Technical Article
About the Author
Michael Radicone is president and chief science officer of I2 Air Fluid Innovation and Specialty Product Lead for HTRI. I 2
Air Fluid Innovation has developed and patented technologies that address heat exchange fouling, toxic mercury presence in fluids and flue gas scrubber enhancement. As specialty Product Lead for HTRI, he oversees development and integration of the Vapor Nano Bubble Infusion technology. He has been the recipient of seven governmental grants, is a peer reviewed author and has presented the technology worldwide.
With contributions from:
Grace Angela Witt is a Junior Biomedical Engineering student at Clemson University with a concentration in Biomaterials. She works on an undergraduate research team titled Polymeric Biomaterials for Treatment and Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Disease through the Creative Inquiry program at Clemson University. In this project she works under Dr. Larsen, a professor in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, and is researching how when polymersomes are modified with salts, the protein interactions change in serum.
Figure 5: Vapor infusion schematic.( Courtesy of HTRI)
change and Net Zero goals figure very prominently in ESG discussions and application. This score will illuminate a company’ s utilization of natural resources and the effect that their operations will have on the environment, which is of great concern to all populations and generations. The relationship between industrial actions and global warming has become obvious. The increased frequency of weather-related events like wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and heat waves is apparent on social media and newscasts. Of significant importance therefore is industry’ s integration of innovative and technologically adept methods that can impact GHG expression. The race to achieve Net Zero CHG emissions has begun with an internationally agreed upon goal for mitigating global warming by the second half of the century. The Paris Agreement concluded that it could be achieved by net zero emissions of
CO 2 by 2050. To achieve this, industry will need to look at all aspects of their process systems and uncover not only the cutting edge but also the mundane GHG savings that may offer significant impact.
The correlations between heat exchanger function, its energy use, and greenhouse gas expression are clear. Although there are numerous methods to reduce a company’ s carbon footprint, none are as direct as the improvement in function of a benign device such as the heat exchanger. The Yale School of Environment states that“ Every bit of waste heat recycled into energy saves some fuel.” Thermal management is one of the key indicators of environmental stewardship. Integrating technology that offers improved heat exchanger sustainability and functionality can help allow a company to claim ESG leadership. It is obvious that the costs associated with complying with many Net Zero goals can be daunting, so it is vital to integrate those technologies that offer the best, most easily attainable results. Improving heat exchanger performance does this while achieving meaningful energy and carbon savings, continually, without excessive intervention or costs and should improve the Innovation portion of a company’ s Environmental ESG score.
References:
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Ryan Radicone is a student researcher who is investigating the application of a technology that delivers a therapeutic drug utilizing a human hair derived keratin 3D scaffold model. The research is intended to determine the scaffold’ s biocompatibility and bioreactivity of its surface area for both the loading and timed release of therapeutic drugs.
Bruce Birdwell is a graduate of SUNY At Stony Brook with a BS in Biology & Professional Engineering credits from University of Texas and Louisiana Technology. Career positions have been with Veeco Instruments, Metrology NDE, District Sales Manager, IBA( Ion Beam Application), Particle Accelerators, North America Sales Manager, 3M EMD, Product Launch of SIPP for Potable Water Rehabilitation, Sales Manager, Framatome, SIPP and Coatings for Nuclear Applications, Product Manager & Business Development.
Author’ s note:
As mentioned within the paper, global warming and carbon dioxide expressions have an insidious, generational impact. While researching and writing this paper it was vital that the younger generation have both input and review. I relied upon their passion and concerns to understand the urgency presented by global warming.
For information regarding vapor infusion please reach out to the author.
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