text:
Catalysts containing 30 weight percent or more platinum have surprisingly been discovered to possess superior stability and activity for catalyzing combustion reactions. The addition of rhenium improves catalyst performance in fuel lean conditions but has undesirable effects in fuel rich conditions. The invention provides integrated combustion microreactors, chemical systems utilizing these integrated combustion microreactors, methods of combustion, and methods of providing heat to endothermic reactions in integrated combustion microreactors.
1. An integrated combustion microreactor, comprising:
a combustion chamber comprising a microchannel comprising a combustion catalyst;
wherein the combustion catalyst comprises a support and catalyst metal;
wherein the support comprises alumina and wherein the catalyst metal comprises Pt;
wherein the combustion catalyst comprises at least 30 weight percent Pt;
an endothermic reaction chamber that is adjacent the combustion chamber;
wherein the endothermic reaction chamber comprises an endothermic reaction catalyst; and
a thermally conductive wall separating the combustion chamber and the endothermic reaction chamber.
2. The microreactor of
3. The microreactor of
4. The microreactor of
wherein the first zone comprises a combustion catalyst that consists essentially of stabilized alumina and at least 30 wt % Pt; and
wherein the second zone comprises a combustion catalyst that comprises Pt and Re; and wherein the combustion catalyst in the second zone comprises at least 30 wt % Pt.
5. The microreactor of
6. The microreactor of
7. The microreactor of
8. The microreactor of
9. The microreactor of
10. The microreactor of
11. The microreactor of
12. An integrated combustion reactor (ICR) comprising:
a continuous combustion channel having at least a first zone comprising a combustion catalyst that comprises Pt and essentially no Re and a second zone comprising a combustion catalyst that comprises Pt—Re; and
a thermally conductive wall which separates the continuous combustion channel from an adjacent endothermic reaction chamber.
13. The ICR of
14. The ICR of
15. The ICR of
16. The ICR of
17. The ICR of
18. A system for combusting a hydrocarbon, comprising:
an integrated combustion reactor (ICR) with a continuous combustion channel having at least two zones:
a first zone comprising a combustion catalyst that comprises Pt and essentially no Re; and
a second zone comprising a combustion catalyst that comprises Pt—Re, further comprising:
dihydrogen, carbon monoxide, dioxygen, and hydrocarbon in the first zone; and
carbon monoxide, dioxygen and hydrocarbon in the second zone;
wherein the ratio of dioxygen to hydrocarbon in the first zone is lower than in the second zone;
the system further comprising a thermally conductive wall which separates the continuous combustion channel from an adjacent endothermic reaction chamber.
19. The ICR of
20. The microreactor of
21. The microreactor of
22. The microreactor of
23. The microreactor of
24. The ICR of
25. The ICR of
The invention relates to integrated combustion microreactors, chemical systems utilizing these integrated combustion microreactors, and methods of providing heat to endothermic reactions in integrated combustion microreactors.
In integrated combustion reactors (ICRs), heat from a combustion reaction that is conducted in one portion of a ICR is transferred to an endothermic reaction in another portion of the ICR. In many cases, the combustion is catalysed by a solid catalyst. For some endothermic reactions, such as methane steam reforming, the combustion reaction must occur at high temperature and, for most applications, it is desired that the combustion reaction be stable over a long time.
One approach to conducting catalyzed combustion reactions in plate reactors has been discussed by Lesieur in U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,578. In this approach, the reformer side is washcoated with alumina and lanthanum oxide or cerium oxide or calcium oxide. Up to about 25 wt % Ni is deposited on the stabilized alumina. In the burner section, the walls can be washcoated with alumina and lanthanum oxide or cerium oxide or calcium oxide; if a catalyst is present, it will normally be a noble metal such as Pt or Pd or a mixture of these. This reference does not present any results, nor does it analyze catalyst performance under various conditions that might be encountered in operation of an ICR.
There are numerous references that describe catalysts for partial or complete combustion. For example, Niu et al. in Publication No. US 2003/0180215 A1 describes a controlled pore structure for partial oxidation. Barnes et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,907 describes a partial oxidation reaction over a noble metal catalyst on an aluminum-containing oxide-dispersion-strengthened alloy and an oxide surface layer. The metal support has longitudinal channels permitting high space velocities with minimal pressure drop. Dalla Betta et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,754 describes a partial oxidation process over a Pd on zirconia catalyst, optionally with another noble metal. Preferred substrates are aluminum-containing steels that are oxidized to form alumina whiskers that are then treated with a zirconium oxide sol. Gaffney et al. in Publication No. U.S. 2002/0177628 A1 describe a partial oxidation process over a Ni—Rh monolith catalyst.
There have been some studies on Pt—Re/Al2O3 catalysts. Prestvik et al. in "The Influence of Pretreatment on the Metal Function of a Commercial Pt—Re/Al2O3 Catalyst," J. Catal. pp 119-129 (1998) describes catalyst pretreatment and methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation over a Pt—Re/Al2O3 catalyst.
Dalla Betta et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,128 and Kazunori et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,632 describe a 3-stage combustion catalyst system having a first stage with Pd/ZrO2 on a ceramic honeycomb, a second stage with Pd/ZrO2 on a Fe/Cr/Al foil, and a third stage with about 20% Pt on an alumina coating on a Fe/Cr/Al alloy foil.
Despite extensive efforts over many years, there remains a need for catalytic systems and combustion methods that have high performance and stability at high temperature in microchannel reactors.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of providing heat to an endothermic reaction in an integrated combustion reactor, comprising: passing a composition comprising a hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen into a microchannel reaction chamber; wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is at least partially oxidized in the combustion chamber and heat is generated; wherein a thermally conductive wall separates the microchannel reaction chamber from an endothermic reaction chamber; and wherein at least a portion of the heat generated passes through the thermally conductive wall to drive an endothermic reaction occurring in the endothermic reaction chamber. The microchannel reaction chamber includes a combustion catalyst that comprises an alumina support and a catalyst metal. The combustion catalyst comprises alumina and at least 30 weight percent Pt.
The invention further provides an integrated combustion microreactor, comprising: a combustion chamber comprising a microchannel comprising a combustion catalyst; an endothermic reaction chamber that is adjacent the combustion chamber, wherein the endothermic reaction chamber comprises an endothermic reaction catalyst; and a thermally conductive wall separating the combustion chamber and the endothermic reaction chamber. The combustion catalyst comprises a support and catalyst metal. The support comprises alumina and the catalyst metal comprises Pt. The catalyst comprises at least 30 weight percent Pt.
In another aspect, the invention provides an integrated combustion reactor (ICR) with a continuous combustion channel having at least two zones: a first zone comprising a catalyst that comprises Pt and essentially no Re; and a second zone comprising a catalyst that comprises Pt—Re.
