carbon nanotubes can be utilized to illustrate new concepts in molecular transport and energy transfer. In the first example, we predict and demonstrate the concept of thermopower waves for energy generation(1). Coupling an exothermic chemical reaction with a thermally conductive CNT creates a self-propagating reactive wave driven along its length. We realize such waves in MWNT and show that they produce concomitant electrical pulses of high specific power >7 kW/kg. Such waves of high power density may find uses as unique energy sources. In the second system, we fabricate and study SWNT ion channels for the first time(2) and show that the longest, highest aspect ratio, and smallest diameter synthetic nanopore examined to date, a 500 μm SWNT, demonstrates oscillations in electro-osmotic current at specific ranges of electric field, that are the signatures of coherence resonance, yielding self-generated rhythmic and frequency locked transport. The observed oscillations in the current occur due to a coupling between stochastic pore blocking and a diffusion limitation that develops at the pore mouth during proton transport. Lastly, our laboratory has been interested in how semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) can be modified such that their fluorescent emission is modulated in response to specific molecules, hence creating a new class of sensor (3). Such sensors have important advantages, including enhanced optical penetration of tissues in the near infrared, reduced auto-fluorescence, infinite resistance to photobleaching and most recently, single molecule analyte sensitivity. This presentation will review our recent efforts in this space including new platforms for label free protein detection, nitric oxide, H2O2 and the interfacing of sensor arrays to living cells. Bio: Professor Michael S. Strano is currently the Charles and Hilda Roddey Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on biomolecule/nanoparticle interactions and the surface chemistry of low dimensional systems, nano-electronics, nanoparticle separations, and applications of vibrational spectroscopy to nanotechnology. He received his B.S from Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, NY and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware both in Chemical Engineering. He was a postdoctoral research fellow from 2001 to 2003 at Rice University in the departments of Chemistry and Physics under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Richard E. Smalley. From 2003 to 2007, Michael was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before moving his laboratory to MIT. Michael is the recipient of numerous awards for his work, including a 2005 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a 2006 Beckman Young Investigator Award, the 2006 Coblentz Award for Molecular Spectroscopy, the Unilever Award from the American Chemical Society in 2007 for excellence in colloidal science, the 2008 Young Investigator Award from the Materials Research Society, the 2008 Allen P. Colburn award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and in 2009 was named one of Popular Science's Brilliant 10 for advances and new platforms for the biomedical detection of cancer.

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FW: COMMUNICATION: Removal of Stop Sign at the Corner of Harrison St. and Marsteller St.
by Valley, Jeffrey L 21 Mar '12

21 Mar '12

FYI................... From: Terry, Rebecca L [mailto:rlterry@purdue.edu] Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 1:12 PM Subject: COMMUNICATION: Removal of Stop Sign at the Corner of Harrison St. and Marsteller St. Communications Announcement Purdue University - Physical Facilities TO: Building Deputies (Please distribute as appropriate) FR: Physical Facilities DA: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 RE: Removal of Stop Sign at the Corner of Harrison St. and Marsteller St. Effective immediately, there is no longer a stop sign at the corner of Harrison Street and Marsteller Street. As communicated at the end of February, there are now Stop and Yield to Pedestrian signs at the crosswalks along Harrison Street between S. University Drive and Sheetz Street. Remember, pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, but they are strongly encouraged to check for oncoming traffic before entering a crosswalk. For more information, contact Jim Knapp, Senior Civil Engineer, at 49-43417 or jrknapp(a)purdue.edu<mailto:jrknapp@purdue.edu>.

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FW: COMMUNICATION: All Hazards Siren Test Today
by Valley, Jeffrey L 21 Mar '12

21 Mar '12

FYI.......................... From: Terry, Rebecca L [mailto:rlterry@purdue.edu] Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 8:58 AM Subject: COMMUNICATION: All Hazards Siren Test Today Communications Announcement Purdue University - Physical Facilities TO: Building Deputies (Please distribute) FR: Campus Emergency Preparedness and Planning Office DA: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 RE: All Hazards Siren Tests Today Remember, the All Hazards Emergency Warning Sirens will be tested today from 10 - 10:30 a.m. and from 7:30 - 8 p.m. as part of the State's Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The test is a good opportunity to review your building's emergency procedures; however, no action is required for the test. Contact the Emergency Preparedness and Planning Office at 494-0446 with questions.

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Graduate Seminar Series
by Ewing, Virginia G 20 Mar '12

20 Mar '12

Attached is an updated list of seminar titles and dates for Spring semester. Virginia

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Grad Seminar Announcement - Prof. Vorvoreanu
by Ewing, Virginia G 19 Mar '12

19 Mar '12

Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering GRADUATE SEMINAR SERIES Prof. Mihaela Vorvoreanu Purdue University "Using Social Media Strategically to Manage Your Professional Online Identity and Social Network" February 28, 2012 9:00-10:15 AM FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15 AM in Henson Atrium Abstract: This presentation addresses defensive and proactive strategies you can use to manage your online information, to use social media strategically, to promote yourself online, and to create a professional social network. Dr. V explains major social media dynamics that explain why conflicts and misunderstanding sometimes occur, and provides tips for not only avoiding misunderstandings, but also making the best of social media's networking potential. Bio: Dr. Vorvoreanu is an assistant professor in Computer Graphics Technology and Technology Leadership & Innovation at Purdue University. She studies the socio-cultural impact of new communication technologies. Before joining Purdue, she was an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Clemson University, SC, and the Department of Communication at the University of Dayton, Ohio. While at Clemson and UD respectively, Dr. Vorvoreanu taught various public relations and communication courses, and did academic research in the area of public relations and new Web technologies. She has published research articles in the Journal of New Communications Research, Public Relations Review and the Journal of Website Promotion and a book about online public relations: Web Site Public Relations: How Corporations Build and Maintain Relationships Online. Dr. Vorvoreanu holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Purdue University.

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Business Manager Update
by Farmus, Cristina D 13 Mar '12

13 Mar '12

Dear Colleagues, I would like to inform you that Mary Anne Madrid has accepted a new position with the Office of Treasury Operations at Purdue. Starting on March 26 she will be in a transitional period sharing her time between Chemical Engineering and Treasury, with her last day in our School being April 6, 2012. I'd like to thank Mary Anne for her contributions to our School for the past two years and wish her the best in her new position. The Business Manager position has been posted and we hope to have it filled before the end of the semester. Regards, Cristina Cristina Farmus Administrative Director Chemical Engineering Purdue University 765 494 0027 cfarmus(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cfarmus@purdue.edu>

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Atom patch and reboot tomorrow morning.
by Harrington, Michael P 12 Mar '12

12 Mar '12

Since there are other things going on with servers tomorrow - ECN will now be patching and rebooting atom. This means atom may be off between 6:30am and 7am tomorrow morning. Please remember to log off tonight - if you stay logged in you may have problems unlocking your computer in the morning. -Mike Harrington ******************** Mike Harrington Computer Facilities Manager Chemical Engineering Purdue University 765-494-6428 mph(a)purdue.edu

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