ChE Thoughts - Vol-03, No-1 PDF

Vol - 03, Issue - 1 November 2012
Energy
Solar Water Splitting: A Step Towards Carbon-Free Energy and Environment A Brief Overview of Petroleum Oil Resources
Talk to the Expert Environmental Engineering
Of Persona, Substance and Vision: Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed Nuclear Spent Fuel Disposal: Long Term Performance Challenges Waste Co-processing as Alternative Fuel (AF) and Alternative Raw Material (ARM) The Last Lecture of Dr. A.K.M.A. QUADER
BUET Corner
ChE Thoughts 03 (1) ISSN 2218-5216 (Print) ISSN 2220-3389 (Online)
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ChE Thoughts
Volume 03, Issue 1 November 2012
Editorial
Welcome to the November 2012 (Vol-03, No-1) issue of ChE Thoughts. This issue of ChE Thoughts features interesting and resourceful research articles on energy issues. The global energy consumption has been accelerating due to on-going industrialization and growing population. Not to mention, the consumption is expected to double by 2050. Therefore, along with the optimized usage of proven energies, it is important to explore alternate energy sources to meet current and future demand. Fossil fuels are the major energy sources (about 80 per cent) till date. The on-going environmental concern drives researchers to be innovative in generating clean energies and restructuring energy distribution networks. Continuing technology advancement allows power industries in addressing critical technological and economic challenges of energy generation, transmission and distribution. In recent years, a number of countries, both developed and developing, are replacing their conventional energy production with renewable energies. The concept of developing power distribution networks connecting neighbouring countries is also becoming a more required option to meet energy demand. For instance, European Union (and other parts of the world) is actively working on cost effective electricity distribution network which will not only secure power supply but also develop regional energy policy, facilitate market integration and stimulate relevant research and development. However, there are many critical technical and political issues, yet to be solved to effectively implement such ideas in the long run. In this issue of ChE Thoughts, Energy section features articles on the clean energy option from solar water splitting, an overview of petroleum oil resources, and an analysis of key challenges of modelling and managing distributed electricity generation sources. Engineering issues like nuclear spent fuel disposal and waste co-processing as alternative fuel are featured under the Environmental Engineering panel. ChE Thoughts is honoured to feature the ex-VC of BUET Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed, an inspiration for many as an engineer and a visionary leader. Last but not the least, BUET Corner features the last lecture of BUET Alumnus Dr. A.K.M.A Quader, a successful engineer and academic, who has relentlessly served BUET for four decades. I hope you enjoy this issue of ChE Thoughts. Your suggestions and comments on ChE Thoughts are always welcome.
Sincerely, Mohidus Samad Khan, PhD (mohidus.khan@mcgill.ca) Montreal, Canada
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Contents
Energy Solar Water Splitting: A Step towards Carbon-Free Energy and Environment 6 A Brief Overview of Petroleum Oil Resources
Energy: Solar energy can mitigate the current and future energy crises. Solar water splitting allows producing H2 gas, a carbonfree energy carrier: pp 6
13
Energy: A brief overview of various resources of petroleum oil, and current worldwide reserves, petroleum oil facilities and petroleum industries: pp 14
Managing Distributed Electricity Generation Sources in a Decentralized Architecture 23 Talk to the Expert Of Persona, Substance and Vision: Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed
27
Environmental Engineering Nuclear Spent Fuel Disposal: Long Term Performance Challenges 31
Energy: Key challenges of efficient forecasting and agent based modeling in managing distributed generation in a decentralized architecture: pp 24
Waste Co-processing as Alternative Fuel (AF) and Alternative Raw Material (ARM) Featured Industry
36
Talk to the Expert: Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed, the ex-VC of BUET, a leader, a philosopher and an educator: pp 28
Multinational Chemical Company: INEOS Group Limited
40
BUET Corner Professor Dr. Sam Mannan Receives Doctories Honoris Causa 41 The Last Lecture of Dr. A.K.M.A. Quader ChE Undergraduate Thesis Competition 2011
42 43 48
BUET CORNER: Dr. Quader believes that to be a successful engineer, it is important to use ones common sense along with the underlying principles of science and eng.: pp 43
Environmental Engineering: The prime objective of nuclear waste disposal is to isolate the radioactive waste from the environment for as long as necessary: pp 32
ICChE 2011 Poster Competition
ENERGY RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Solar Water Splitting: A Step towards CarbonFree Energy and Environment

MD. GOLAM KIBRIA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University. Montreal, Quebec, Canada Email addresses: kibria.ca@gmail.com
Article received 12 December 2011; received in revised form 24 June 2012; online published 27 June 2012
2. Alternative Energy Sources There are different types of energy sources currently available; however, not all of them can follow our current and future energy demand curve. For example, biomass offers a limited energy supply because of the low efficiency of photosynthesis [5]. Alternatively, nuclear energy plant is assumed to be a solution to this energy crisis. However, the deployment of expensive nuclear plant is difficult to build fast enough to cope up with the energy demand. Also nuclear power plant requires widespread public acceptance, since they can be a point of catastrophic disaster as seen by the world recently in Fukushima, Japan [6]. Wind energy is a poor choice because of its low energy density and intermittency [7]. While the fossil energy resources (i.e., gas, oil, coal, etc.) can satiate the global energy appetite, the atmospheric CO2 released from burning this fossil fuel significantly increases greenhouse gas (GHG), which can perturb the ecosystem of the planet. Therefore, it is vital to find alternative carbon-neutral energy sources that can mitigate the current and future global energy appetite.
1. Global Energy Crisis
Our planet is heading towards an energy famine. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the worldwide primary energy consumption in 2008 was ~17 terrawatts (TW, one TW equals 1012 watts, or 1012 joules per second), which is expected to double by 2050 and triple by 2100 [1]. Needless to say, this is because of the growing world population, which was 6.2 billion in 2006, 7.0 billion in 2011 and is projected to be 9.4 billion by 2050 [2]. Therefore, by 2050, an additional 17 TW energy supply is required for the 3. Solar Energy extra 2.4 billion people, considering the current Solar energy is the ultimate solution offering living standard of world population and with the carbon-free energy. About 1.2 105 TW power from best conservation of energy. Considering sunlight falls on the Earths surface in 1 hr, which is Bangladesh as an example, only 50% of higher than the global energy consumed by all Bangladeshis have access to electricity at present human activities in 1 year [8]. Approximately 600 with a per capita generation of ~252 KWH [3]. TW power from sunlight strikes the Earths According to the Power Sector Master Plan 2010 [3], the power demand in Md. Golam Kibria completed his BSc in Electrical and 2030 will be nearly 34,000 MW. With Electronic Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) in 2006. He the current generation of around 5,200 worked as a appointed lecturer in the same MW [4], Bangladesh will require an department from 2006 to 2008. He has completed his additional ~29,000 MW power in 2030. MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from McMaster University, Canada in 2010. At present, he Therefore, it is imperative to explore is a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical and alternate sources of energy to cope up Computer Engineering at McGill University,, Canada. Kibrias current research focuses on Photocatalytic with this energy crisis.
Water Splitting using Group-III Nitride Nanowire Arrays. In his academic career he has been received several prestigious awards and scholarships. Email address: kibria.ca@gmail.com
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terrestrial surfaces that can be used as practical sites for solar energy harvesting [9]. Covering 0.16% of the land on Earth with 10% efficient solar conversion systems would provide 20 TW of solar power, which is nearly twice the worlds fossil fuel consumption rate [10]. Clearly, solar energy is the largest renewable carbon-free resource amongst all other renewable energy options. However, the major challenges in implementing large scale solar energy system are the low efficiency and the high manufacturing cost of solar panels. Furthermore, for penetrating the global energy market, new technologies need to be developed to store solar energy, which can be released in a form that one desires, whether it is electrical, chemical or mechanical. 4. Importance of Solar Energy Storage Because of the diurnal nature and intermittency arising from variable atmospheric conditions, it is imperative to find a solution to store and supply solar energy for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Solar energy storage offers the following significant advantages: (1) an efficient storage mechanism allows synchronization between solar power supply and demand curves, (2) a cost effective solar storage system will offer highly distributed off-grid power supply system, (3) because of its highly distributed and decentralized nature, solar energy storage offers geopolitical stability [11]. Therefore, it is vital to innovate and design new materials and techniques to store solar energy in cost effective ways. 5. Current Techniques for Solar Energy Storage The current methods of storing solar energy are too expensive and inefficient for large scale applications. There are mainly four forms of energy storage technologies [11]: (1) potential energy (pumped-hydroelectric, compressed-air, electric charge in super/ultra capacitors), (2) kinetic energy (flywheels), (3) thermal energy (concentrated solar thermal, geothermal), and (4) chemical energy (in the form of batteries or fuels). The energy storage system based on potential energy, kinetic energy and thermal energy experiences high cost of deployment, short time storage, and low energy
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density to be implemented for large scale applications. The electrochemical energy storage in the form of batteries or capacitors is only limited to small scale and short term applications because of their low energy density and short life time. On the other hand, energy storage in the form of chemical fuels, such as hydrogen (H2) gas or hydrocarbons offers sustainable energy for small/large scale, and short/long term applications. Although H2 has the highest energy density by mass (143 MJ Kg), it suffers from low volumetric energy densities [11]. On the other hand, hydrocarbon fuels offer the optimum volumetric energy density, and therefore can be used as a renewable energy carrier for modern society. 6. Necessity for Solar Water Splitting At present, hydrogen is mainly produced from fossil fuels and therefore the production process emits CO2. However, H2 needs to be produced from abundant natural resources, such as water and sunlight. Splitting water into H2 and O2 using sunlight allows storing solar energy in the form of chemical energy and makes solar energy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This process produces hydrogen: a clean, storable and renewable source of energy. The released H2 from water splitting can be used in fuel-cells to produce electricity or can be directly combusted in an engine, wherein the reaction by-product is nothing but water. This process will make solar energy highly distributed, from small to large scale applications. Therefore, research on solar water splitting is an urgent need. However, the current technologies for solar water splitting in a cost effective and efficient way are still at their infancy. 7. Solar Water Splitting Splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen with sunlight is one of the holy grails of chemistry. Since the pioneering work by Fujishima and Honda [12], considerable researches have been focused over the last 40 years on developing a stable and efficient photocatalyst material for solar water splitting [13], with limited success. A photocatalyst material is required to absorb solar photons and subsequently use the photon energy to break the
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chemical bonds of water. A photocatalyst material needs to satisfy three requirements to be able to split water: (i) the band gap has to be higher than 1.23 eV (as discussed later), (ii) suitable band-edge potentials with respect to water oxidation and reduction potential (as discussed later), and (iii) stable against photocorrosion [13]. Although a number of metal oxides satisfy all of the above mentioned requirements, they are not, however, suitable for practical applications. This is because metal oxides usually possess a large bandgap (> 3 eV), and hence can harvest only the UV portion of solar spectrum. Since, only ~4% of solar spectrum lies in the UV region, the solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency of the metal oxides remains impractical. Therefore, tremendous effort has been made in the last decade to harvest visible photons, as visible light accounts for ~46% of solar irradiation [14]. There are mainly two approaches for water splitting: photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In photoelectrochemical water splitting, the photogenerated carriers (electron or holes) in the semiconductor photocatalyst (i.e., TiO2) are channelled through a metallic conductor to an electrode, which is modified by catalysts (Pt) (Fig. 1 A). In this case, some external bias is usually required for efficient carrier separation and to overcome the resistance between the electrodes in the solution. In photocatalytic water splitting, the catalysts (Pt, in this case) are integrated onto the semiconductor (TiO2) and the photogenerated carriers are directly captured by the catalyst (Fig. 1 B) [15].
In both approaches the water splitting reaction converts solar energy into chemical energy with a positive change in Gibbs free energy (i.e., uphill reaction) [15]. H2O O2 + H2, G=+237.178 KJ/mol Therefore, water splitting reaction can store 237.178 KJ/mol at 25 C and 1 bar. This reaction is regarded as artificial photosynthesis, as it resembles the natural process of photosynthesis by which green plants store solar energy. 8. Main Processes Involved in Solar Water Splitting The water splitting reaction generally involves three main processes [13, 15] as shown in Figure 2 [16]. (1) The first step is band gap absorption of photons and generation of electronhole pairs. Thermodynamically, when the energy of incident light is larger than the band gap energy, electrons and holes are generated in the conduction and valence bands, respectively. (2) The second step consists of charge separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. The physical size of the photocatalyst determines the activity of the photocatalyst. If the size is small, the photogenerated carriers will have to travel a small distance to reach the surface and hence there will be less probability of carrier recombination. Therefore, development of high quality nanoscale material is of great interest.
Figure 1: (A) Photoelectrochemical water splitting on TiO2 photoanode, (B) Photocatalytic water splitting on TiO2 particle [15]. www.chethoughts.com
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Therefore, the conduction band of the semiconductor has to be more negative than water reduction potential (0 V vs. NHE (pH=0)). Thus, water molecules are oxidized by the holes to form O2 and reduced by the electrons to form H2 for overall water splitting. Therefore, the theoretical minimum band gap for water splitting is 1.23 eV that corresponds to light wavelength of about 1000 nm. A photocatalytic water splitting reaction over a semiconductor material is schematically shown in Figure 3 [13].
Figure 2: Three main processes involved in photocatalytic water splitting. Here, the host nanowire photocatalyst is used to capture solar photons. The nanowire is decorated with some metal nanoparticles as H2/O2 evolution catalyst to enhance the redox reaction [16].
(3) The final step involves the reduction and oxidation (redox) of water on the photocatalyst surface via the photogenerated electrons and holes, respectively. It is a common practice to incorporate some H2 and O2 evolution catalyst on the host photocatalyst (nanowire in this case) to enhance the extraction of electrons/holes and reduce the activation energy barrier for gas evolution, as shown in Figure 2. For water splitting, first, the O-H bonds of two water molecules need to be broken with the simultaneous formation of one O=O double bond as follows [11]. H2O O2 +4e +4H+, Eanodic=1.23 V 0.059 (pH) V (NHE) ....(1) Since this reaction requires a high oxidizing potential, 1.23 V vs. NHE (normal hydrogen electrode) (pH=0), the top level of valence band has to be more positive than this potential, so that the photogenerated holes have enough energy to oxidize water. This reaction releases four protons (H+) and four electrons (e), which need to be combined to form two H2 molecules, as follows [11]: 4H+ + 4e 2H2, Ecathodic = 0 V 0.059 (pH) V (NHE) .(2)
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Figure 3: Schematic diagram of band edge requirements for water splitting reaction [13].
For practical applications, water splitting has to be achieved under visible light (> 400 nm) using an Earth abundant, stable and efficient photocatalyst material. Researches on visible light responsive photocatalyst are limited as there are very few stable materials that satisfy the thermodynamic and kinetic potential for overall water splitting under visible light [17-18]. Therefore, different band engineering methods have been developed to transform ultraviolet (UV) light (<400 nm) active materials into visible-light active photocatalysts [19-21]. While band engineering improves the visible light activity of these photocatalyst materials to some extent, there are still very few reliable and efficient photocatalyst for overall water splitting under visible light. Therefore, it is vital to explore new visible light responsive photocatalysts that are stable and efficient for overall water splitting. On the other hand, recent advances in nanotechnology possess immense potential for efficient harvesting of solar energy. For example,
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one dimensional (1D) nanostructures, such as nanowire, nanotubes or nanobelts can be made using two approaches, namely top-down and bottom-up. Because of their high crystallinity and surface-to-volume ratio, these 1D nanostructures are capable of efficient light absorption and carrier separation [22]. Hence, a boost in solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency is expected. Figure 4 shows a schematic of large scale H2 production system via solar water splitting, as depicted by Domen et al. [23]. According to their calculations, about 10,000 solar water splitting power plant (25 km2 each) would be required to supply one-third of the projected energy needs of human society in 2050.
splitting in the presence of CO2, as discussed below. 9. Solar Water Splitting for CO2 Reduction Solar water splitting not only has the potential to mitigate the energy crisis but also has the capability to reduce CO2 in the environment. The four electrons and the four holes released from water oxidation reaction (Eq-1) can be combined with CO2 to produce liquid alcohol or hydrocarbon fuel (CO, CH4 or CH3OH) [13], as follows [25]: CO2 + 6e + 6H+ CH3OH + H2O . (3) Liquid fuel (i.e., CH3OH) can also be produced by catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 and H2, wherein H2 is obtained from solar water splitting, as follows [25]: CO2 + 3H2 CH3OH + H2O .. .. (4) The produced Methanol can be used directly in a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell. The required CO2 for the above reactions can be captured from fossil fuel burning power plants or other industries. Considering the diminishing fossil fuel resources and therefore CO2, the CO2 in air can also be used for the above reactions. Since the concentration of CO2 in air is very low (0.037%) [26], new technologies need to be developed to efficiently and economically capture CO2 from air.
Figure 4: Large scale H2 production via solar water splitting [23].
Although H2 can be synthesized via water splitting for subsequent use in fuel cell or in an engine, it is not a convenient means to store solar energy. H2 is highly volatile and therefore requires high pressure or cryogenic container to maintain a temperature of -253 C. The handling of potentially explosive H2 requires special conditions: high pressure, minimum diffusion or leakage and extensive safety precautions. Additionally, the volumetric energy density of liquid H2 is about onethird of that of gasoline. Further, the infrastructure needed for H2 fuel would be expensive, thus limiting its potential use. In order to overcome these issues, George A. Olah (Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry in 1994) proposed a methanol economy, wherein methanol can be used as a means of energy storage instead of H2 and/or fossil fuels [24]. Methanol production for methanol economy can be synthesized by solar water
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Figure 5: Schematic diagram of solar water splitting for energy production and environment purification.
Therefore, environment purification (i.e., CO2 reduction) and energy production (i.e., liquid fuel) can be achieved simultaneously, as shown schematically in Figure 5. Because of their higher volumetric energy densities, hydrocarbon fuels can
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alleviate hydrogen storage issues. Further, hydrocarbon fuels can be used in existing gasoline infrastructure with limited modifications [26]. Hence, building expensive liquid H2 infrastructure can be avoided. Therefore, there is an immense potential in solar water splitting both for carbonfree energy and environment. Research and development in this area are under advancement. 10. Current Technological Challenges The major technological challenges for the large scale deployment of solar water splitting either for H2 generation or for CO2 reduction may be summarized as follows: (1) development of stable, highly efficient and visible light active photocatalyst from Earth abundant materials for water oxidation and reduction; (2) development of stable and efficient catalyst for CO2 reduction; (3) development of a technology to separate simultaneously produced H2 and O2 from solar water splitting; (4) development of new materials to store large amounts of H2 in a small volume at low pressure, near-ambient temperature, and with high efficiency during energy release cycle. Success in addressing these technological challenges will enable a carbon-free clean planet wherein there will be no energy crisis, no geopolitical instability and therefore a peaceful humanity. 11. Conclusions Solar energy is the ultimate solution to mitigate the current and future energy crises. However, for widespread market penetration, solar energy has to be harnessed more efficiently and stored for large scale long-term applications. Solar water splitting allows producing H2 gas, a clean, renewable and carbon-free energy carrier. Solar water splitting can also be used for CO2 reduction from environment with simultaneous production of hydrocarbon fuel. However, many significant challenges need to be addressed for translating this technology from R&D laboratory to the commercial world. How soon this technology will reach marketplace depends on how soon breakthroughs are made in discovery research.
12. References: [1] Energy Information Association; U.S. Department of Energy: Washington DC; Retrieved 22 June, 2012 from www.eia.doe.gov. [2] 2009 World Population Data Sheet; Population Reference Bureau: Washington, DC, 2009; Retrieved 22 June, 2012 from www.prb.org [3] Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh, Retrieved 22 June, 2012 from http://www.powerdivision.gov.bd/user/welcome [4] Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Retrieved 19 June, 2012 from http://www.bpdb.gov.bd/bpdb/ [5] J. R. Bolton, D. O. Hall, Annu. Rev. Energy, 4, 353 (1979). [6] S. Ansolabehere et al. The Future of Nuclear Power; MIT Press: Cambridge, MA, 2003. [7] D. Abbott, Proc. IEEE, 98, 42 (2010). [8] K. Rajeshwar, R. McConnell, S. Licht, Solar Hydrogen Generation: Toward a Renewable Energy Future, Springer, 2008. [9] A. J. Nozik, Inorg. Chem. 44, 6893 (2005). [10] J. A. Turner, M. C. Williams, K. Rajeshwar, The Electrochemical Society Interface, Fall 2004. [11] T. R. Cook et al, Chem. Rev., 110, 6474 (2010). [12] A. Fujishima, K. Honda, Nature 238, 37 (1972). [13] A. Kudo, Y. Miseki, Chem. Rev., 38, 253 (2009). [14] Z. G. Zou, J. Ye, K. Sayama, H. Arakawa, Nature 414, 625 (2001). [15] K. Maeda, J. Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews. 12, 237 (2011). [16] D. Wang, Nano Lett., 11, 2353 (2011). [17] K. Maeda, K. Domen, J. Phys. Chem. C, 111, 7851 (2007). [18] X. Chen, S. Shen, L. Guo, S. S. Mao, Chem Rev. 110, 6503 (2010). [19] Shahed U. M. Khan, Mofareh Al-Shahry, William B. Ingler Jr. Science 297, 2243 (2002). [20] R. Asahi, T. Morikawa, T. Ohwaki, K. Aoki, Y. Taga, Science 293, 269 (2001).
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[21] K. Maeda, et al. Nature, 440, 295 (2006). [22] Y. Xia et al. Adv. Mater. 15, 353 (2003). [23] K. Maeda, K. Domen, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 1 2655 (2010).
[24] Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy, George A. Olah, Alain Goeppert, G. K. Surya Prakash, Wiley-VCH, 2006. [25] Maria Jitaru, J. University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 42, 4 (2007). [26] Retrieved on June 21, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol_economy
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ENERGY BACK TO THE BASICS TECHNICAL REIVEW
A Brief Overview of Petroleum Oil Resources