Unless stated otherwise, "conversion percent" refers to absolute conversion percent throughout these descriptions. "Contact time" is defined as the total catalyst chamber volume (including the catalyst substrate volume and bulk flow path if present) divided by the total volumetric inlet flowrate of reactants at standard temperature and pressure (STP: 273K and 1.013 bar absolute). Catalyst chamber volume includes any volume between a catalyst coating (or other flow-by catalyst arrangement) and the opposite wall of a reaction channel.
As is conventional patent terminology, "comprising" means including and when this term is used the invention can, in some narrower preferred embodiments, be described as "consisting essentially of" or in the narrowest embodiments as "consisting of." Aspects of the invention described as "comprising a" are not intended to be limited to a single component, but may contain additional components. Compositions "consisting essentially of" a set of components allow other components that so not substantially affect the character of the invention, and, similarly, compositions that are "essentially" without a specified element do not contain amounts of the element as would substantially affect the desired properties.
In some aspects, the present invention is defined as catalysts or catalyst systems containing stabilized alumina and Pt that are characterized by surprisingly good stability and conversion or selectivity. It may be subsequently discovered that other supports or catalyst metals may perform equivalently if substituted for the stabilized alumina and/or Pt in these catalysts or catalyst systems; however, the inventors are not presently aware of any such equivalent materials.
The invention includes methods of combusting, reactors, and systems that use the catalysts described herein.
Various embodiments of the invention can provide numerous advantages such as one or more of the following: improved catalyst performance, high stability under high temperature conditions, high conversions at relatively short contact times, selectivity control, lower cost, and ease of manufacturing.
The invention comprises a combustion catalyst that includes an alumina support for catalytically active material or materials. An "alumina support" contains aluminum atoms bonded to oxygen atoms, and additional elements can be present. Preferably, the alumina support comprises a stabilizing element or elements that improve the stability of the catalyst in conditions accompanying the high temperature combustion of hydrocarbons. Stabilizing elements typically are large, highly charged cations. In preferred embodiments, the alumina support is stabilized by La. In this invention, a "stabilized alumina support" is an alumina support containing at least one stabilizing element. Preferably, the stabilized alumina support contains 1 to 10, more preferably 3 to 7 weight percent of a stabilizing element or elements (preferably La).
The combustion catalyst contains Pt. The platinum content in a catalyst can be described either in terms of weight percent or in terms of mass per geometric surface area of substrate. Weight percent is based on the weight of platinum as a percent of catalyst powder, catalyst pellets, or washcoat; it does not include the weight of an underlying substrate and does not include the weight of interlayers between a washcoat (or washcoats) and an underlying substrate. For example, in the case of an alloy felt washcoated with alumina and Pt, the weight % would be Pt/(Pt+Al2O3)×100%. For a metal coupon that has been aluminized, then oxidized, then treated with solution of alumina and lanthanum and Pt, the weight of the oxidized aluminized layer would not be included in the calculation of weight % Pt. For superior results, the catalyst contains at least 30 wt % Pt, preferably at least 50 wt %, in some embodiments at least 70 wt %, and in some embodiments 30 to 90 wt %. In other preferred embodiments, the catalyst contains at least 3.0 mg/in2 Pt, more preferably 4.5 mg/in2 Pt (15 mg/in2 of a 30 wt % Pt on alumina washcoat), in some preferred embodiments at least 6 mg/in2 Pt, and in some embodiments 6 to 12 mg/in2 Pt. For purposes of this measurement, the area refers to the geometrical area of the substrate; for a flat surface such as a foil or coupon, this area is quite simple, for a honeycomb or finned substrate or reaction channel, it would include all the surfaces that are coated by catalyst. The amount of Pt or the weight percent of Pt can be determined by known methods of chemical analysis.
In some embodiments, a stabilized alumina layer is coated over, and preferably in direct contact with, a high surface area material such as alumina, preferably (gamma)-alumina. This configuration provides high surface area for good metal dispersion and/or high metal loadings and also provides a stabilized alumina layer for excellent stability. The high surface area material is porous; the meaning of a stabilized alumina "disposed over" or "coated over" a high surface area material means that the stabilized alumina may also coat crevices and cavities within a high surface area material (such as gamma-alumina) or within a large pore substrate (such as a felt).
In some preferred embodiments, the catalyst comprises a metal, ceramic or composite substrate having a layer or layers of a catalyst material or materials deposited thereon. Preferably, the substrate is thermally conductive. A preferred substrate is a finned substrate that is characterized by the presence of fins (such as square-wave type fins) on the substrate's surface. These fins may, for example, take the form of fins etched in the wall of an integrated reactor or a finned insert (such as a flat metal plate with one grooved surface) that can be inserted into a combustion chamber of a microreactor. In some cases, the reactor can be refurbished by replacing an insert. One method of fabrication within a microchannel comprises the use of a slitting saw, partial etching using a photochemical process, or a laser EDM. This type of support provides numerous advantages including: high heat flux with short heat transfer distances, high surface area, and low pressure drop. Preferably, the support has a height (including fins) of less than 5 mm and preferably less than 2 mm and a fin-to-fin separation of 1000 μm or less, and in some embodiments, a fin-to-fin separation of 150 to 500 μm. Alternatively, the catalyst may take any conventional form such as a powder or pellet.
In some embodiments, the catalyst includes an underlying large pore substrate. Examples of preferred large pore substrates include commercially available metal foams and metal felts. Prior to depositing any coatings, a "large pore substrate" has a porosity of at least 5%, more preferably 30 to 99%, and still more preferably 70 to 98%. In some preferred embodiments, a large pore substrate has a volumetric average pore size, as measured by BET, of 0.1 μm or greater, more preferably between 1 and 500 μm. Preferred forms of porous substrates include foams and felts and these are preferably made of a thermally stable and conductive material, preferably a metal such as stainless steel or FeCrAlY alloy. These porous substrates can be thin, such as between 0.1 and 1 mm. Foams are continuous structures with continuous walls defining pores throughout the structure. Felts are nonwoven fibers with interstitial spaces between fibers and include tangled strands like steel wool. Felts are conventionally defined as being made of nonwoven fibers. In one embodiment, the large-pore substrate has a corrugated shape that could be placed in a reaction chamber (preferably a small channel) of a steam reformer. Various substrates and substrate configurations are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,044 which is incorporated by reference.
A catalyst having a large pore support (and including the alumina-supported catalytically active sites) preferably has a pore volume of 5 to 98%, more preferably 30 to 95% of the total porous material's volume, with at least 20% (more preferably at least 50%) of the material's pore volume is composed of pores in the size (diameter) range of 0.1 to 300 microns, more preferably 0.3 to 200 microns, and still more preferably 1 to 100 microns. Pore volume and pore size distribution are measured by mercury porisimetry (assuming cylindrical geometry of the pores) and nitrogen adsorption. As is known, mercury porisimetry and nitrogen adsorption are complementary techniques with mercury porisimetry being more accurate for measuring large pore sizes (larger than 30 nm) and nitrogen adsorption more accurate for small pores (less than 50 nm).
