Seminars

Joint ME/IE 8773-8774 Seminar

A Renewed Look at Sustainable Energy: the Solar Strategy

by

Anjaneyulu Krothapalli
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Don Fuqua Eminent Scholar Chair of Engineering
Director, Sustainable Energy Science & Engineering Center
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32310

Wednesday, November 10, 2004
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Room 3-180 EE/CSci
Coffee and cookies will be available at 3:15 p.m. in Room 3-176 before and after the seminar

Abstract:

One of the grand challenges facing society in the 21st century is the development of sustainable energy that meets human needs while conserving the earth’s life supporting systems. The renewed look at the sustainable energy results from two irrefutable reasons: the supplies of fossil and mineral resources are limited and more importantly that the processes in which these resources are used in energy services damage and even destroy those limited planetary resources on which our lives depend: the water, the land and atmosphere. The second reason has become a burning issue, which is mainly due to realization that the danger of ecological destruction resulting from energy generation and manufacturing processes is more immediate than that of the permanent exhaustion of resources. As the economies of the developing world increase, the demand for mobility will increase with private cars being the vehicle of choice. This situation requires a substantial modification to infrastructure, the first being the use of non-fossil fuels. Hence, an immediate shift towards renewable energy sources is inevitable. An attractive strategy seems to be the use of solar radiation both for electricity generation and fuel for transportation; a principal subject of this presentation. The reward from a solar strategy will be a chance to enhance the quality of life for most people on earth leading in some way to a sustainable energy future.

Bio:

Professor Anjane‘yulu’ Krothapalli currently holds the Don Fuqua Eminent Scholar Chair of Engineering at the Florida State University in Tallahassee. He is the Director of recently established center on Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering. For the period September 1987 – May 2002, he has served as chairman of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. He earned an undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology, India in 1973 and Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University in 1979. His current research interests are in the areas of supersonic jet noise suppression, pulsed jet propulsion and solar electricity. Dr. Krothapalli received a NASA certificate of recognition for his work on the development of Particle Image Velocimetry and Office of Naval Research CTAP award in recognition of his work on counterflow thrust vectoring concept and is a Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Professor Krothapalli is a co-founder of Integrated Design Tools Inc., a leading provider of high-speed and high-resolution digital cameras for scientific and industrial use.

Informal Faculty Luncheon: Wednesday, November 10, 2004, 12:00 noon. Meet in 1100 ME and walk to lunch with other faculty. Prof. Anjaneyulu Krothapalli will be able to attend.