MOHAMMED SAMAD AMEC Oil and Gas, Houston, USA Email addresses: samad.buet@gmail.com
Article received 28 April 2012; received in revised form 11 June 2012; online published 16 July 2012
generally not a directly useable petroleum product. It is further refined to produce hydrocarbon products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, naphtha, furnace oil etc. Crude oil is categorized on the basis of a number of criteria including sulfur contents, API gravity, trading brand or recovery methods. (a) Category by Sulfur Contents
The use of petroleum products play important role in modern civilization. Petroleum products are directly used for producing electric power, running vehicles, planes, ships etc., running engines for agricultural use and many other areas related to human benefits. In addition, petroleum products are used as raw materials to create products such as plastics, polyurethane, solvents, asphalt, and hundreds of other intermediate and end-user goods.
Based on the amount of sulfur contents, the crude oil is called Sweet crude or Sour crude. (1) Sweet Crude: The crude oil having a total sulfur level less than 0.5% is called Sweet crude. Sweet crude oil contains small amount of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. (2) Sour Crude: The sour crude contains a sulfur level greater than 0.5%. Processing sour crude is usually expensive due to the additional process of removing the sulfur.
The word petroleum is made up of the Latin words petr and oleum. Petr means rock and oleum means oil. Petroleum means "rock oil" or (b) Category by API Gravity "oil from the earth. The oil is called so because it is Depending on the API gravity (1), the crude oil is extracted from the rocks beneath the Earth, where it is formed from the evolution of accumulated categorized as Heavy, Light and Medium crude. fossils, over thousands of years. The oil reserve is (1) Heavy Crude: Heavy crude oil or Extra Heavy explored in the Earth and extracted from the Crude oil is any type of crude oil which does not economically recoverable reserves. The extraction flow easily. It is called heavy because its density process varies according to its location and Mohammed Samad obtained B.Sc. in Electrical formation in the Earth. and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh This article provides a brief overview of various resources of petroleum oil including the types of crude oil, and current worldwide reserves, petroleum oil facilities and petroleum industries.
University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1986 and M.Sc. in Information Systems from Athabasca University (Canada) in 2008. He is a licensed professional engineer, P.E in Texas (USA) and P.Eng in Ontario (Canada). He is also a licensed project management professional (PMP). He worked many years in Petroleum Refinery and EPC Company for projects of oil production facilities. He has expertise in various fields of electrical engineering, instrument engineering, petroleum engineering, information technology and project management. At present, he is working as a Senior Electrical Engineer (Team Lead) in AMEC Oil and Gas, Houston and engaged in a brown-field project of large size offshore oil production facilities. Email address: samad.buet@gmail.com
1. Crude Oil
The stabilized liquid form of the oil extracted (or converted) from the reserve is called crude oil which is a complex mixture of various hydrocarbon products. Crude oil is
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or specific gravity is higher than that of light crude oil. The API gravity of Heavy crude oil is lower than 22 degree. (2) Light Crude: Light crude oil is liquid petroleum that has a low density and flows freely at room temperature. It has a low viscosity, low specific gravity and high API gravity (greater than 31 degree). It generally has low wax content. Light crude oil produces higher percentage of gasoline and diesel fuel when converted into products by an oil refinery. (3) Medium Crude: It is the crude oil which falls in between Heavy and Light Crude oil. The API gravity of medium crude oil is less than 31 degree and greater than 22 degree. Both of the above categories are used to characterize the Crude Oil, such as Light Sweet crude, Heavy Sour crude, Medium Sweet crude etc. (c) Category by Trading Brand Crude oil is classified by the trading brand when traded in the oil market. Each trading brand of crude is characterized by the specific properties. Crude oil produced from reservoirs of different geographical locations has different characteristics. So, the trading brand of the crude is generally named for a specific area of its production. Some of the major benchmark trading brands of crude are: (1) Brent Crude: Brent Crude is sourced from the North Sea. Originally Brent Crude was produced from the Brent oil field. Brent is suitable for production of gasoline and middle distillates. It is typically refined in Northwest Europe. Brent Crude has an API gravity of around 38.06 degree and a specific gravity of around 0.835. (2) WTI (West Texas Intermediate): It is also known as Texas Light crude. WTI is used as a benchmark of oil pricing. For WTI crude, the API gravity is around 39.6 degree, specific gravity is about 0.827 and the sulfur content is about 0.24%. (3) ORB (OPEC Reference Basket or OPEC Basket): This is the common brand name for the crude produced and used as a price reference by OPEC countries. It consists of many other brands such as Saharan Blend (Algeria), Iran Heavy, Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export, Es
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Sider (Libya), Qatar Marine, Arab Light, Murban (UAE) and BCF 17 (Venezuela). The OPEC Basket, which is a mix of light and heavy crudes, is heavier than both Brent crude oil and West Texas Intermediate crude oil. (4) Dubai Crude: It is a light sour crude oil extracted from Dubai. Dubai Crude is used as a price benchmark or oil marker because it is one of the few Persian Gulf crude oils available immediately. Dubai Crude is light oil. It has an API gravity of 31 degree (sp. gr. of 0.871) and a sulfur content of 2%. However, Brent and WTI are the major benchmark trading crudes and others follow these two brands by either adding premium or discount. (d) Category by Source and Recovery Method Crude oil is also categorized as Conventional and Unconventional according to the recovery methods and techniques from its reservoir or from the materials containing it. (1) Conventional crude oil: Conventional crude oil is that which is recoverable from the reservoir through production well using standard production methods and techniques which include Crude flows to the surface under the pressure of the reservoir or Crude flows to the surface with certain pressure applied to the reservoir, Crude flows to the surface with artificial lift method and technique such as submersible pumps, over-ground pump-jack etc. Conventional crude oil exists in the liquid phase under normal surface temperature and pressure. It also has the ability to flow through the rock within the reservoir. (2) Unconventional crude oil: Unconventional crude oil is produced or extracted using the methods and techniques other than the conventional methods. The unconventional crude is generally heavy oil, extra heavy oil or bitumen. Unconventional oil production is less efficient, more expensive and has more environmental impacts than conventional oil production. The examples of unconventional oil
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are oil-sands, shale oil, CTL (Coal-to-Liquid), GTL (Gas-to-Liquid) etc. (e) Synthetic crude oil (SCO) There is another sort of crude called synthetic crude oil (SCO). Synthetic crude oil is not the directly extracted crude from the reservoir; it is the crude which is produced by a chemical conversion process from products of the unconventional sources of oil.
reservoir. Onshore oil reservoirs are located in land surface, whereas offshore oil reservoirs are located in seafloor underneath the sea water. (a) Onshore Onshore (land based) conventional oil is the most economical type of oil reserves. Most of the world's largest onshore oilfields are located in the Middle East (Figure 1), but there are also large oilfields located in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Kazakhstan and Russia. The large onshore oil fields are Ghawar (1) (Saudi Arabia), Khurais (Saudi Arabia), Shaybah (Saudi Arabia), Burgan (Kuwait), Dukhan (Qatar), Kirkuk (Iraq), Rumaila (Iraq), Ferdous (Iran), Azadegan (Iran), Esfandiar (Iran), Sugar Loaf (Brazil), Cantarell (Mexico), Bolivar Coastal (Venezuela), Tengiz (Kazakhstan), Kasaghan (Kazakhstan) etc.
2. Conventional Oil Resource