In some embodiments, the catalyst, including the presence of catalytically active surface sites, as measured by BET, has a volumetric average pore size of less than 0.1 micrometer (μm). The catalyst, including the presence of catalytically active surface sites, as measured by BET, nitrogen physisorption, preferably has a surface area of more than 10 m2/g, and in some embodiments a surface area of 20 to 500 m2/g.
Some catalysts of this invention have a surface area, as measured by N2 adsorption BET, of at least 5 m2/g, more preferably at least 10 m2/g, and in some embodiments 5 to about 50 m2/g; and preferably maintain a surface area at or above these values after exposure to air at 1000° C. for 200 hours.
A catalyst support can be made from a composition that includes an alumina precursor. An "aluminum precursor" is any form of aluminum (such as an alumina slurry) that can be used to form solid alumina. The catalyst may be made starting from an alumina sol and/or solid alumina (including fumed alumina). Suitable, commercially available materials include colloidal alumina suspended in aqueous medium from Sasol, or Engelhard alumina ground to a particle size of 70-100 mesh. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the alumina precursor comprises fumed alumina particles. Fumed alumina is typically made by oxidizing aluminum chloride and is typically in the form of highly stable nanoparticles.
When an underlying substrate is used, an alumina slurry or sol can be coated over the substrate at any stage in the preparative process. For example, particles of a stabilized and heat-treated alumina can be slurry coated onto the substrate followed by depositing, drying and activating a metal via the impregnation method. Alternatively, a vapor coat or soluble form of alumina (or other high surface area material) could be applied onto a substrate prior to addition of a catalytic metal. In another embodiment, the substrate may be coated with a buffer layer formed in situ using chemical vapor deposition. The buffer layer may not have a high surface area, but may be used to create a layer with a CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) between that of the base metal substrate and that of the higher surface area catalyst support to promote good adhesion of the layers. The buffer layer may also be used to inhibit corrosion of the base metal substrate by creating a near dense and almost pin-hole free coating. Although solution (such as spray coating) or slurry coating is typically less expensive, vapor coating of the various materials could also be employed. In some preferred embodiments, a buffer layer is formed by vapor depositing a layer of aluminum that is heat treated in air to form a layer of alumina. A hydrothermal or thermal pre-aging treatment of a buffer layer can be conducted either before or after applying an alumina washcoat to a substrate.
Platinum can be deposited onto alumina using known techniques such as the incipient wetness technique. In some preferred embodiments, a Pt precursor is added after a pre-aging treatment.
Hydrocarbons according to the present invention include: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, aromatics, and combinations thereof including fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel, JP-8. For purposes of the present invention, "hydrocarbons" refers to fuels containing C—H bonds that combust to produce heat; although not desirable in a combustion fuel, less preferred embodiments of a "hydrocarbon" may include, for example, alcohols; since these can be combusted. Preferably, the hydrocarbon is an alkane or a fuel. Preferred alkanes are C1-C10 alkanes, such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, and isooctane. In some embodiments, fuel comprises methane, ethane, propane, butane, or combinations of these. The preferred oxidant is oxygen which, in some preferred embodiments, is in the form of air.
The present invention includes methods and systems in which a combustion catalyst is disposed within a microchannel reaction channel. The height and/or width of a reaction microchannel (wall-to-wall, not counting catalyst) is preferably 5 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or less, and in some embodiments 50 to 1000 μm. Both height and width are perpendicular to the direction of flow. The length of a reaction channel is parallel to flow through the channel and is typically longer than height and width. Preferably, the length of a reaction chamber is greater than 1 cm, more preferably in the range of 1 to 100 cm. Typically, the sides of the reaction channel are defined by reaction channel walls. These walls are preferably made of a hard material such as a ceramic, an iron based alloy such as steel, or a nickel-based alloy. In some preferred embodiments, the reaction chamber walls are comprised of stainless steel or inconel which is durable and has good thermal conductivity.
A combustion microchannel can be straight, curved or have a complex shape. Typically, the combustion channel will be adjacent to and conformal with an endothermic reaction channel. In some embodiments, fuel and oxidant enter together at the entrance of a channel; however, this configuration can lead to a hot spot wherever the conditions are sufficient for combustion, and may even lead to detonation. In preferred embodiments, the fuel or oxidant is added in a staged fashion along the length of channel; this allows careful control of temperature profile along the length of microchannel. The temperature may rise monotonically in a linear fashion or may rise more quickly near either the front or end of the catalyst bed. Thus, in some examples, the section of the catalyst-containing microchannel that exceeds 800° C. may only include the final 75%, or 50%, or 25%, or 10% of the catalyst bed, or any value therewithin. For the example of a temperature profile ranging from 650° C. to 850° C., the reaction may equilibrate near 840° C. and demonstrate an approach to equilibrium greater than 80% as defined by the peak temperature. The equivalent contact time spent in the reaction zone that exceeds 800° C. may be considerably less than the overall reaction contact time as defined by the entire reaction channel volume (i.e., the volume of the channel containing catalyst). As an example, the contact time within the entire reaction channel volume may be 5 ms, but only 1 ms in the reactor section at temperatures in the range of 800 to 850° C. In some embodiments, the temperature of the catalyst-containing microchannel may be highest near the end of the reaction zone, or, alternatively, may be higher near the front or middle of the reactor rather than near the end of the reaction zone.
One reactor design for an integrated combustion reactor 10 is schematically illustrated in
In addition to the combustion channel(s), additional features such as microchannel or non-microchannel endothermic reaction channels may be present. Microchannel reaction channels are preferred. Having combustion microchannels adjacent endothermic reaction channels enable temperature in the reaction channels to be controlled precisely to promote steam reforming, or other endothermic reaction, and minimize unselective reactions in the gas phase. The thickness of a wall between adjacent process channels and combustion channels is preferably 5 mm or less. Each of the process or combustion channels may be further subdivided with parallel subchannels. The flow through adjacent endothermic reaction and combustion channels may be cross flow, counter-flow or co-flow. As described in greater detail in some of the incorporated patents, in some preferred embodiments combustion channels may be formed of a fuel subchannel and a oxidant subchannel that are connected to allow the controlled mixing of fuel and oxidant (sometimes called staged addition). For example, a hydrocarbon fuel can be added at one end of a fuel subchannel and oxygen is added from an adjacent oxygen subchannel through holes along the length (typically only part of the total length) of the fuel subchannel. In some preferred embodiments, the combustion channels have a u-shape in which fuel enters one end of the "u," is combusted, and exhaust exits from the other side of the "u." In a particularly preferred embodiment, a hydrocarbon fuel such as methane further comprises hydrogen and CO (such as might be come from a part of the product stream of a steam reforming reaction that is powered by the combustion reaction) and this mixture is combusted with oxygen in a first zone of a combustion channel. The hydrogen combusts quickly and a second zone of the combustion channel contains a fuel-rich mixture of hydrocarbon, CO and oxygen. A third zone (the afterburner or exhaust zone) contains a fuel-lean mixture of hydrocarbon, CO and oxygen.
The reactors preferably include a plurality of microchannel reaction channels and/or a plurality of adjacent combustion microchannels. A plurality of combustion microchannels may contain, for example, 2, 10, 100, 1000 or more channels. In some preferred embodiments, multiple combustion layers are interleaved with multiple reaction microchannels (for example, at least 10 combustion layers interleaved with at least 10 layers of reaction microchannels). For example, 3 alternating, interleaved layers would comprise layers in the order combustion: reaction: combustion: reaction: combustion: reaction. Typically, flow into and/or out of some or all of a plurality of combustion and/or endothermic reaction channels passes through a manifold or manifolds that combines or distributes the fluid flow. In preferred embodiments, microchannels are arranged in parallel arrays of planar microchannels; preferably a layer comprising a parallel array of planar microchannels is adjacent with another layer comprising a parallel array of planar microchannels where the adjacent layers exchange heat.
Preferred reactors usable in the present invention include those of the microcomponent sheet architecture variety (for example, a laminate with microchannels). Examples of integrated combustion reactors that could be used in the present invention are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/222,196, filed Aug. 15, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. Some other suitable reactor designs and methods of making reactors are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/306,722, filed Nov. 27, 2002, and Ser. No. 10/408,744, filed Apr. 7, 2003, which are also incorporated herein, in full, by reference.
The reactors, catalysts and chemical systems of the present invention can also be described in terms of the data presented in the examples section. For example, a preferred reactor of the invention, can be characterized by testing under the conditions of run plan 2 (see Examples section) to obtain a given level of conversion or selectivity. Thus, the inventive reactors, catalysts and chemical systems can be characterized by a selected level of conversion or selectivity when tested under the conditions of any of run plans 1-10. These layers may also be described as "about" or "at least about" or "no more than about" the values shown in the Examples; it should be understood that these values are characteristic of various embodiments of the invention that can be obtained through routine experimentation in view of the descriptions herein.
The catalyst can fill up a cross-section of a combustion and/or endothermic reaction channel (a flow-through catalyst) or only occupy a portion of the cross-section of a reaction channel (flow-by). The use of a flow-by catalyst configuration can create an advantageous capacity/pressure drop relationship. In a flow-by catalyst configuration, gas preferably flows in a 0.1-2.0 mm gap adjacent to a catalyst insert or a thin layer of catalyst that contacts a microchannel wall (preferably the microchannel wall that contacts the catalyst is in direct thermal contact with a endothermic reaction channel, preferably an endothermic reaction process stream contacts the opposite side of the wall that contacts the catalyst). The term "bulk flow path" refers to an open path (contiguous bulk flow region) within the reaction chamber. A contiguous bulk flow region allows rapid gas flow through the reaction chamber without large pressure drops. In preferred embodiments there is laminar flow in the bulk flow region. Bulk flow regions within each reaction channel preferably have a cross-sectional area of 5×10−8 to 1×10−2 m2, more preferably 5×10−7 to 1×10−4 m2. The bulk flow regions preferably comprise at least 5%, more preferably 30-80% of either 1) the internal volume of the reaction chamber, or 2) the cross-section of the reaction channel. One example of a bulk flow path is the space between fins in a finned catalyst. The endothermic reaction channel(s) also preferably contains a bulk flow path having the properties discussed above.
The present invention also provides methods of combustion in which a hydrocarbon is reacted with oxygen at short residence times (or alternatively, described in contact times) over the catalysts described herein. The residence time is preferably less than 0.1 s. In some embodiments, short contact times are preferably 5-100 milliseconds (msec), in some embodiments, 10-25 msec.
Combustion reactions are preferably carried out at more than 650° C., more preferably more than 750° C., and in some embodiments in the range of 675 to 900° C. The reaction can be run over a broad pressure range from sub-ambient to very high, in some embodiments the process is conducted at a pressure of from 1 atm to 10 atm, more preferably 1 atm to 2 atm. In some preferred embodiments, where oxidant (typically oxygen that may be pure, or in the form of air, or in another mixture) is added along the length of a combustion channel, the combustion reaction conditions can be described as having three zones: an initial, fuel-rich zone (that may also contain H2 and CO) called the H2/CO zone; a middle partial oxidation (or POx) zone, and a fuel lean zone called the afterburner zone. Typically, these three zones are not distinct, but one zone gradually changes into the next. Fuel compositions in these zones are described at the start of a zone.
Certain aspects of the invention can best be described in terms of properties such as stability, conversion or selectivity. Both the catalysts and methods can be characterized in terms of hydrocarbon conversions and selectivities in combustion processes. Hydrocarbon conversion is preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 80% and still more preferably at least 90%. The foregoing conversion values can be either absolute or equilibrium conversions. If not specified, conversion refers to absolute conversion. Under conditions where conversion approaches 100% (as is the case in oxygen-rich, fuel-lean environments), absolute and equilibrium conversion is the same. "Equilibrium conversion" is defined in the classical manner, where the maximum attainable conversion is a function of the reactor temperature, pressure, and feed composition. In some embodiments, hydrocarbon equilibrium conversion is in the range of 70 to 100%. Hydrocarbon can be a mixture of hydrocarbons, or, in some embodiments, the term "hydrocarbon" could be replaced by "methane" in any of the descriptions herein. In the descriptions of preferred parameters for a multizone combustion process, the amounts of "hydrocarbon" (or contact time of hydrocarbon) are based on methane and it should be understood that for heavier fuels the flow rate would be reduced proportionately based on the conversion to CO2 and H2O; for example, for ethane the flow rate should be adjusted considering the stoichiometric ratio of oxygen to ethane now is 3.5 rather than 2.0 for oxygen to methane. So, if a patent claim states "a flow rate of 1.0 cc hydrocarbon", this means a flow rate of 1.0 cc methane or 0.57 cc ethane, etc.