The oil of conventional reserve remains in liquid form with the mixture of water and gas within the reservoir and it is economically recoverable with relatively simple techniques. The resources of conventional oil are broadly classified as Onshore and Offshore, based on the location of the
Figure 1: Oil fields (including Ghawar, Khurais and Dukhan field) near Arabian Gulf. (Courtesy: Greg Croft Inc, website, www.gregcroft.com/area1indexmap.ivnu)
(b) Offshore Offshore crude oil production started in the 1940s and has grown from 1 million barrels a day (mb/d) in the 1960s to nearly 25 mb/d in 2005. At this time, the offshore oil production is almost half
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of onshore production worldwide. It has been the main source of growth for world oil production as the onshore oil production has remained almost flat for the last few decades. Offshore oil production is more challenging than onshore due to the remote and harsher environment. However,
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the technology for offshore oil production facilities is improving and it is now feasible to extract oil from shallow and deep water. Currently, there are several types of offshore production facilities (rigs) in production and they are Fixed Platform, Compliant Tower, Spar, TLP (Tension Leg Platform), Semi-Submergible, FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading), as
well as the Subsea Processing system. Most of the existing offshore oil production facilities are shown in Figure 2 (the fixed platform and compliant tower which are used for shallow water are not shown). The major offshore oil production areas are the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), West Africa, North Sea, Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil and Canada (Newfoundland).
Figure 2: Worldwide Offshore Oil Production facilities (Courtesy: Mustang, OTC - 2010, Houston, USA).
3. Unconventional Oil Resource The unconventional resources are those other than the conventional resources and the oil is extracted from the sources, applying relatively complex processes. The major resources of unconventional oil are oil-sands, oil shale, CTL (Coal-to-Liquid), GTL (Gas-to-Liquid), BTL (Biomassto-Liquid) etc. (a) Oil Sands One of the major unconventional oil sources is 'Oil Sands'. Oil sands are a combination of sand, bitumen, mineral rich clays and water. The exact proportions of these constituents vary from deposit to deposit. They are found in large amounts in many countries throughout the world
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such as Canada, Venezuela, USA and Russia. However, the largest deposits are in Canada and Venezuela. The product extracted from the oil sands is heavy and it is primarily the bitumen which is either upgraded to the synthetic crude oil (SCO) or diluted with lighter oil products to make it transferable to downstream through the pipeline. In Canada, the bulk oil sands reserves are located in the north-east part of the province Alberta (Figure 2). The oil sands in northern Alberta constitute of the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the world. It is estimated that the total amount of bitumen is over 1.6 trillion barrels. There are three major deposits in Alberta (1) Cold Lake, (2) Athabasca (Fort McMurray area) and (3) Peace River. Alberta oil sands are approximately 75%-80%
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inorganic materials (sand, clay and minerals), 3%5% water with bitumen content ranging from 10% to about 18%. The key characteristic of Alberta oil
sands is that the bitumen is encapsulated by water molecules and this makes them economically recoverable.
Figure 3: Alberta Oil Sands (Source: Wikipedia website en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_oil_sands)
There are two primary methods used for extracting the oil from the oil sands: Surface Mining and In-Situ. In surface mining, the oil sands are collected from the earth surface and processed for extracting oil from the sands. In the In-Situ method, the oil is extracted directly from sands while the sands remain in their original location beneath the earth. There are various techniques applied for InSitu methods such as Cold Flow, SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage), CSS (Cyclic Steam Stimulation), VAPEX (Vapor Extraction Process), THAI (Toe to Heel Air Injection) etc. (b) Shale Oil 'Oil shale' is an inorganic rock (Figure 4) that contains a solid organic bituminous compound
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known as Kerogen. When the oil shale is heated, petroleum-like liquids are released and it is converted into synthetic crude through chemical process of Pyrolysis. This crude is called 'Shale oil'. Extracting oil from oil shale is more complex and expensive than conventional oil recovery. The oil substances in oil shale are solid and cannot be pumped directly out of the ground. The oil shale is first mined and then heated to a high temperature to produce liquids. This method is called retorting. An alternative in-situ method is currently under experiment. There are almost 600 known oil shale deposits around the world, of which many require more exploration to determine their potential reserves.
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However, worldwide technically recoverable reserves have recently been estimated at about 2.8 to 3.3 trillion barrels of shale oil, with the largest reserves in the United States (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming). Another major oil shale deposit in the US is the Bakken shale that starts from Saskatchewan (Canada) and ends in North Dakota (US). Other major deposits exist in Brazil, Australia,
Sweden, Estonia, Jordan, France, Germany, China, and Russia. The production of shale oil progress in China, Estonia, Morocco and Jordan, while few under experiment for the technique in the US. is significantly in Brazil, Australia, pilot projects are in-situ recovery
Figure 4: Oil Shale (Source: Programmatic EIS website: ostseis.anl.gov/guide/photos/index.cfm)
(c) CTL (Coal-to-Liquid) Converting coal to liquid (CTL) fuel allows coal to be utilized as an alternative to fuel oil. There are two different methods of converting coal into liquid fuels: (1) Direct Liquefaction: It works by breaking coal down in a solvent at high temperature and pressure. This process is efficient, but the liquid products require further refining to achieve high grade fuel characteristics. (2) Indirect Liquefaction: It involves first gasifying the coal into synthesis gas or syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and then converting the syngas to synthetic fuels (Figure 5). Using modern technology, indirect liquefaction produces environmentally compatible high quality and clean products. Conversion ratios for CTL are generally estimated to be between 1 to 2 barrels/ton of coal. The ratio is affected by different properties of the coal feedstock.
South Africa has been producing CTL fuels commercially since 1955 and almost 30% of the countrys gasoline and diesel needs are produced from coal. CTL is being developed for industrial scale production in China and by other major industrial countries. The worlds biggest reserves of coal are (in billion tones or giga-tones) in the United States (242.6, 29%), Russia (157, 18%), China (114.5, 13%), Australia (76.5, 9%), India (56.6, 7%), South Africa (48, 6%). (d) GTL (Gas-to-Liquid) Gas to liquids (GTL) is the process to convert natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into liquid fuel such as gasoline or diesel using direct conversion or via syngas as an intermediate product with either the Fischer Tropsch or Mobil processes (Figure 5).
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Figure 5: CTL/GTL/BTL Conversion (Source: Wikipedia website en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_fuel)
The commercial GTL production (14,700 barrels per day) started in Bintulu GTL plant in Malaysia in 1993. The recent development for GTL is the Pearl GTL project in Qatar. The production from the first Pearl GTL train was started in June 2011. Full production from the plant is expected by the middle of 2012. The plant is designed for a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day of synthetic fuels and other products, using natural gas as a feedstock. (e) BTL (Biomass-to-Liquid) BTL is not a petroleum product; it is rather an alternative source of petroleum oil. Biomass is the biological material derived from wood, waste, forest residues, yard clippings, wood chips, municipal and animal waste, crops like corn and sugar cane etc. BTL is the synthetic liquid fuels obtained from biomass through a thermo chemical process (Figure 5). It is a multi-step process to produce liquid fuels from biomass. The objective of BTL is to produce fuel components that are similar to the fossil-derived gasoline and diesel fuels. There are primarily three types of liquid fuels produced from biomass: Biodiesel, Bioethanol and Biobutanol. (3) Biodiesel: It is made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles.
Biodiesel is the most common biofuel in Europe. (4) Bioethanol: Bioethanol is the alcohol made by fermenting sugar components of plant materials and it is made mostly from sugar and starch crops. Ethanol is usually used as a gasoline additive to increase octane number and improve vehicle emissions. Bioethanol is commonly used in the USA and in Brazil. (5) Biobutanol: It is a four-carbon alcohol derived from the fermentation of biomass. It has been demonstrated to work, without modifications, for vehicles designed to run on gasoline without modification and it is used as a fuel in an internal combustion engine. Because of its certain advantages over other biofuels, it is considered to be the primary biofuel for the next generation. The global biofuels market consists of approximately 85% bioethanol and 15% biodiesel. Bioethanol is produced and consumed mainly in Brazil and North America. On the other hand, Europe is the world leader in biodiesel production and this fuel represents about three-fourth of the European biofuels market. 4. Proven Oil Reserves and Daily Production (a) Proven Oil Reserves Proven reserves of oil are those reserves which are claimed to have at least 90% certainty of being recoverable using existing technology under existing economic, environmental and political
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conditions. It is also called P90 (because of 90% certainty of being produced) or 1P. According to the OPEC Statistical Bulletin 2010/2011 Edition (3), the total worldwide proven oil reserve is 1,637 billion barrels (Bb) including Canadian oil sands of 170 Bb. The reserve of the
Venezuela Saudi Arabia (4) Canada Iran Iraq Kuwait UAE Russia Libya 297 Bb 265 Bb 175 Bb 151 Bb 143 Bb 101 Bb 98 Bb 79 Bb 47 Bb Kazakhstan Nigeria Qatar USA China Algeria Mexico Algeria Angola
OPEC countries is almost 80% of the worldwide reserves. The major oil reserve countries (having larger than 5 Bb reserve in 2010) with the reserve quantities (rounded to nearest Bb) are:
40 Bb 37 Bb 25 Bb 19 Bb 18 Bb 12 Bb 12 Bb 12 Bb 10 Bb
Brazil Norway Equador Azerbaijan Sudan India Malaysia Oman Vietnam
9 Bb 7 Bb 7 Bb 7 Bb 7 Bb 6 Bb 6 Bb 6 Bb 5 Bb
(b) Daily Average Crude Oil Production Total worldwide daily average crude oil production in 2010 was 69.7 million barrel per day (Mb/d), along with the total refining capacity of 88.7 Mb/d and total consumption of the petroleum products was 80.3 Mb/d according to the OPEC Statistical Bulletin 2010/2011 Edition (3). The
Russia Saudi Arabia USA China Iran Venezuela Canada Mexico 9.8 Mb/d 8.2 Mb/d 5.5 Mb/d 4.0 Mb/d 3.5 Mb/d 2.9 Mb/d 2.7 Mb/d 2.6 Mb/d Iraq Kuwait UAE Brazil Nigeria Norway Angola Libya
production of the OPEC countries is 42% of the worldwide daily production. The countries (having daily average production greater than or nearest to 1 Mb/d) with daily production quantities (rounded to nearest tenth of Mb/d) are:
2.4 Mb/d 2.3 Mb/d 2.3 Mb/d 2.1 Mb/d 2.0 Mb/d 1.8 Mb/d 1.7 Mb/d 1.5 Mb/d
Kazakhstan UK Algeria Azerbaijan Indonesia Colombia
1.3 Mb/d 1.2 Mb/d 1.2 Mb/d 1.0 Mb/d 0.8 Mb/d 0.8 Mb/d
With the worldwide proven reserves and rate of production in 2010, existing proven oil reserves are sufficient to last for more than 60 years. The worldwide demand for oil is rising but it is expected to explore more reserve of oil in future. 5. Petroleum Facilities and Industries (a) Petroleum Facilities The petroleum facilities consist of the exploration, drilling, testing, field development, production, transportation, refining and
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distribution of the final products to the consumers. From starting an exploration, to discovery, drilling, testing, development, production and the delivery of crude oil from a new field, the entire process may take 3 to 10 years, depending on the complexity and volume of the reservoir. The offshore oil production generally takes longer than onshore. The unconventional production also takes longer time due to the complexity of the extraction process. The petroleum production facilities are divided into three major categories: Upstream, Midstream and Downstream.
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(1)
Upstream: The upstream category includes the operations involved in searching for underground or underwater oil fields and drilling exploratory wells, developing production facilities and operating the wells and produced crude oil. This category is also called 'Exploration and Production'. Midstream: The midstream category processes and stores, markets and transports crude oil. This category is often included as an extension of either the upstream or downstream sector, depending on the source. Downstream: The downstream category includes refining crude to producing petroleum products, including other petrochemical plants and petroleum product distribution system.
(2)
(3)
(2) EPC (or EPCM) Company: The EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) companies work as consultants or contractors for the Exploration and Operation companies in projects of new development (green-field project) or major modification (brown-field project). EPC companies design the system, procure the materials and construct the facilities for the project undertaken by the exploration and operation companies. Some of the EPC companies for the oil industries are Worley Parsons, KBR, AMEC, Aker Solutions, SNC-Lavalin, Bechtel, Jacob, Fluor, Technip, Mustang, Foster Wheeler, Kellogg, Halliburton, Samsung, Chiyoda, Toyo Engineering, Hyundai, Transocean etc. (3) Manufacturing Company: The manufacturing companies are involved in manufacturing, marketing and distributing various equipment and accessories related to the oil production facilities, storage and distribution system. Since the equipment and accessories used in the oil industries are unique in terms of the safety and criticality of the system, the manufacturing industry manufactures the unique specialized products for oil industries. The manufacturing companies are ABB, GE Oil and Gas, FMC, Oceaneering, Baker Hughes, Cameron, National Oilwell Varco, Schlumberger, Weatherford, Reliance Motors, Flowserve, MODEC, Siemens Oil and Gas etc. However, there is no distinctive difference between the functions of industries of one category to others. In many cases, the functions of a company of one category extend to the area of other category company, for example, a manufacturing company may provide EPC functions. Conclusion The production of petroleum oil is a complicated and complex process from its exploration to the distribution of final products. It is complicated because of various reasons including harsh location, high pressure, high temperature, large throughput and fire hazards related to facilities. The engineers working or intended to be working in the petroleum industries require specific
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(b) Petroleum Industries There are many industries that are dealing with different parts of the petroleum production systems. Considering the area of functions, the oil industries are broadly categorized as Exploration and Operation, EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) or EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) and Manufacturing. (1) Exploration and Operation Company: The exploration and operation companies are those that directly or indirectly own, maintain and operate the oil production facilities including the reservoir, rigs, pipelines, refineries, and storage and distribution system. These companies also perform oil exploration, drilling and testing to check the existence of oil reserves. Some of the companies under this category are state-owned or NOC (National Oil Company), while some are IOC (International Oil Company). The major exploration and operation companies are Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Shell, Qatar Petroleum, KOC (Kuwait Oil Company), ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company), BP (British Petroleum), ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Occidental, Anadarco, Suncor, Syncrude, Petrobras, Total, Statoil, PetroChina, Petronas etc.
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qualification and expertise including a good knowledge of the various resources of oil, its reserves and the types of the industries involved. This article provides such a brief overview of petroleum oil resources for engineers and other professionals planning to build a successful career in these industries.
Notes: (1) API Gravity: It is defined by the following formula: API gravity in degree = 141.5 / (Specific Gravity at 60 degree F) 131.5 The API gravity of crude whose SG is same as water at 60 degree F is 10. (2) Ghawar field details, retrieved from http://www.gregcroft.com/ghawar.ivnu (3) OPEC Statistical Bulletin 2010/2011 Edition, retrieved from http://www.opec.org/opec_web/static_files_pr oject/media/downloads/publications/ASB2010 _2011.pdf (4) Quantity of Canada includes 170 Bb oil sands reserve.
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ENERGY RESEARCH NOTES
Managing Distributed Electricity Generation Sources in a Decentralized Architecture