In the H2/CO zone, the maximum temperature is preferably 810° C. or less, more preferably 800° C. or less, and in some embodiments the temperature is in the range of 670° C. to 800° C. The partial pressure of H2 is preferably at least 0.13 atm, in some embodiments in the range of 0.11 to 0.27 atm. The partial pressure of hydrocarbon is CO is preferably at least 0.044 atm, in some embodiments in the range of 0.04 to 0.1 atm. The partial pressure of hydrocarbon is preferably at least 0.071 atm, in some embodiments in the range of 0.064 to 0.16 atm. In some embodiments, mole fractions of hydrocarbon, H2, CO, and O2 are in the range of 0.06-0.08, 0.11-0.13, 0.04-0.05 and 0.1-0.12. Contact time of fuel (including both H2 and hydrocarbon) in the H2/CO zone is preferably 5 msec or less, more preferably 2.8 msec or less, and in some embodiments is in the range of 2 to 5 msec. Contact time of hydrocarbon in the H2/CO zone is preferably 200 msec or less, more preferably 40 msec or less, more preferably 20 msec or less, and in some embodiments is in the range of 5 to 20 msec. Conversion of hydrocarbon in the H2/CO zone is preferably at least 40%, more preferably at least 50%, and in some embodiments 40 to 60%. In some embodiments, relative amounts (by mole) of various components entering the H2/CO zone are 50-100 parts hydrocarbon, 35-60 parts CO, 120-150 parts H2, and 80-140 parts O2 and in some embodiments, 60-90 parts hydrocarbon, 35-60 parts CO, 100-150 parts H2, and 100-120 parts O2. Through the H2/CO zone, the hydrocarbon conversion is preferably at least 40%, in some embodiments 40 to about 70%, O2 conversion is preferably at least 40%, oxygen selectivity to H2O is preferably 80% or less, more preferably less than 75%, and the oxygen selectivity of hydrocarbon to CO is the same or greater than the oxygen selectivity of CO to CO2. For purposes of defining selectivity, O2 is assumed to be used for converting CO to CO2, CH4 to CO and H2, H2 to H2O, and CH4 to H2O. The percent of O2 used to selectively oxidize each of above mentioned compounds is calculated as O2 selectivity.
Defining [(exit flow rate CO2)+(inlet flow rate methane−exit flow rate methane)+(exit flow rate H2O)]=A
O2 selectivity to CO=(exit flow rate CO2)×100%/A
O2 selectivity to H2)=(exit flow rate H2O)×100%/A
O2 selectivity CH4 to CO=(inlet flow rate methane−exit flow rate methane)×100%/A
In the POx zone, the maximum temperature is preferably 850° C. or less, in some embodiments 820° C. or less, and in some embodiments the temperature is in the range of 750 to 850° C. The partial pressure of H2 is typically 0.02-0.07 atm. The partial pressure of CO is preferably at least 0.03 atm, in some embodiments in the range of 0.03 to 0.1 atm. The partial pressure of hydrocarbon is preferably at least 0.01 atm, in some embodiments in the range of 0.01 to 0.08 atm. In some embodiments, mole fractions of hydrocarbon, CO, and O2 are preferably in the range of 0.01-0.04, 0.03-0.06 and 0.02-0.06, respectively. Contact time of hydrocarbon in the POx zone is preferably at least 1.5 times that in the H2/CO zone, preferably 200 msec or less, more preferably 20 msec or less, and in some embodiments 10 to 20 msec. In some embodiments, relative amounts (by mole) of various components entering the POx zone are 15-50 parts hydrocarbon, 50-70 parts CO, 20-80 parts H2, and 20-100 parts O2, and in some embodiments, 10-70 parts hydrocarbon, 30-90 parts CO, 10-100 parts H2, and 25-70 parts O2. Conversion of hydrocarbon through the POx zone is preferably at least 35%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 60% and in some embodiments 40 to 80%. Conversion of CO through the POx zone is preferably 30% or less, more preferably 20% or less. Oxygen selectivity of hydrocarbon to CO through the POx zone is preferably at least 40%, more preferably at least 50%, and in some embodiments in the range of 40 to 50%.
In the afterburner zone, the maximum temperature is preferably 920° C. or less, in some embodiments 850° C. or less, and in some embodiments the maximum temperature is in the range of 750 to 900° C. The partial pressure of CO entering the afterburner zone is preferably at least 0.02 atm, in some embodiments in the range of 0.015 to 0.045 atm. The partial pressure of hydrocarbon entering the afterburner zone is preferably at least 0.006 atm, in some embodiments in the range of 0.005 to 0.015 atm. In some embodiments, mole fractions of hydrocarbon, H2, CO, and O2 are preferably in the range of 0.005-0.007, 0.006-0.008, and 0.04-0.05, respectively. In some embodiments, contact time of fuel in the afterburner zone is at least 3 times the contact time in the H2/CO zone, preferably 1 sec or less, more preferably 500 msec or less, and in some embodiments is in the range of 50-500 msec. In some embodiments, relative amounts (by mole) of various components entering the afterburner zone are 1-20 parts hydrocarbon, 10-50 parts CO, 0-20 parts H2, and 20-100 parts O2, and in some embodiments, 2-10 parts hydrocarbon, 10-30 parts CO, 0-10 parts H2, and 30-60 parts O2. Conversion of hydrocarbon in the afterburner zone is preferably at least 93%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 99%, and in some embodiments 93 to 100%. Conversion of CO in the afterburner zone is preferably at least 93%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 99%, and in some embodiments 93 to 100%.
The amounts of gases in each zone refer to components entering a zone. So the simplest case would be where all the components enter a zone together; however, one or more components could also be added in a distributed fashion along the length of a zone, or be added mid-zone, etc., and these would also be counted as entering the zone.
In some preferred embodiments, the catalyst is characterizable by the levels of stability and/or reactivity shown in the examples. For example, the catalyst (or reactor) is characterizable such that when exposed to a gas composition of 2% CH4, 4.4% O2, 10% H2O, at 0.68 msec contact time and 900° C. for 100 hours continuous TOS, more preferably after 300 hours continuous TOS, at least about 80% of the methane is converted. See
In some embodiments, a catalyst's properties (such as stability, conversion and selectivity) are defined by the following test procedure (referred to as "Test Procedure 1") and is based on the reactions described in the Examples in the section entitled "Microchannel Insert Testing". Catalysts should be tested as (or on) an insert in the test reactor. Reactors and systems can be characterized by adjusting the flow rates to obtain the same contact times as in the run plans. In this test procedure (which can be further understood with reference to the Examples), the catalyst is coated on to a FeCrAlY or aluminized alloy 617 substrate which is inserted into a single microchannel test reactor with a 10 mil gap for the reactant gases. The catalysts are tested in three simulated gas compositions, namely H2/CO, POX, and Afterburner zones, where the gas compositions are shown in the table below:
In several examples, the support material was La-stabilized alumina derived from Sasol 14N4-80 Boehmite which was calcined at 1000° C. for 4 hrs. Precursor materials for metal solutions included perrhenic acid and tetraammineplatinum hydroxide. For Re-containing catalysts, a desired amount of perrhenic acid was impregnated first to incipient wetness and calcined at 450° C. for 1 hr, then tetraammineplatinum hydroxide was impregnated to incipient wetness and inter-calcined at 450° C. for 1 hr. Multiple impregnations were conducted and the final calcination temperature was between 850 to 1000° C.
Microchannel Insert Testing
Catalyst inserts were tested in a two inch long microreactor designed for fast screening of catalysts using an insertable coated coupon. The reactor is made from a 0.5″ OD alloy 617 rod which is 2″ long. The insertable coupons were made with either FeCrAlY or aluminized (CVD of alumina layer) alloy 617 and sized to 1.0″×0.375″×0.02″. A slot sized 0.377″×0.021″×2″ was cut at the center to fit the insert and another slot adjacent to the insert is EDM (electro discharge machining) wire cut at 0.335″×0.01″×2″ for reactant gases to flow by the catalyst insert.
Before catalyst coating, FeCrAlY coupons were heat treated in air at 1000° C. for 8 hrs to grow native aluminum oxide. A alumina support (typically stabilized) and a catalyst metal (or metals) were added. Upon loading the coated coupon into the reactor Ľ″OD tube header and footer were attached to the reactor using ˝″ swagelock fittings to be connected to the test stand.
In some examples, the heat treated inserts were coated with slurry catalyst. In some examples, powder catalysts were ball milled for 24 hrs in slurry whose pH was adjusted to 4, 5 wt % solid content of Boehmite (18N4-80, Sasol) was added to the slurry before coating to the coupon, and the catalyst loading was targeted at 15 mg/in2.
In the examples, catalysts having supports made from fumed alumina were made by a process including three steps: 1) preparation of the support from 80% fumed alumina and 20% sol alumina, 2) stabilization of the support with La or Mg, and 3) impregnation of the stable support with active metal via incipient wetness. Two different approaches were used to insert of the catalyst in the microchannel devices: (A) Preparation of the final catalyst powder in a slurry with particle size less than 10 micron, and washcoating the microchannels with the catalyst slurry; or (B) The three steps take place directly on the microchannel: The microchannel is washcoated with fumed alumina and sol alumina slurry, followed by treatment with a solution of La or Mg, and finally treatment with active metal precursor. For option (B) several calcination and washcoating cycles were used to increase metal loading in a given geometric surface area of support.
An example of a protocol for making a combustion catalyst from fumed alumina is as follows:
The following recipe is given for preparation of 206 grams of ceramic support and 130 gram of catalyst metal
This example shows benefits of increasing Pt loading beyond 20 wt %.
Powder Catalyst Lifetime Screening
30 mg of catalyst was packed in a Ľ″OD quartz reactor diluted with SiC and tested for lifetime/screening. The reaction conditions were: 2% CH4, 4.4% O2, 10% H2O, 0.68 msec. Reaction temperature was 850° C. as the integrated microchannel device is expected to operate at less than 850° C. in the majority of the reactor.
Effect of Pt loading:
Effect of Re:
Pt and Pt—Re, each supported on La-stabilized fumed Al2O3 were compared at 850° C.; results are shown in
The effect of calcination temperature was studied on 30% Pt and 8% Re-19% Pt on 3% La—Al2O3. The catalysts were calcined at 850° C. and 1000° C. were tested for over 120 hours under fuel lean conditions (2% CH4, 4.4% O2, 10% H2O) at a contact time of 0.68 msec. Under these conditions, the catalyst calcined at 850° C. exhibited similar methane conversion as the catalyst calcined at 1000° C. Lowered calcination temperature was found to decrease the light off temperature of the catalyst. Results are shown in
Effect of Supports:
Initial Activity Screening in Microchannel Insert Test Device
Performance Testing over Fumed Alumina
As shown in
Activity measurement was made on the 8% Re-30% Pt catalysts supported on La-alumina derived from sol and La-alumina fumed (81 AA) as shown in
To study the support effect, 8% Re-30% Pt was prepared on Zr—La—Al2O3 (fumed alumina 51) on FeCrAlY. The methane conversion profile over all zones was very similar to that over 8% Re-30% Pt/La—Al2O3 (fumed alumina 81AA). However, CO conversion in the afterburner zone did not reach 100% and oxygen conversion in that zone also showed low overall conversion. POX activity on this catalyst was not as great as some other Pt-only catalyst.
As an alternative to slurry coating, we tested directly applying Pt and Re—Pt onto coupons (aluminized alloy 617 with a thermally grown aluminum oxide layer) as shown in
Direct Coating Methodology:
On heat treated aluminized alloy 617 coupon, aqueous metal solution used as precursors were directly applied at room temperature. For the Pt system, 9% (atomic Pt) of tetraammineplatinum hydroxide solution was used. After each coating, the coupon was calcined at 450° C. for 1 hr in air. Once the desired weight gain was achieved, the coupon was calcined at 850° C. for 4 hrs in air for the final calcination. For Re—Pt system, perrhenic acid or ammonium perrhenate can be used and was coated first before Pt was applied. The same calcinations protocol was used.
Sequential Coating Methodology:
A sequential coating method (building catalyst in-situ) has also been studied. La-PVA was coated on an aluminized coupon (the coupon was aluminized by CVD and thermally oxidized), then 7 layers of 20% alumina sol, 1 layer of 10% La nitrate, and 3 layers of 10% solution of tetraammineplatinum nitrate were sequentially coated on the coupon.
Indirect Coating Method (intervening sol-coated alumina layers)—The surface of alloy 617 coupon was aluminized by CVD, then oxidized at 1050° C. for 10 hrs to form a layer of alumina; an aqueous solution of 10 wt % La(NO3)36H2O and 1 wt % polyvinylalcohol (PVA) was applied to stabilize the alumina and calcined at 1000° C. for 4 hrs in air at 3.5° C./min; then a 20% alumina sol was applied over this and calcined at 1000° C. for 4 hrs in air at 3.5° C./min; then it was impregnated with 10 wt % La(NO3)36H2O aqueous solution and calcined at 1000° C. for 4 hrs in air at 3.5° C./min; followed by addition of Pt. The inter calcination for Pt coating was carried out at 450° C. for 1 hr and the final calcinations at 850° C. for 4 hrs.
Experimental testing showed that at least up to 3 mg/in2 alumina sol can be strongly adhered on the aluminized surface for 1000 hrs under a simulated combustion exhaust environment. We prepared Pt coated catalysts on La-stabilized alumina (<3 mg/in2). The effect of alumina sol loading on activity is shown in
The effect of Pt loading was studied on 3 coats of sol at two Pt loading levels, 4.5 and 2.5 mg/in2 as shown in
Citas de patentes
Otras citas
Citada por
Eventos legales
Imagen original


text:
Loading stream...
Now Playing
Connect with Us
Podcasts & RSS Feeds
|All Content
|View all podcasts & RSS feeds
7:05 pm
Mon November 1, 2004
Candidates for U.S. Senate
By Alabama Public Radio
Tuscaloosa, AL – Alabama Public Radio has been airing reports about the candidates campaigning to represent Alabama in Congress. In our final report, we hear from the candidates for U-S Senate. Republican incumbent Richard Shelby is campaigning for another six year term. His challenger is Democrat Wayne Sowell. Alabama Public Radio's Butler Cain narrates the interviews, and we begin with Senator Shelby's thoughts on the economy.
Republican incumbent Senator Richard Shelby is seeking re-election to the U-S Senate. Democratic candidate Wayne Sowell is challenging him for the position.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
First published September 09 1996 in the Car 96 section of The Times. Now reproduced with the kind permission of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, a founder member of The Brooklands Society.
As the Continent raced ahead, Britain's fledgling car industry was held back by archaic laws. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu recalls some of the pioneers whose talents and vision started it moving.