MD SALMAN NAZIR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University. Montreal, Quebec, Canada Email addresses: md.nazir@mail.mcgill.ca
Received 04 November 2011; received in revised form 28 February 2012; online published 27 June 2012
generation units. By understanding and properly addressing the technical and economic challenges, it will be possible for the system operators to ensure optimal planning for expansion of generation, transmission and distribution facilities, ensure secure reliable supply of electricity while securing the interest of the end user. Due to fast growth in active distribution networks, power systems need to adjust operating under decentralized control architecture rather than centralized control architecture [1]. In this paper, the possible roles of intelligent forecasting tools and agent-based control are highlighted to manage the future power systems. II. Characteristics of DG Sources
Abstract Large scale integration of distributed generation (DG) sources require significant restructuring in operations and planning of electric power. While a more decentralized architecture is envisioned, operators may need to overcome several technical and economic challenges to adapt to such paradigm shift. This paper highlights some of those key challenges and discusses the importance of efficient forecasting and agent based modeling in managing DGs in a decentralized architecture. Keywords Distributed generation, renewable, decentralized, agent-based control, forecasting I. Introduction The electricity industry is going through a massive restructuring years with significant interest and technological advancements in distributed generation (DG) sources, such as small to medium scale solar photovoltaic, wind, micro-hydro, fuel cells, etc. The innovations in these technologies and industry adoption are mainly driven by environmental concerns [1, 2]. However, in an electricity system that up to now has been very centralized, the economic as well as technical challenge will be to optimally integrate the increasing number of decentralized small
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Chambers [3] defines DGs as relatively small generation units of 30MW or less, while Ackermann et al. [4] define DGs in terms of connection and location rather than in terms of generation capacities. They define DG sources as electric power generation units connected directly to the distribution network or on the customer sides of the meters. Residential or industrial customers, distribution network operators or even traditional power generation companies can own DG units. Table 1 lists the different DG technologies and indicates their respective characteristics. Many DG sources use cheap fuel (or free in case of wind and solar) and some can act in cogeneration mode (cogeneration of heat and electricity). Depending on the type of fuel used and its impact on the environment, many of the DG sources (wind, solar, hydro, biomass-fuelled plants, etc.) are considered as renewable sources. The
Md Salman Nazir is a Research Assistant at the Power Engineering Research Laboratory at McGill University, Canada. He received his B.Eng (Hon.) degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University in February, 2011 and is currently pursuing an M.Eng degree from the same institution. A Student Member of IEEE, Salman`s research interests include operations and planning of power systems and electricity markets.
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growth of such distributed sources can ensure larger portion of renewable energy in the overall generation mix. However, sources such as wind and solar are highly weather driven and thus the control is more challenging. Table I: Characteristics of distributed generation sources [1]. Stand by Cogeneration Weather Capability driven Reciprocating Yes Yes No engines Gas turbines Yes Yes No Micro turbines Yes Yes No Fuel Cells Yes Yes No Photovoltaic No Yes Yes Wind No No Yes III. Benefits and Issues Related to Distributed Generation A. Benefits
Since power systems traditionally operate in centralized mode, the new shift to distributed sources leads to some complications. There have been major concerns related to uncertainty in forecasting weather-driven natural sources such as wind and solar. For example, wind power outputs are highly variable and often experience large positive or negative ramps, i.e. output fluctuations [6]. Forecasting these ramps and allocating back up resources to cover such ramp events in an economic and reliable manner is a challenging task. In the case of high wind velocity, the wind farms need to curtail wind, i.e. spill wind by changing turbine blade angles, since the system operators may not be able to fully compensate for rapid ramp ups or downs of wind due to technical or economic reasons. However, since it is intuitive not to waste such free energy, development of highly efficient forecasting tools are enforced. Similarly, solar outputs can fluctuate sharply and hence proper forecasting tools for optimal storage sizing is essential.
Environmentally friendly and lower emission of Moreover, large scale deployment of carbon-dioxide and other toxic gases, these are the decentralized sources of electricity may lead to main factors driving the growth of renewable instability of the voltage profiles since bidirectional distributed sources. Regulatory bodies and power flows and complicated reactive power flows policymakers of many countries have put favorable may arise [1]. When connecting DG to grid, policies in place to promote the growth of such operators need to ensure voltage stability and clean energy. Secondly, since many DG sources reliability which requires careful and detailed (except wind farms) can be located close to the studies. loads, thus transmission losses are greatly minimized and the need for investing in expensive transmission lines is reduced. According to IV. Overcoming Challenges International Energy Agency (IEA) [5], on-site A. Forecasting Tools production could lead to cost savings in transmission and distribution of about 30% of Since the weather driven renewable sources of electricity cost. Thirdly, IEA [5] recognizes the electricity introduce uncertainty in the model, importance of DG in providing reliability services these uncertainties must be characterized for the power systems. Moreover, in countries that efficiently and the controllable part of the operate under deregulated electricity markets, DG generation sources must be flexible enough to sources can serve as a hedge against price mitigate the risk associated with uncertainty and fluctuations since customers also have a flexible variability of the renewable sources [7]. Advanced mechanism to respond to market conditions rather probabilistic forecasting tools can contribute than simply being the price taker. greatly by efficiently modeling the characteristics of such renewable sources. Large collection of data B. Issues from various sources (meteorological sites, wind Besides the typical high financial cost during firms, solar plants etc) with high degree of initial installment, there are additional challenges resolution (minutes/ seconds) is required to build that hinder the rapid integration of renewable DG. efficient forecasting tools.
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Moreover, machine learning algorithms and Kalman filtering techniques can be very useful in learning the dynamic characteristics of variable sources and predicting the future states of the network. System operators can benefit from such tools in predicting the level of backup resources that need to be allocated to ensure power systems can operate reliably even during large ramp events in weather-driven sources. B. Decentralized Agent-based Control In a decentralized architecture, the role of communication systems and automation is crucial. From customer household/industrial appliances to DG sources including the traditional large power plants, everything can be thought of as agents. Efficient coordination among all these agents is the key to ensure a functional and reliable power system.
suppliers and customers act as self-interest maximizing entities, while an operator agent can act to make sure the technical constraints and the local policies are always met during negotiations. Efficient coordination among the agents is realized through a market mechanism that incentivizes the agents to reveal their policies truthfully to the market [11], thus establishing a functional agentbased reliable power system. The dynamic behavior of the agents and the overall system can be better characterized over time with availability of data. V. Conclusions With the trend leading towards renewable, decentralized, and highly fluctuating distributed generation sources, there is a tremendous challenge regarding the stability of future power grids. Hence, agent-based decentralized control and advanced forecasting tools can add great value in realizing large scale integration of distributed resources in electric power systems.
Distributed artificial intelligence concepts can be implemented to model an efficient agent-based system [8]. In the agent-based systems, various layers of information, such as the technical conditions (voltage levels in the local network, frequency, outage information etc) and the market conditions (price, spikes, etc.), need to be VI. Acknowledgements monitored and communicated with other agents The author likes to acknowledge Professor so that agents can negotiate and coordinate. Franois Bouffard, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Control algorithms dictate the actions of the Engineering, McGill University. agents while respecting all the technical constraints of individual agents and of the network. VII. References Agent-based models are already being used in applications in the area of electric wholesale markets, health care, transportation, etc [9]. These frameworks can be extended to model agentbased operations of power systems. The utility service area can be represented by a sample of utility customers. In the agent-based model, the customers are characterized by end-use equipment holdings, end-use electricity use and hourly loads, demographic and other variables [10], while the generating units can be characterized by their size, operations, flexibility, generation patterns etc. In a highly flexible market platform, the actions of agents should be supported by economic justifications. The agents representing power
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1. G. Pepermans et al., 2005, Distributed generation: definition, benefits and issues/ Energy Policy, 33, 787798. 2. Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), Paris, 2009. 3. Chambers, A., 2001. Distributed generation: a non-technical guide. PennWell, Tulsa, OK, p. 283. 4. Ackermann, T., Andersson, G., Soder, L., 2001. Distributed generation: a definition. Electric Power Systems Research 57, 195204. 5. IEA, 2002. Distributed Generation in Liberalised Electricity Markets, Paris, p. 128.
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6. Erik Ela and J. Kemper, 2009. Wind Plant Ramping Behavior. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA. 7. F. Bouffard and M. Ortega-Vazquez, 2011. The value of operational flexibility in power systems with significant wind power generation. IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting. 8. T. Sandholm. Distributed rational decision making. In G. Weiss, editor, Multiagent Systems: A Modern Approach to Distributed Artificial Intelligence. MIT Press, 2000. 9. Tesfatsion, L.S., Judd, K.L., 2006. Handbook of computational economics. Agent- Based
Computational Economics, 2. Elsevier/NorthHolland (Handbooks in Economics Series). 10. J. Jackson, Improving energy efficiency and smart grid program analysis with agent-based end-use forecasting models, Energy Policy, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 37713780, 2010. 11. S. Lamparter, S. Becher, and J.-G. Fischer, An agent-based market platform for Smart Grids, in Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems: Industry track, Richland, SC, 2010, pp. 16891696.
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TALK TO THE EXPERT
Of Persona, Substance and Vision: Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed

FAUZIA SULTANA Email: Fauzia_j27@hotmail.com
Fauzia Sultana graduated from the Dept. of Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2011. Currently, she is working at ChE Thoughts as an Assistant Editor and at The Daily Star (Bangladesh) as a Reporter. Email: fauzia_j27@hotmail.com
The society is an institution that fosters humanity. For centuries, it is the society where leaders, philosophers, educators, visionaries and so many others are nurtured. Down the new roads and alleyways of the society, men took their first steps, where they were armed with nothing but their own vision. Had the visionaries not existed, the moon would still be the unreachable silver ball and the computer, a magic box. Nor are they only significant, their contributions make a difference in peoples lives. One such visionary is Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed (NA). Why a visionary? Because every rung that he has climbed up the ladder in life, be it as an academician or the ex- Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), he has climbed it with a vision and had had a hand in benefitting the lives of others. Born in Barisal, Bangladesh, Dr. Ahmed graduated in 1961 from Ahsanullah Engineering College (now BUET), which was the only engineering college in the then East Pakistan. Chemical Engineering, not a popular choice among the freshmen students then, was what Dr. Ahmed opted for during his university years. ChE Thoughts: You come from a time when Chemical Engineering was not a popular choice of discipline among the students in the then East Pakistan. What influenced your choice of this field? NA: Choosing Chemical Engineering was a bold decision for me. I thought it was alright to be different from the other students who chose the mainstream Civil, Electrical or
Mechanical Engineering, which were popular choices back then. Another reason behind my choice could be that my elder brother was studying Electrical Engineering in the same college, and I did not quite like the civil and mechanical courses. Probably it was at the back of my mind to be different from my brother. After the completion of his degree, Dr. Ahmed was awarded a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship in 1962 to study at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Although he would be living continents away from home, Dr. Ahmed did not want to give up the opportunity of studying there for this thought. At the University of Saskatchewan, he researched in the field of corrosion and completed his M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and consequently his PhD. He was then offered a post-doctoral fellowship, where Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed got the opportunity to perform research on a wide range of projects. ChE Thoughts: NASA IMRC and Professor N.D Greene, you had a rather glamorous postdoctoral fellowship.
NA: I was offered a post-doctoral fellowship at NASA Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center (NASA IMRC) at the well-known technological university- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, New York. At RPI, I worked for Professor N.D. Greene, co-author of the book Throughout his years in BUET, Corrosion Engineering by Dr. Ahmed did not limit himself to Fontana & Greene. just classrooms and courses; On his return from the rather he was always engaged in United States in the year 1969, pursuing new ventures. Dr. Ahmed did not consider
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joining any of the local industries in Bangladesh. He thought he was a misfit for the industry, shared Dr. Ahmed. On the other hand, he was attracted to teaching and also had the knack for it; so when he was offered to join the Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET (the then East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology, EPUET)
by Professor M.A. Naser, ex-Head of the Department, without further ado Nooruddin Ahmed joined the fraternity as Assistant Professor. He later became a Professor in 1976. During 1974 75, he was a Visiting Fellow at UMIST, University of Manchester, on a Nuffield Foundation Award.
Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed, the ex- Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), a leader, a philosopher and an educator. Throughout his years in BUET, Dr. Ahmed did not limit himself to just classrooms and courses; rather he was always engaged in pursuing new ventures. The library in the Department of Chemical Engineering is one such venture. During the morning of his career, Dr. Ahmed established the open shelf library in the department, which was the first departmental library in BUET. The library, which is open to the departmental students and faculties, surely plays an integral role amidst all the hustle and bustle of the university life. Dr. Ahmed and other senior teachers donated their personal books for the library; his friends, exstudents and the Asia Foundation also contributed to the librarys foundation. What stands this visionary academician apart is that he did not only work for the welfare of the students, but also thought of the people around him. In order to provide financial aid to all employees of BUET during times of severe crises, Dr. Ahmed
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established the BUET Welfare Trust Fund. One of a kind, this medical insurance pays for the medical treatments of all teachers, officers and the other employees for a nominal monthly contribution. ChE Thoughts: Throughout your academic career, you havent confined yourself to students only; instead you tried to help and better the lives of all those associated to BUET. Was this philosophy the foundation of the BUET Welfare Trust Fund? NA: I tried my best to help everyone in the BUET family and the BUET Welfare Trust Fund was one of the ways of doing so. I believe, happy employees are good employees and I wanted all in the BUET family to have peace of mind so that they could devote all their energy and concentration to BUET. The BUET Welfare Trust Fund was created with a seed money of Taka ten million from the BUET reserve fund with small monthly contributions from teachers, officers and the other employees. The
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fund was created as a sort of health insurance for all BUET personnel. The scheme became highly popular. Many employees, who were hard up, could get expensive surgeries done and also obtain other financial help from this fund. The compassionate teacher did not only insure the lives of the employees; besides looking after their health and well-being, Dr. Ahmed also ensured that the employees children received their share of welfare. Dr. Ahmed was the Cofounder of the Engineering University School, BUET. He along with faculties from other departments established the school which provided education to the children of all the BUET employees. For nine long years, Dr. Ahmed remained the Chairman of the Managing Committee of the school. Besides teaching and performing administrative activities in BUET, Dr. Ahmed involved himself in initiating the publication of the first research journal of BUET: Chemical Engineering Research Bulletin (CERB). In his later years, he became interested in environment and introduced courses on Environment, Water and Air Pollution in the department. Soon he was recognized as one of the leading experts in the field of Air Pollution and its abatement. He contributed to the banning of Two Stroke 3-wheelers from Dhaka and the banning of lead in petrol. In recognition of his contribution in this field, he was appointed a Consultant and Coordinator by Asian Development Bank regarding Air pollution in Bangladesh. He also made himself known as one of the leading Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) experts in the country; he was elected president of the National EIA Association of Bangladesh (NEAB). One can say, undoubtedly, that Dr. Ahmed has earned recognition and respect in his career. But the achievement that Dr. Ahmed considers his biggest honor was when he was appointed the Vice- Chancellor (VC) of BUET. According to Dr. Ahmed, this honor is unparallel to any other, as the position of the BUET VC is a distinguished one. ChE Thoughts: For a term, you served as the VC of BUET. During your tenure, you brought many significant changes within the institution, some of which you were even ridiculed for. Could you
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name the one change that you think made your Vice Chancellorship worthwhile? NA: I served BUET as Vice Chancellor for one term (1998-2002). During my term, I tried my best to foster research activities in the departments and uphold academic excellence. I tried to finance new laboratories from BUETs own reserve fund. Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) was getting very popular among the students at that time. I persuaded the CSE Dept. to increase its intake, from 60 to 120 students. Simultaneously, CSE Dept. received three new laboratories granted from the BUET reserve fund. To avoid disruption of lab classes due to power failure, a 2 MW gas engine power generator was established using money from BUETs reserve fund. At that time, many in the BUET family ridiculed my proposition and thought it was not right to set up the power plant with such a huge cost. Now everyone is so happy and satisfied that people retiring from BUET feel doubly sad as they will have to face load shedding no matter where they live outside BUET campus. So BUET is the only educational institution in the country with its own power plant. On the night when cyclone Aila hit the nation, BUET was the only place in the country with lights on, at least for quite some time. Founder -Director of the Institute of Appropriate Technology (IAT) in BUET, Dr. Ahmed conducted projects of the Commonwealth Science Council and the World Bank in the energy sector. As such the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) made him Chairman of the National Committee for Natural Gas Reserves and Potential in 2002. After the termination of his Vice-Chancellorship, he returned to teaching. In 2008, the GOB appointed Dr. Ahmed the first Chairman of Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB), Ministry of Industries, GOB. The same year, Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) appointed him a UGC Professor (2008-11). ChE Thoughts: A UGC Professor? NA: After my retirement from BUET in 2006, I went to USA to live with my family. During my stay there, I learnt that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had offered me one of the five UGC Professorships. This was an honor for me. I
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accepted the offer and decided universities in Bangladesh, I take great pride in the success of to work again in the Department including Shahjalal University many of my classroom students who of Chemical Engineering from of Science and Technology are now successful chemical November 2008. As UGC (SUST) and Chittagong Professor, I took both University of Engineering and engineers at home and abroad. undergraduate and graduate Technology (CUET), besides courses at the Department of Chemical BUET. Recently, we published the Second Edition of Engineering, BUET. the book. We all know the saying actions speak louder than words. But in case of Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed, both the actions and the words are loud and resonating. Molded into a text book, the words of this leading expert and consultant in corrosion engineering in Bangladesh are now taught to the final year Chemical Engineering students as part of the course curriculum. ChE Thoughts: What drove you to authoring the book, Corrosion Engineering: An Introductory Text? NA: While teaching corrosion to the final year students, I noticed that most of the students had difficulties and felt uneasy with the text book that the department had been following. This is an excellent text book, and in many universities in the West, the text book is followed both in the undergraduate and graduate courses on corrosion. However, it is too voluminous for a one semester course. So I started to write up my lectures in simple English and distributed photocopies of my lecture notes to the students with the help of my colleague, Professor Emeritus Iqbal Mahmud. Within a short time we realized that the students were very happy to have the lecture notes and that they were getting better grades in the exams. Soon, after I resumed teaching as UGC Professor, Professor Mahmud and I decided to expand and revise the notes. Professor Mahmud volunteered to rewrite some of the chapters. We again distributed the revised version among the students, and finally we decided to get the book printed. To save time we decided to finance the publication ourselves. One of our ex-students, Kazi Bayzid Kabir (Assistant Professor, BUET) helped us with all the drawings and made the manuscript ready for the press. Now this book Corrosion Engineering: An Introductory Text, is followed in different engineering Dr. Ahmed retired from UGC Professorship after three years in November, 2011. Of late, he is conducting some research on air pollution due to diesel fuel. Certainly, Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed is a visionary, who has successfully managed to carry out his visions for decades, since the start of his career. Academic excellence, improvement of physical infrastructure and well-being of fellow teachers, officers and other employees of BUET have been the various facets of this academics endeavor. ChE Thoughts takes the privilege of celebrating the success and accomplishments of this visionary teacher. The interview comes to an end with the concluding question, to which Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed gave an answer that would certainly not corrode! ChE Thoughts: Who else is Nooruddin Ahmed besides the Author, Ex-VC, and the UGC Professor? NA: At the age of 70 plus I feel quite happy and I am grateful to Almighty for living a life full of activities. I have been with BUET since 1957 except for about seven and a half years that I lived abroad. I feel that I touched many hearts among colleagues, students and employees. I take great pride in the success of many of my classroom students who are now successful chemical engineers at home and abroad, some of whom are Professors of Chemical Engineering at well-known universities in UK and USA. I might be remembered by the BUET family as the Co-founder of the Engineering University School on BUET campus, Founder of the BUET Welfare Trust fund, the one ridiculed for setting up a 2 MW gas engine power plant, or simply the man whose real passion lies in teaching and does what he loves doing best.
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ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Nuclear Spent Fuel Disposal: Long Term Performance Challenges

KAZI MAHMUDA TASNEEM MIMMI Email: moushumy@yahoo.com
Kazi Mahmuda Tasneem Mimmi is a young engineer/researcher from Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has completed her BSc in Chemical Eng (2006) and MSc in Environmental Eng (2010) from BUET; she has completed her second Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2011) from Carnegie Mellon University. She worked as a Research Engineer on wastewater management issues. At present she is working as a researcher in the Department of Chemistry at Duquesne University. Email address: moushumy@yahoo.com
Received 30 January 2012; received in revised form 29 June 2012; online published 16 July 2012
Of the many issues that instigate the nuclear debate, none appears more unsettling and of so much concern to the public as the problem of nuclear waste management. Albeit, around 6% of the world's energy and 1314% of the world's electricity are provided by nuclear power plant [1]; nuclear power industries, in all over the world, are encountering challenges towards minimization of potential impact of radioactive waste disposal into the environment.
humankinds energy needs for decades at present consumption levels. However, for fissionbased nuclear power to contribute significantly to future energy supplies, it is pressing to ensure safe waste management. One such possibility for the management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is its permanent disposal in a deep geological repository. Nowadays, long term performance of geological storage, expected by considering immobilization of the waste product, is of great concern.
While energy is the The problem associated critical issue of the 21st century, with radioactive waste disposal it may be anticipated that one of essentially starts with the the most significant challenges in discussion of radioactivity: what this century will be ensuring that it is, how it is produced, why it is the energy supplies required to hazardous to health, and how raise the global standard of living dangerous it is. Radioactive will confront the threat of global waste is hazardous primarily due climate change and decreasing to its energetic nature. Unlike availability of clean fossil fuels. the chemical energy associating Although not a panacea, fission- with the burning of coal or oil, based nuclear power is playing a key role in meeting this The problem associated with challenge. Nuclear power on radioactive waste disposal essentially the fissioning of Uranium and starts with the discussion of Plutonium produces virtually radioactivity: what it is, how it is no greenhouse gas emissions produced, why it is hazardous to and sufficient nuclear fuel is health, and how dangerous it is. available to support
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nuclear power exploits the binding energy of atomic nucleus. In the heart of the nuclear reactor, splitting of atoms causes unstable energy balances among the fragments of split atoms. Radioactivity is a process by which energetic stability is restored. Excess energy is released in terms of radioactive emission or radiation, ejecting from spitted atomic nuclei. Penetrating characteristic of such emission makes it biologically hazardous. Unlike many chemical toxins that can be neutralized, the threats of radioactivity only disappear through natural decay, which may take hundreds, thousands, or even millions of years. The main nuclear reactor type in use in USA and throughout the world is the light water reactor (LWR). It is named so as it uses ordinary water formed from hydrogen (not deuterium, as in the heavy water reactor). The water is used as moderator, the substance composed of light elements with which neutrons collide and slow down. The water is also used as coolant that removes the fission heat.
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Modern reactors use higher percentage of 235U (3%) than that found in nature (0.7%). The fuel comes in small pellet of Uranium di-oxide (UO2) [2]. Spent nuclear fuel refers to uranium-bearing fuel elements
that have been used at commercial nuclear reactors and that are no longer producing enough energy to sustain a nuclear reaction. It results from nuclear energy production that mainly includes UO2 in the waste
product. It also contains radionuclides which include fission product and transuranium element, which are called epsilon particles [3].
Fission: 235U + 1no fission fragment + 2-3 neutrons Neutron capture and beta decay: 235U + 1no 239U 239Np 239Pu Once the spent fuel is removed from the reactor the fission process stops, but the spent fuel assemblies still generate significant amounts of radiation and heat. High-level nuclear waste mainly consists of this spent nuclear fuel. A typical spent nuclear fuel pellet consists of a UO2 matrix, in which fission products (e.g., Ru, Sr, Zr and Tc), actinides- chemical elements having atomic number from 89 to 103 (e.g., Np, Pu and Am) and neutron activation products (e.g., Mo, Zr and Sr), are present in various amounts [4]. The disposal of radioactive wastes deep within the Earths crust is considered the most promising amongst the various proposed disposal techniques. It is also rather pragmatic. Geologic disposal is attractive because, in principle, it appears that wastes can be safely isolated from the biosphere for thousands of years or longer. However, geologic isolation of radioactive waste will not be easy to implement, and ensuring long-term isolation of radioactive wastes will not be possible without extensive research and development program. Long term performance of the disposal of waste is needed to be addressed since it becomes more complicated due to the complex interaction between fission product of radioactive waste and the surrounding ground water over time. In spent nuclear fuel, most of the radionuclides remain in the matrix, embedded within dense grains. They can only be released into the grain boundaries via diffusion or if the matrix itself dissolutes. So, fuel oxidation/corrosion and dissolution are the main processes for the release of the majority of radionuclides. Despite its radioactivity for at least 100,000 years, UO2 matrix, having low solubility, can act as protective barrier under deep geologic condition and can prevent the unwanted release of radionuclides. The entire fission and neutron activation products are radioactive. Therefore, when this radioactive spent fuel will come in contact with water, it
Figure 1: Radiolysis of water [5].