First Knight: John Henry Knight a landowner and amateur inventor with his 1895 model - now in the National Motor Museum.
"The first petroleum carriage for two people made in England"
Knight's house at Runfold, just outside Farnham is now a Preparatory school known as Barfield.
Knight and his manager used to drive through the country lanes around Farnham until he was eventually stopped for allegedly speeding up Castle Hill. Legend has it that his was the fisrt English speeding ticket although his manager was driving at the time.
Men who sparked the ignition.
Though we are celebrating the centenary of the British motor industry and its oldest company Daimler, it would have been difficult for the most patriotic of automobilists to have purchased a British-built car during 1896.
Daimler was the first of several companies set up under the umbrella of the notorious company promoter Harry J Lawson's British Motor Syndicate, and spent much of 1896 gearing up for production in the Coventry "Motor Mills". Cars were certainly sold under the "Daimler" banner that year, but these were Continental imports: the first British-built Daimler didn't reach eager customers until early in 1897.
The far-sighted Frederick Simms had established his Daimler Motor Syndicate in 1893 to exploit the internal combustion engines built by Gottlieb Daimler in Germany for industrial use and as power units for launches. But when Lawson, who had made a considerable fortune floating heavily over-capitalised companies on a gullible public, acquired Simms' company at the end of 1895, he relaunched it as a company whose purpose was the manufacture of motor cars.
Lawson had perfected his financial chicanery in the cycle trade, which had enjoyed a huge boom in the 1890s, along with the pneumatic tyre industry, which grew to colossal proportions under Harvey du Cros and his Dunlop company. These two industries should have provided an ideal springboard for a British motor industry to match that on the Continent, but in Britain the development of horseless carriages had been inhibited by laws enacted many years earlier to control the road-destroying proclivities of Heavyweight traction engines.
The Highways and Locomotives Act compelled mechanical vehicles to be preceded by a man on foot and restricted them to a maximum 4mph.
Other provisions, which set down requirements for tyre width and demanded that vehicles be "attended by at least three persons", precluded the development of the kind of light motor carriage becoming popular in France and Germany.
Progress had to wait for the introduction of a Bill in the House of Lords by Lord Salisbury's Conservative government in the spring of 1896 to enable "light locomotives" to be driven on the roads of Britain without breaking this archaic law.
The new Bill had been a long time coming and didn't become law until November 14, 1896, but when it was laid before the Commons in June 1896, one speaker forecast "a vast industry in auto motor cars".
Apart from the activities of Daimler and its cohorts in the Motor Mills, there was little sign of this in 1896. But there were several pioneers working independently to solve the problem of building a viable motor car, most notably the Lanchester brothers of Birmingham. The genius of the family, Fred, had turned his attention to developing a car when told that his work on heavier-than-air flight would ruin his reputation as a "sane engineer".
Work started on the Lanchester car in 1894 and it was completed late in 1895, making its first road run early in the new year. It was a brilliantly original machine, arguably the first all-British four-wheel petrol car. However, the uncompromising Fred Lanchester did not attempt to market his invention, but continued to develop and refine his designs. Consequently, a company to produce and market Lanchester cars was not organised until the very end of 1899. By then, a standard layout for car design had been established and the unique features of the Lanchester vehicles appeared eccentric.
Yet his concept of producing cars from absolutely interchangeable parts proved a profound influence on other manufacturers - most notably Henry Ford, himself a Lanchester owner, and remains the fundamental element of mass-production methods.
A lone experimenter who produced a primitive car during the 1880s was Charles Santler of Malvern Link, Worcestershire, who claimed to have helped Karl Benz build his first car in Germany in 1885-86. After his return to England, Santler began developing a steam car, but fitted it with a petrol engine in the early 1890s.
Since he had no intentions of building cars for sale, to the public, Santler carried out many of his trials on the private estate roads of nearby Madresfield Court to escape attention.
Similarly, when young Frederick Bremer of Walthamstow completed his tiny motor car in 1894, he only ran it after dark to avoid any trouble with the law, even though his original aim bad been to eliminate the tiresome pedalling that took the enjoyment out of cycling as far as he was concerned.
Remarkably, both cars still survive, as does the Knight car of 1895, which has been on display at Beaulieu since the Fifties and was exhibited 100 years ago at the "Horse & Horseless Carriage Exhibition" at the Crystal Palace as "the first petroleum carriage for two people made in England".
While these cars were one-off experiments, others were thinking of series production. Also at Beaulieu is the 1896 Arnold, an anglicised version of the German Benz dogcart built by a firm of agricultural engineers from East Peckham, Kent, who as "Arnold's Motor Carriage Company" had exhibited two cars at the Crystal Palace show in May 1896. However, Arnolds built only a dozen horseless carriages in 1896-98.
Early on the scene, too, was the Anglo-French Motor Carriage Company of Birmingham, an offshoot of a perambulator factory run by Leon L'Hollier (who had been arrested on December 22, 1896 for driving an "autocar or horseless carriage" at between 5 and 6 mph without "a person on foot preceding the said locomotive") and his business partner Gascoine.
Their firm imported Roger-Benz cars from Paris and modified them for the British market: by May 1896 they claimed to be "the best and most successful horseless carriage builders in the United Kingdom", but had ceased production by the end of the following year.
Other early ventures also failed to achieve success: the Britannia Company of Colchester was a successful maker of lathes and engineering equipment and their 1896 catalogue listed a range of "Facile" motor carriages powered by their single-cylinder "heavy oil" engine, though it seems that only electric carriages and bathchairs were actually made. In 1892 J. D. Roots of London built a strange two-stroke tricycle which also ran on "heavy oil": this led to the production of motor cars from 1896 in partnership with Cuthbert Venables, but output remained small.
There seemed no sure recipe. Petters, the Yeovil stationary engine maker, built "an experimental petroleum autocar" in conjunction with a local coachbuilder, Hill & Boll, and boasted "a large number of inquiries". Alas, there were few actual sales, and only a dozen were built.
When a young engineer named Herbert Austin, home from Australia as manager of the British branch of the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Company, visited Paris around 1895, he was astounded by the progress made in France, unfettered by draconian legal constraints. In May 1896 he persuaded his employers to invest £2,000 in the manufacture of motor carriages to his design.
His first three-wheeler car had a curious engine in which two cylinders shared a single combustion chamber, driving a single rear wheel by belt, but this design was soon supplanted by a second three-wheeler with a single front wheel. This was offered for sale as "the Wolseley Autocar Number 1" in a catalogue issued early in 1897, but failed to find any purchasers.
Austin, realising that three-wheelers were a mistake, then built a prototype with four wheels in 1899, and backed by arms manufacturers Vickers, Sons & Maxim, helped to form the Wolseley Tool & Motor Car Company in 1901 before founding the Austin company in 1905.