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will undergo redox reaction due to the radiolysis of water, and UO2 matrix will be oxidized to form UO22+, which is soluble in water [5]. Spent fuel matrix (UO2) is the first barrier for the stability of the long term disposal of the waste in deep geologic storage. It is encapsulated in a steel canister to avoid contact with
water. But, spent fuel will come in contact with water if the canister barrier function fails. Continuous radiation will ionize the water and will change the redox condition of the system that will increase the oxidative dissolution of spent fuel [5]. Alpha- radiolysis of water Radiolysis of water will occur as shown in Figure 1.
From the alpha radiolysis of water, oxidizing and reducing species and radical (HO, O2-, HO2, e-aq, H) and molecule like H2O2 are produced. These reactive species create oxidizing condition at the interface of UO2-matrix and water and thus enhance dissolution under repository condition [6, 7].
Figure 2: Groundwater and UO2 matrix interaction [4].
Figure 3: Oxidation and dissolution of spent nuclear fuel [8].
Figure 2 shows how UO2 matrix interacts with groundwater. Not only does the radiolytic production of oxidants by the alpha, beta, gamma radiolysis of water control the oxidative dissolution, but it is also coupled with the cathodic corrosion processes to anodic fuel dissolution (Shoesmith, 2007). Oxidative dissolution of UO2 Under reducing condition, UO2 has a very low solubility. But, the solubility increases while UIV oxidizes to UVI form. Simultaneous oxidation and dissolution of
spent fuel is shown in Figure 3. When spent fuel interacts with water, active oxidants (HO, O2, HO2, H2O2) produced due to radiolysis of water and thus dissolution of fuel is increased and fission product and actinides are produced. The reductants (H2, e-aq, H) are also produced, but they have little effect. e-aq, H are present in minimum level and H2 is produced by radiolysis as well as by the corrosion of steel in the canister that was used for encapsulation. The mechanism involved in oxidative dissolution of UO2 comprises of two steps [9]:
UO2 + OX UO22+ UO22+ (s) UO22+ (aq) Spent nuclear fuel emits , and rays, of which - radiation will be the dominant one after the passage of 1000 years. So, oxidative dissolution due to radiolysis was examined and the rate of oxidation was found to be governed by the H2O2 [5]. Redox condition at the fuel surface is the key factor for the fuel corrosion and it is influenced by the presence of H2 which is the corrosion product of waste container steel due to the reaction between H2O2 and Fe3+ [4, 5]. While gamma/beta radiations are dominant (<1000
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year), there is an oxidizing environment and eventually with time while alpha radiation is prevalent, mild oxidizing condition is achieved. Along with the major factor of alpha radiolysis of water, dissolution of UO2 will be enhanced by the presence of carbonate ion ([NaHCO3] = 103 mol.L-1) in groundwater (Tribet et al, 2009). It indicates that groundwater condition is another important factor of concern while considering long-
term performance of nuclear waste disposal in deep geologic repository. Possible scenario under oxidizing geologic repository condition The main features of the oxidative dissolution of fuel with water consist of two corrosion fronts, one being the fuel surface and the other, the waste container steel liner. Radiolysis induced corrosion reactions
occur on the fuel surface, where the main oxidant is H2O2 and the secondary oxidant is O2 with slow reaction rate. On the steel surface, water reacts with Fe2+ and H2. Thus steel corrosion product underdoes homogeneous redox reactions along with radiolytic reactions [10]. Figure 4 shows the possible scenario of spent nuclear fuel corrosion in deep geological condition.
Figure 4: Possible key reaction paths inside groundwater in contact with nuclear fuel containing waste [4].
Groundwater geologic condition is another important factor. Bicarbonate forms complex with fuel surface that hinders the formation of corrosion layer and increases the solubility. Thus, fuel corrosion is enhanced by the formation of bicarbonate-uranyl complex. Again, bicarbonate/carbonate couple buffers the pH near the surface that also controls pH to suppress local corrosion. So, fuel dissolution is enhanced due to
the presence of bicarbonate in the water [4]. On the other hand, presence of calcium and silicate will form protective layer of their hydrated product, which leads to the formation of UVI insoluble phase. It will decrease the corrosion of fuel surface [4]. H2 can play the role of an inhibitor; it is a product of container steel corrosion process. This reaction between
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H2 and H2O2 to lower the dissolution rate is very slow without a catalyst. UO2 itself cannot catalyze the reaction [5]. Pb is a well-known catalyst. It is found that, a 100 year old fuel can be inhibited completely if the Pb catalytic effect exists in the UO2 fuel matrix. It would reduce UVI back to insoluble UIV, and thus would inhibit the dissolution of spent nuclear fuel, preventing the release of
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radioactive fission products and actinides for the long term [5]. Besides, there are some studies that proposed noble material incorporation into UO2 matrix [11]. Due to oxidative dissolution of UO2, fission product radionuclides and transuranium elements are released. The altered UO2 fuel matrix can incorporate many of these highly reactive nuclides, therefore, immobilizing them for the long term isolation. For example, experiments are conducted for the incorporation of one important radionuclide 237 Np; its half-life is 2.14 million years [11]. More research should be conducted in this area for the better understanding of the chemistry and stability of such compound formation so that highly reactive fission product can be inhibited. Further research should also be conducted to consider the perspective of long term performance of deep geological safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Conclusion In the coming decades, the combined effect of increasing industrialization around the world, the threat of global climate change, and decreasing availability of clean fossil fuels will make the development of alternative energy supplies more important and pragmatic. Nuclear energy offers a clean energy alternative that frees us from the shackles of fossil fuel dependence. But, large quantities of nuclear waste have already been generated. As it is evident that the spent fuel
Nuclear energy offers a clean energy alternative that frees us from the shackles of fossil fuel dependence. breaks down over a long period of time, and the probability of accidental chain reactions developing must be assessed. These questions indicate that spent nuclear fuel disposal will not be a simple matter. While the prime objective of nuclear waste disposal is to isolate the radioactive waste from the environment for as long as necessary so that there is no threat to public health and safety, the nuclear power plant stands on the border between humanity's greatest hopes and its deepest uncertainties associated with the future safeguard of human life and environment. References [1] World Nuclear News (2010) Another drop in nuclear generation. World Nuclear Association, 05 May. Available at:http://www.world-nuclearnews.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=27 665&terms=another+drop+ [Accessed on 07 December 2011] [2] Murray, R.L., (1989) Understanding of radioactive waste. 3rd ed. Batelle Press, Columbus, Ohio. [3] Bruno, J. and Ewing, R.C., (2006) Spent Nuclear Fuel. Element 2, 343-349 [4] Shoesmith, D.W., (2007) Used Fuel and Uranium Dioxide Dissolution Studies A Review. Nuclear Waste Management
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Organization. Report NWMO TR-2007-03
No.:
[5] Nilson, S., (2008) Influence of fission products and irradiation on the rate of spent nuclear fuel matrix dissolution. Licentiate thesis KTH Stockholm [6] Muzeau, B., Jegou, C., Delaunay, F., Broudic, V., Brevet, A., Catalette, H., Simoni, E. and Corbel, C., (2009) Radiolytic oxidation of UO2 pellets doped with alpha-emitters (238/239Pu). Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 467, 578-589 [7] Tribet, M., Jegou, C., Broudic, V., Marques, C., Rigaux, P. and Gavazzi, A., (2009) Leaching of UO2 pellets doped with alpha-emitters (238/239Pu) in synthetic deep CallovianOxfordian groundwater. IOP Conf. Series 9, doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/9/1/012009 [8] Ekeroth, E., (2003) Effect of radiolysis on the dynamics of UO2 dissolution. Licentiate thesis KTH Stockholm [9] Chopping, G.R., Lijenzin, J.O. and Rydberg, J., (1995) Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry, 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann [10] Shoesmith, D.W., Kolar, M. and King, F., (2003) A mixed potential model to predict fuel (uranium dioxide) corrosion within a failed nuclear waste container. Corrosion. 59, 802-816. [11] Burns, P.C. and Klingensmith, A.L., (2006) Uranium Mineralogy and Neptunium Mobility. Element 2, 351-356.
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ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Waste Co-processing as Alternative Fuel (AF) and Alternative Raw Material (ARM)
MOHAMMAD MOHIUDDIN Email: mohin27@yahoo.com
Mohammad Mohiuddin completed his BSc in Chemical Engineering from BUET (2002) and MS in Environmental Science from State University of Bangladesh (2008). After graduating from BUET, he built-up his career as an Environment Engineer; currently he is working in BD industrial sector. Email address: mohin27@yahoo.com
Received 28 April 2012; received in revised form 30 September 2012; online published 1 October 2012
Abstract: Hazardous and other waste materials are no longer considered as mere waste, but are treated as valuable resources. Other than generating electricity or preparing manure by processing waste materials, these wastes can be coprocessed as alternative fuel or alternative raw material, or in both forms in the resource intensive industries, like cement, steel etc. Only thing that counts is maintaining a number of prescribed process requirements. Introduction Resource-intensive industries, nowadays, involve the use of waste in manufacturing processes for the purpose of resource recovery and reduction in the use of conventional fuels and/or raw materials through substitution. This phenomenon, the use of wastes as raw material or as a source of energy or both, is familiar as Coprocessing. Mainly employed in energy intensive industries (EII) such as cement, lime, steel, glass, paper and power generation (wikipedia1), coprocessing is treated as material recycling and energy
recovery efforts by replacing the use of natural mineral resources and fossil fuels respectively in industrial processes. Under ideal conditions, good combustion destroys most of the nonmetallic, toxic organic compounds in hazardous waste and leaves ash residues which are easier to dispose of than raw, untreated wastes. Coprocessing is a popular term of industrial ecology (IE) - a new dimension of the modern business sustainability.In particular, the co-processing of waste in kilns, the subject of appropriate guidelines, allows the recovery of the energy and/or mineral value from waste, while the intended products are being manufactured. The Basel Convention [2] places obligations on countries that are Parties to ensure the environmentally sound management (ESM) of hazardous
and other wastes. In this regard, the guiding principle, broadly accepted for securing a more sustainable waste management system, is the waste hierarchy of management practices (with due consideration given to the protection of the environment and human health). The hierarchy places waste prevention (avoidance) and operations that may lead to resource recovery, recycling reclamation, direct re-use or alternative uses, in a preeminent position relative to operations which do not lead to such possibility. Thus, where waste avoidance is not possible, reuse, recycling and recovery becomes a preferable alternative to non-recovery operations. To this end, co-processing in kilns provides an environmentally sound resource recovery option for the management of hazardous and other wastes, preferable to land-filling and incineration. Alternative Fuel (AF) and Alternative Raw Material (ARM) Waste materials used for co-processing are referred to as alternative fuels (AF) and
Hazardous and other waste materials can be co-processed as alternative fuel or alternative raw material, or in both forms in the resource intensive industries, like cement, steel, etc.
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alternative raw materials (ARM). fields (as is the case with local communities and Alternative fuels and raw agricultural organic waste), governments a neat, final, and materials are predominantly methane gas is produced (Kabir environmentally friendly solution wastes or by-products from and Halim, 2011, ChE Thoughts to dispose of wastes, effectively agricultural, domestic, forestry 2(1), pp 16). Methane, a avoiding the use and hygienic or industrial processes powerful Greenhouse Gas, is 21 challenges of landfills. Rapid comprising biomass (e.g., rice times more potential (Global urbanization with significant husk), animal meal, sewage Warming Potential) than CO2. increase in municipal solid waste sludge, municipal solid wastes, coupled with stringent used tyres, spent solvents, waste Hazardous wastes not environmental regulations to oils, etc. recommended for co-process reduce landfill disposals are A wide range of hazardous waste Not every kind of waste can generating worldwide interest in materials can be co-processed, be used for co-processing, the recovery of energy from such as ETP sludge, paint keeping in view the Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW). thinners, paint sludge, refinery environment, health, safety and Local economic development: sludge, used oil, solvents or end- operational concerns. The In many cases, the economic of-line products from the wastes listed below are normally activity related to the transport sector, etc. Solids and not recommended for co- development of the AF supply liquids from the cleanup of past processing till otherwise chain fosters local value creation uncontrolled hazardous waste proved/evidenced for. and employment. dump sites can also be blended Biomedical waste Climate change mitigation: AF, as AF and ARM into hazardous Asbestos containing waste. particularly biomass fuels and waste streams. the biomass fraction of Electronic scrap. Replacing traditional fossil Entire batteries. household wastes, help reduce fuels with AF will reduce overall Explosives. the CO2 footprint and eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG). Three Corrosives. emission of this most significant global problems: a) Mineral acid wastes. greenhouse gas. unsustainable waste Radioactive Wastes. Potential local environmental management practices, b) the Unsorted municipal garbage. benefits: Many AF have also increasing scarcity of fossil fuels, been shown to reduce other kiln and c) climate change, are the Benefits of Alternative Fuels emissionsparticularly nitrogen main drivers behind the growing (AF) oxide (NOx)thereby enhancing substitution of so-called The benefits of substituting local air quality. alternative fuels (AF) for alternative fuels (AF) for conventional fuels. Replacing conventional fuels include: Global Practice especially in traditional fossil fuels with AF Resource saving: By recovering Cement Kiln Utilization and reduces overall CO2 emissions energy from wastes, AF save Volume of AF because, in their traditional conventional Fossil fuels and raw non-renewable disposal methods, many of the fossil fuels, contributing to the materials have been successfully AF used will otherwise generate sustainability of our world. substituted by different types of CO2 emissions with no energy Waste management: AF offer wastes in cement kilns in Europe, recovery. Therefore, emissions Japan, United States, Canada generated by the combustion and Australia since the Replacing traditional fossil fuels with of AF with biomass contents beginning of the 1970s alternative fuels (AF) may reduce are considered "carbon (GTZ/Holcim, 2006).The overall greenhouse problems. neutral". In fact, during the countries with the largest Emissions generated by the combustion natural decomposition quantities co-incinerated in of AF with biomass contents are process that occurs when cement industry alone were considered carbon neutral. waste is landfilled or left in the France and Germany
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(>800,000 tpa) followed by Belgium and Austria (> 100,000 tpa). [3] Technical requirements and Operating conditions for coprocessing in Cement Manufacturing: Although the practice varies among individual plants, cement manufacture can consume significant quantities of wastes as fuel and non-fuel raw materials. This consumption reflects the process characteristics in clinker kilns, which ensure the complete breakdown of the raw materials into their component oxides and the recombination of the oxides into the clinker minerals. The essential process characteristics for the use of hazardous and other wastes, fed to the kiln via appropriate feed points, may be summarised as follows (European IPPC Bureau, 2009) [2]: Maximum temperatures of approximately 2000C (main firing system, flame temperature) in rotary kilns; Gas retention times of about 8 seconds at temperatures above 1200C in rotary kilns; Material temperatures of about 1450C in the sintering zone of rotary kilns; Oxidising gas atmosphere in rotary kilns; Gas retention time in the secondary firing system of more than 2 seconds at temperatures above 850C; in the precalciner, the retention times are correspondingly longer and temperatures are higher;
Hazardous waste materials coprocessing can be risky job for environment and health, if it is not handled in following prescribed way.
Solids temperatures of 850C in the secondary firing system and/or the calciner; Uniform burnout conditions for load fluctuations due to the high temperatures at sufficiently long retention times; Destruction of organic pollutants due to the high temperatures at sufficiently long retention times; Sorption of gaseous components like HF, HCl, and SO2 on alkaline reactants; High retention capacity for particle-bound heavy metals; Short retention times of exhaust gases in the temperature range known to lead to formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs); Complete utilisation of fuel ashes as clinker components and hence, simultaneous material recycling and energy recovery; Product specific wastes are not generated due to a complete material utilisation into the clinker matrix (although some cement plants dispose of CKD or bypass dust); Chemical-mineralogical incorporation of non-volatile heavy metals into the clinker matrix.
Limiting Factors Although using alternative fuels is desirable, occasionally they cannot be used due to processing issues, lack of permits or poor availability. While traditional fuels have the disadvantage of high cost, they are generally more uniform and more capable of providing a consistent heat profile. The cost benefits and environmental advantages associated with alternative fuels make them highly desirable for many companies. However, because of factors like limited availability, high entry costs, potential process issues and quality concerns, AF may not be a suitable choice for every plant. Though the cost savings associated with alternative fuels may be significant, there are usually a number of drawbacks that can adversely affect output and product quality to varying degrees. For example, most alternative fuels are usually associated with excess air and high moisture. Co-processing plants should be designed, equipped, built and operated to prevent air pollution, especially at ground level, due to emission. Ambient air quality should be maintained while discharging exhaust gases, so as to safeguard human health and the environment. Above all, the management of the coprocessing plant should be in the hands of a skilled person, competent enough to manage the hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound manner.
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Conclusion The co-processing of hazardous waste materials in an environment friendly manner is definitely a praiseworthy method of waste disposal; but it can turn into a risky job for the environment as well as for health, if it is handled in nonprescribed way. If the required temperature is not maintained, hazardous gas like dioxin and furan (D&F) may generate, posing great risk to health. Hence, as long as proper provision is not established in the kiln facilities, co-processing of hazardous waste should not
be allowed. Moreover, during handling, transportation and coprocessing of the waste materials, appropriate safety measures need to be incorporated. Useful References: 1. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Co-processing; Cited: 12 July, 2012] 2. Draft technical guidelines on co-processing of hazardous waste in cement kilns (UNEP/CHW/OEWG/7/INF/1 4, 23 March 2010)
3. EC- Refuse Derived Fuel, Current Practice and Perspectives, 2003 4. EIPPCB 2009. Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau, Draft Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Cement, Lime and Magnesium Oxide Manufacturing Industries (May 2009). 5. Guidelines on Coprocessing in Cement/Power/Steel Industry, February 2010, Central Pollution Control Board, India.
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November, 2012
FEATURED INDUSTRY
Multinational Chemical Company: INEOS Group Limited

AFRINA SAMAIN
Afrina Samain has completed her BSc in Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). She is an active member of ChemicalBUET and was involved in various activities of Chemical Engineering Student Association (BUET). Email: samain_afr@yahoo.com
A young chemical company, Castner Kellner Alkali Co. Ltd started its journey from nearlythe 1890s with the production of caustic soda, became INEOS in 1998 and is now a global manufacturer of petrochemicals and oil at 60 manufacturing plants in 13 countries. It is the largest privately owned chemical company in the UK, headquartered in Lyndhurst, Hampshire and the third largest chemical company measured by revenue after BASF and Dow Chemical. INEOS technology, part of INEOS group is the leading developer and licensor of chemical technologies, catalyst, additives and components. A customer focused company, INEOS has been strictly following the safety, health and
environmental rules and has already been awarded several times for its excellent culture of environmental issues, which are averred by the current chairman Jim Ratcliffe through the slogan, Safety is our first priority. The company has flourished from the presence of many experts from the leading chemical companies including BASF, Bayer, Borealis, BP, Degussa, DOW, Norsk Hydro and Solvay. Among the various technologies, INEOS Bio seems to be the most advanced business of the INEOS
group. This technology has emerged with the idea of renewable energy to fight with one of the biggest challenges of the future energy crisis. From the wide range of low cost carbon materials, it has introduced a new technology for production of advanced biofuel. Recently, INEOS Bio and New Planet Energy have come together to build INEOS New Planet Bio Energy, at Florida USA, which is the first large scale advanced bio energy project to produce eight million gallons of bio fuels and nearly six megawatts of renewable power, annually.
Source: www.ineos.com www.ineosbio.com
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November, 2012
BUET CORNER/ SUCCESS STORIES

Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET has been creating world class engineers, academics and researchers who are recognized for the contribution in their area of expertise, around the globe. In this article Syeda Sabrina has featured a recent success story of BUET ChE Alumni.
Syeda Sabrina is a graduate from the Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET. At present she is working as a Lecture in the same department. She is an active member of BUET Chemical Engineering Forum (BCEF), a freelance writer and a dynamic organizer of different programs in BUET. Email: syeda.sabrina_che@yahoo.com
Professor Dr. Sam Mannan Receives Doctories Honoris Causa

Regents Professor Dr. M. Sam Mannan, holder of the T. Michael OConnor Chair in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University was awarded the honorary degree of Doctoris Honoris Causa by the Senate of the Technical University of Lodz in Poland. He was formally awarded at the convocation ceremony of University of Lodz on September 20, 2011, in recognition of his distinguished expertise in the field of process safety and risk analysis. Dr. Mannan has been teaching for over 33 years, and mentoring the next generation in the quest for new knowledge has always remained his interest. In this context he shared, Every moment of a students experience in the university should involve some kind of learning. Dr. Mannan also thinks that there is a lack of integration between todays
engineering education and modern industrial practice. Engineering students must understand the social and global role of engineers and they must be able to accept and face the challenges, he added.
Operations and Maintenance." His research interests include abnormal situation management, aerosol research, inherently safer design, quantitative risk assessment, reactive chemicals, modeling of silane releases, LNG safety and design and flammability research. He has served as a consultant to numerous entities in both academic and private sectors. He believes that engineers have both professional and global responsibilities to design materials, processes, products and systems to sustain safe and sound conditions for human health and environment. In his speech at the Convocation Ceremony of University of Lodz, Dr. Manna mentioned the honor of receiving the award as one of the most significant and highest honors conferred upon him. He also added that during the influential period of his undergraduate education, Professor Dr. Iqbal Mahmud, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) left an indelible impression on him, which propelled him forward in his lifelong quest.
Professor Dr. Sam Mannan Apart from teaching, Dr. M. Sam Mannan is also serving as the director at Mary Kay OConnor Process Safety Center. An internationally renowned expert on process safety and risk assessment, Dr. Mannan is a member of AIChE, American Society of Safety Engineers, the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He is also a co-author of the book "Guidelines for Safe Process
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November, 2012
BUET CORNER/ ALUMNI CORNER
The Last Lecture of Dr. A.K.M.A. Quader

K. M. TANVIR AHMMED Email: k.ahmmed@mail.mcgill.ca
K. M. Tanvir Ahmmed earned his B.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2009. He received his M.Sc.Engg. degree from the same institution in 2011. Currently he is enrolled in the PhD program in the department of Chemical Engineering at McGill University. Mr. Ahmmed has worked as a faculty member in BUET from 2009 to 2012. Email:k.ahmmed@mail.mcgill.ca
Expecting something out of the ordinary, I attended the last lecture delivered by Dr. A.K.M.A. Quader. My expectation fulfilled, I was mesmerized and I enjoyed every bit of the lecture! Public lectures titled, Last Lecture, are practiced in many renowned international universities. Usually comprising of subject matters well outside the academics research area, the lecture is delivered to the public as if it was the last. The tradition of last lectures is very recent in Bangladeshi universities. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is initiating to organize such opportunity for senior teachers and Dr. Quaders one is the first to deliver one as such. So, when he was suggested to deliver a lecture commemorating his retirement, it created hype among his peers, current and ex-students. The Last Lecture of Dr. Quaders was attended by a large number of audiences. On June 18th, 2011 the Council Building of BUET was crowded with faculty members and colleagues from different departments including his own, the Department of Chemical Engineering, students,
engineering professionals and peers from the civil society. Dr. Quader retired from the Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET on June 30, 2011. He joined the department as an Assistant Professor in 1973, and since then he has devoted himself as an academic and in many occasions as a professional chemical engineer. Dr. Quaders last lecture was divided into several sections. It was as if he was narrating his autobiography in front of the audience. It was interesting how Dr. Quader presented his life with an engineering perspective in his lecture. He represented his lifelong achievements and experiences on a log-log plot. He emphasized on his childhood and discussed his ambitions and goals. He shared his emotions and also the bittersweet memories with the audience. Of the many things that Dr. Quader shared with the people at the lecture, it was interesting to learn that teaching was never an agenda his early Of the many things in that Dr. life. Rather, he aspired to be an Quader shared with the people at engineer. After graduation, Dr. the lecture, it was interesting to Quader joined the then Council learn that teaching was never an of Scientific and Industrial agenda in his early life. Research (now Bangladesh
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Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR)). After completing his PhD from University of Bradford, UK he rejoined the BCSIR in 1972, in spite of receiving an offer at the University of Bradford as lecturer. After working at BCSIR for a year, he resigned and joined the Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET. What changed his mind to join the department was unanswered in his lecture. And, though he enjoyed what he did, he still thinks that it was a wrong decision in Todays context of Bangladesh. It was an exciting start of Dr. Quaders career at BCSIR, where he could not only apply his own talent but also the knowledge he gained thus far, which he always wanted. There, he worked on process development at the pilot plant scale. His PhD work was also on experimental research. For his PhD project, he built a big and complicated experimental rig which was a good learning experience for him. To gain real life engineering experiences, he often visited industries and establishments. He believed that to be a successful engineer, it is important to use ones common sense along with the underlying
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November, 2012
principles of engineering.
science
and
He believes that to be a
successful engineer, it is important to use ones common sense along with the underlying principles of science and engineering.
As a BUET faculty he always assigned experimental works including designing, building and operating engineering projects to his supervisees. In his last lecture he acknowledged his students and mentioned that when it came to learning, he learned a lot from them while teaching in the classes and supervising design and thesis projects. In my years of working with Dr. Quader as a student and later as a junior colleague I got a notion that his engineering contributions in the process industries in Bangladesh are highly appreciated. And by listening to his lecture, my notion was reconfirmed. He participated in a number of trouble-shooting events, consultancies and managerial tasks in different chemical and allied industries. One of his decision making events was with Toyo Engineering Corporation,
which was the General Contractor for building a large capacity fertilizer industry in Bangladesh. His decision of changing Toyos proposed design saved a significant amount of foreign currency of the country and also ensured safety of the plant. In his lecture, Dr. Quader brought up a number of thought evoking issues. He marked the challenges of chemical engineering in Bangladesh and made comments and suggestions to overcome those. He expressed his satisfaction with the young graduates, who he believes are full of new ideas and have the ability to learn from their failures. Dr. Quader, who has achieved many successes
throughout his career, is sure to have many proud moments, and in his Last Lecture, he shared them with the audience. According to him, the independence of Bangladesh is the best moment of his life. He actively participated in different organizations of Bangladesh Liberation Movement while staying in UK. At one point his scholarship was terminated by the request of the then Pakistani government for his participation in these organizations. But, the scholarship was reinstated by his active communications with British MPs. Dr. Quader concluded his lecture with votes of thanks and acknowledgments. He remembered his parents and his familys contribution towards his success. He thanked his mentors and friends. Finally, he thanked all of those who had worked with him- colleagues, students and staff members.
The independence of Bangladesh is the best moment of my life. Dr. A. K. M. A. Quader

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November, 2012
ChE Class of 1967
Early Career as BUET Faculty
Graduate and Post-Graduate Days in the University of Bradford, UK
Activities from Bradford, UK to Support Bangladesh Liberation Movement (1971) Moments from Dr. Quaders Last Lecture
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November, 2012
Photo Credit: Mazharul Islam Shahed
Moments from Dr. Quaders Last Lecture
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November, 2012
BUET CORNER/ NEWS & EVENTS

Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET organizes multidimensional competitions for students and fresh graduates. Fauzia Sultana has presented here the cross-sections of such two events.
Fauzia Sultana graduated from the Dept. of Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2011. Currently, she is working at ChE Thoughts as an Assistant Editor and at The Daily Star (Bangladesh) as a Reporter. Email: fauzia_j27@hotmail.com
ChE Undergraduate Thesis Competition 2011

Of enthusiastic participants, a burning presentation session and a splendid award ceremony-the Chemical Engineering (ChE) Undergraduate Thesis Competition 2011 kicked off on 10th December, 2011. Aimed to create the opportunity to exhibit their research works to a wide spectrum of audience, the competition surely builds a sense of challenge and an instinct for research in the participants. Jointly organized by the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE), BUET, BUET Chemical Engineering Forum (BCEF) and ChemicalBUET, this years competition was marked by fresh project ideas and a tight contest. Dressed in formal attires and adorned with a confident attitude, the graduate participants gathered at the Dept. of ChE on the morning of 10th December, 2011. The program began with the inauguration speech by Dr. Dil
Afroza Begum, Head, Dept. of ChE, BUET. With the participants presenting their undergraduate thesis projects, judges keenly observing the presentations, and a little refreshment for the audience to enjoy, the overall ambience of the competition was that of nervousness and of spirit. Participants were judged on two major attributes, their thesis works and the multimedia presentations. Prior to the competition, graduates submitted an extended abstract of their research projects along with their theses that were judged by a group of academicians and industrial personnel. During the presentation, participants were judged on how well they presented their work to the open audience and the like. The judges raised questions on the scientific and financial feasibility of their projects, and placed challenging scenarios in front of the participants. The judges of this years competition were Dr. Iqbal Mahmud, Professor Emeritus, ChE and Ex-VC, BUET, Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed, UGC Professor and Ex-VC, BUET, Dr. Khaliqur Rahman (presentation) and Eng. Md. Mohiuddin (thesis review). Dr. Mohidus Samad Khan (McGill University), Convener, ChE Thesis Competition 2011, was the
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moderator of the presentation session, while Munir Ahammad, Lecturer, Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET and a member of the organizing committee, contributed in coordinating the event. The presentations made and the judges marks finally summed, the competition came to an end with the announcement of the winners. The third position ranker was Fauzia Sultana for the thesis on `Production of Calcium Chloride by Limestone-Hydrochloric Acid Process, supervised by Dr. A K M A Quader. The second position went to two teams, Aurko Ali andEmon Hasan for `Assessment of Environmental Pollution from Pharmaceutical Industries in Bangladesh, supervised by Md. Mominur Rahman and Bayzid Kabir, and Lubna Ahmed and Farzana Quddus for `Modeling of Air Pollution in Dhaka City from Northern Brick Kilns Using AERMOD supervised by Dr. M A A Shoukat Choudhury. The first place winner of this years competition was Sujala Tajneen Sultana for the project on `Design and Performance Evaluation of an Improved Multipot Biomass Cooking Stove, supervised by Md. Mominur Rahman. All participants were handed certificates of
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November, 2012
participation by Dr. Dil Afroza Begum. The achievement of the winners of ChE Undergraduate Thesis Competition 2011 was acknowledged by awarding
crests and certificates at the 3rd International Conference on Chemical Engineering (ICChE) 2011 on 30th December, 2011. Supervisors of the winning teams were also awarded certificates of appreciation. With the awardees
posing for photographs and later attending the formal dinner of ICChE 2011, the ChE Undergraduate Thesis Competition 2011 came to a successful end.
Moments from the ChE Undergraduate Thesis Competition and Award Ceremony 2011
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November, 2012
ICChE 2011 Poster Competition

There was an air of eagerness, anxiousness and surely competitiveness on the morning of ICChE 2011 Poster Competition, held on 30th December, 2011 at the Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET. One of the key attractions of 3rd International Conference on Chemical Engineering (ICChE) 2011, this years student poster competition had 25 participating teams of 88 undergraduate students from different engineering departments. Jointly organized by the ChemicalBUET, BUET Chemical Engineering Forum (BCEF) and the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE), BUET, the poster competition is a sheer reflection of the enthusiasm and interest of students in participating in multidimensional
competitions. Participating teams were divided into two groups: Group A comprising of students of Levels 1 and 2, and Group B comprising of students of Levels 3 and 4. At the competition, participants exhibited and presented scientific, technical and engineering posters to the audience and the judges. Group A teams presented their posters on the cutting edge technologies of today, while Group B teams mostly exhibited posters on their thesis projects. The panel of judges included academicians and researchers from international institutes including Texas A&M University (USA), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT, Kanpur, India), and University of Alberta (Canada). Teams were judged based on features including overall appearance and content of the posters, and the oral presentations made to the audience. There were in total six winning teams, three from each group. The names of the winning teams were announced at the
end of the contest and all participants were given certificates of participation. The winning teams were awarded at the Closing Ceremony of the 3rd International Conference on Chemical Engineering (ICChE) 2011. Dr. A.K.M.A Quader, Professor, Dept. of ChE and Chairman, ICChE 2011 gave away awards and certificates to the winners. Member of the organizing committee Munir Ahammad, Lecturer, ChE BUET and student volunteers Asif Hasan Rony and Md. Rifat Mahmud contributed in coordinating the competition. Dr. Mohidus Samad Khan (McGill University), Convener, ICChE Poster Competition 2011, was the moderator of the competition and award giving ceremony. With the joy of the elated winners and the appreciation from the conference attendees, the poster competition came to a fruitful end.
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November, 2012
Moments from ICChE 2011 Poster Competition and Award Ceremony
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November, 2012
ChE Thoughts: Call for Articles

1. You are welcome to submit Scientific and Technological Articles, Reviews, Short Communication, News, News Feature, etc. on Chemical Engineering and Science related issues: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. Process Engineering Energy (Petroleum, Renewable Energy, etc.) Biochemical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Polymer Engineering Particle Technology Process Control Pharmaceutical Environmental Engineering Climate Change Engineering Education, etc. 2. Articles are also accepting on the following sections: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. Featured Patent(s) Featured Product/Industry Back to the Basic: Featuring any of the Undergrad concept Woman in ChE Alumni Corner Student Corner Conference News ChE Events Featured ChE Book(s) Job Information Study Abroad: Featured University
Guidelines: Word Limit: Featured articles on any engineering and scientific issue: 500 1500 (1-3 pages), Featured article on university, admission, scholarship, job information, product description, featured book, etc.: 250 500 (1/2 to 1 page) However, it is a scientific/technological magazine, therefore, an author will have freedom and flexibility; the contents and flow of the story are rather important than the length. Peer Reviewed Articles: no word limit; article content has to be high quality, original and unpublished; article will be reviewed by experts on the relevant field(s). For article submission and other enquiry please contact: mohidus.khan@mcgill.com Your suggestions/comments will be highly appreciated; they will help us to improve. ChE Thoguhts is a quarterly magazine; if your article is late for any issue, it will be automatically processed for the next issue. So, keep posting your writings for ChE Thoughts.
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Vol - 03, Issue - 1 November 2012

Talk to the Expert Environmental Engineering

ChE Thoughts 03 (1) ISSN 2218-5216 (Print) ISSN 2220-3389 (Online)

Sincerely, Mohidus Samad Khan, PhD (mohidus.khan@mcgill.ca) Montreal, Canada

ChE Thoughts 03 (1) ISSN 2218-5216 (Print) ISSN 2220-3389 (Online)

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: Mohidus Samad Khan

ADMINISTRATION Director: Mohidus Samad Khan

Editorial Assistant: Mohammad Mohiuddin

Advertising Sales Coordinator: M. Mahfuzur Rahman

Kazi Bayzid Kabir

PRODUCTION Graphic & Web-Development: Masud Parves

Assistant Managing Editor: K M Tanvir Ahmmed

Sazedur Rahman Shohan Hasib Al Mahbub

Printing/Distribution: Afrina Samain Hasib Al Mahbub Rifat Mahmud

Kanta Kalam Uniliver Bangladesh Cover Page Design: Tauhid U Ahmed

Advisory Panel: Jasimuz Zaman

M.A.A. Shoukat Choudhury

Kazi Mahmuda Tasneem Mimmi

ChE Thoughts 03 (1) ISSN 2218-5216 (Print) ISSN 2220-3389 (Online)

Multinational Chemical Company: INEOS Group Limited

ICChE 2011 Poster Competition

ENERGY RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Solar Water Splitting: A Step towards CarbonFree Energy and Environment

1. Global Energy Crisis

Figure 4: Large scale H2 production via solar water splitting [23].

ENERGY BACK TO THE BASICS TECHNICAL REIVEW

A Brief Overview of Petroleum Oil Resources

2. Conventional Oil Resource

Figure 3: Alberta Oil Sands (Source: Wikipedia website en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_oil_sands)

Figure 4: Oil Shale (Source: Programmatic EIS website: ostseis.anl.gov/guide/photos/index.cfm)

Figure 5: CTL/GTL/BTL Conversion (Source: Wikipedia website en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_fuel)

Brazil Norway Equador Azerbaijan Sudan India Malaysia Oman Vietnam

Kazakhstan UK Algeria Azerbaijan Indonesia Colombia

ENERGY RESEARCH NOTES

Managing Distributed Electricity Generation Sources in a Decentralized Architecture

TALK TO THE EXPERT

Of Persona, Substance and Vision: Dr. Nooruddin Ahmed

Nuclear Spent Fuel Disposal: Long Term Performance Challenges

Figure 1: Radiolysis of water [5].

Figure 2: Groundwater and UO2 matrix interaction [4].

Figure 3: Oxidation and dissolution of spent nuclear fuel [8].

Organization. Report NWMO TR-2007-03

Multinational Chemical Company: INEOS Group Limited

Source: www.ineos.com www.ineosbio.com

BUET CORNER/ SUCCESS STORIES

Professor Dr. Sam Mannan Receives Doctories Honoris Causa

BUET CORNER/ ALUMNI CORNER

The Last Lecture of Dr. A.K.M.A. Quader

The independence of Bangladesh is the best moment of my life. Dr. A. K. M. A. Quader

ChE Class of 1967

Early Career as BUET Faculty

Graduate and Post-Graduate Days in the University of Bradford, UK

Photo Credit: Mazharul Islam Shahed

Moments from Dr. Quaders Last Lecture

BUET CORNER/ NEWS & EVENTS

ChE Undergraduate Thesis Competition 2011

ICChE 2011 Poster Competition

Moments from ICChE 2011 Poster Competition and Award Ceremony

ChE Thoughts: Call for Articles

ChE Thoughts 03 (1) ISSN 2218-5216 (Print) ISSN 2220-3389 (Online)

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