Lawson's monopoly had proved a sham, and in the late 1890s an increasing number of companies began to explore the possibilities of motor manufacture. Prominent among these was Napier of Lambeth, well-known as makers of printing and coin-classifying machinery, who in 1899 made a new engine for a racing Panhard-Levassor owned by the former London manager of the Dunlop Tyre Company, S. F. Edge. Napier did the job so well that Edge went to his former employer, Harvey du Cros, and persuaded him to finance a sales organisation for Napier cars, which became one of Britain's leading makes in the Edwardian era.
"It is refreshing," remarked Britain's premier motoring Journal, The Autocar, "to be able to add yet another name to the list of English motor builders whose work, when carefully scrutinised, so clearly excels the product of the French usines.
There may have been an element of jingoism in that statement, but it was undeniably true that the new industry was already becoming an important factor in the economic life of the nation.


text:
St. Johns United Methodist Church is gearing up for its annual Blessing of the Backpacks event a church initiative that gets kids ready for the upcoming school year.
The event, open to anyone who wants to attend, will he held on Sunday, Aug. 17 at the church, located at 104 Newberry St.
Each year, the church dedicates both its 9:02 a.m. and 11 a.m. services to the children.
During the services, children will get to read scriptures, pray, serve as ushers and greeters, enjoy music and listen to a kid-friendly sermon.
The children are asked to bring their backpacks so the pastor can bless them, a symbol that encourages them to carry their faith into the next school year. Parents are also encouraged to bring along extra school supplies to share with the churchs mission partners to go to children in need.
Stephanie Lord, the director of children ministries, said theres an understandable focus on getting children ready for school through grocery shopping and buying clothes, school supplies and other necessary items.
However, she said, it is equally important to make sure the kids are spiritually ready, as well.
We like to put that extra emphasis on the Christian faith to make sure our kids are spiritually ready to start the school year, as well, she said. Theyre invited up to the front of the church and the blessing is done for all the kids.
For more information, call 803-648-6891 or visit www.stjohns-umc.org.
Derrek Asberry is a beat reporter with the Aiken Standard. He joined the paper in June. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.
Aiken Standard file PHOTO BY DEDE BILES Triplets Maddy, left, Jessica and Abigail Smith brought their backpacks to St. Johns United Methodist Church to be blessed at a previous blessing.×
Aiken Standard file PHOTO BY DEDE BILES James Walker Wiedenman, 4, got his backpack blessed at St. Johns United Methodist Church at a previous blessing.×
STAFF PHOTO BY DEDE BILES ¬ ¬ Anna O'Flaherty performs during a service at St. John's United Methodist Church on Sunday morning, when a a blessing of the backpacks was held.×
Notice about comments:
Aiken Standard is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point.
We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click the X that appears in the upper right corner when you hover over a comment. This will send the comment to Facebook for review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.


text:
Research scientist Eric J. Wexler shows how to use Photoshop for detailed research and presentations.
A pharmaceutical research scientist shares his experience creating detailed biomedical imaging using Photoshop.
"Words cannot express how much you people at lynda.com have changed my life. I have learned more than I could have from reading books." —Joseph A.
more from our members »


text:
You are about to report the comment below to the Crash.Net moderators as being abusive.
An abusive comment may contain profanity, personal attacks or commercial SPAM.
Please do not report this comment as being abusive if you simply disagree with the
comment posted. If this is the case then you can click on the "disagree" icon () in the upper right
of the comment's post to show your dissatisfaction.
Crash.Net moderators will view all reported comments and will act as they deem necessary.
This may be editing the comment or total deletion.
I was at the tests today, the usual keyboard people at it. There were so many differences with the bike today. I think Honda has a big advantage with the electronics, the way they change down is unreal, at the end of the two straights they bang down the box and the revs almost stay the same, and the traction control is better then their rivals.
The Ducati looks like there is a different electronic package on the factory and non factory bike, but both traction control seems too harsh compared with Honda. Yamaha is somewhere in between. The CRT of Colin Edwards sounds like a road bike when changing down and traction control is no where near as good.
The easy way forward is to provide an F1 style controlled electronics package that can be adjusted within a set range.


text:
Staying Sharp: Ask The Experts About Keeping Your Brain Young, in White Plains
Saturday, Dec 1, 2012 at 10:00am-12:00pm
198 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606
On Saturday, December 1 the Staying Sharp seminar, a FREE public event on brain health will be held in the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. The event will include a panel discussion—from 10 am to 11:30 am—by local neuroscience experts, followed by a thirty minute long Q&A with the audience. The discussion will cover changes with memory in the aging brain—changes that are normal, and when to be concerned, Alzheimer's disease, and successful aging and keeping the brain healthy. It is a FREE event however, registration is required; to register call 1-877-926-8300 or go to http://bit.ly/Westchesterbrain to register online. The Staying Sharp program is presented through a partnership between the Dana Foundation, AARP and a generous grant from MetLife Foundation.


text:
HARTS, W.Va. — Ocie Hatfield Fugate, 77 of Harts, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at her residence.
Born September 5, 1935, in Guyan, she was a daughter of the late Onnie and Maggie Hatfield. Also preceding her in death was her husband of 33 years, Charles Fugate Sr.; her companion of 25 years, Tom Wright, and 12 siblings.
Ocie loved sewing, gardening, cooking and spending time with her family. She loved reading her Bible and visiting thrift stores.
Those left to cherish her memory include one son, Charles Fugate Jr. of Providence, Ky.; four daughters, Rhonda Belt of Providence, Mary (Greg) McCann and Fraulein (Billy) Adkins, both of Harts, and Charlene (Richard) Kirk of Barboursville; three step-daughters, Debbie Nichols, Cheryl Mills and Marty Murphy, all of Kentucky; two sisters, Vonnie Walls of Florida and Lucille (Chuck) DeBono of Michigan; three brothers, Lonnie "Buck" Hatfield, Roger Hatfield, and Freddie (Margaret) Hatfield, all of West Virginia; 18 grandchildren, Shawn Luzader, Melinda Stewart, Amanda Haught, Rebecca Kirk, Charles Fugate III, Sherry West, Ronnie (Frances) Brumfield, John (Patricia) McCann, Sarah (Marty) McCloud, Andrea (Allen) Gartin, Stan (Pam) Kirk, Angela (Glen) Church, Heather (TJ) Bell, Brandy (Kevin) Seavey, Clint (Becky) Adkins, Paul (Jodie) McCann, Zach (Alicen Patton) Adkins and Hannah (Joe) Shelton; many step-grandchildren; more than 30 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 23, at Freeman Funeral Home with Donnie Wells and Clint Adkins officiating. Burial will follow at the Harts Community Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, family and friends.
Memorial contributions can be made to Dignity Hospice of Chapmanville.
Freeman Funeral Home of Chapmanville is in charge of the arrangements.


text:
Data Sheets
Data Sheet & Ordering Info.
Important Safety Notice
D4GL-SK10-LK Data Sheet
Order a Copy of NFPA 79
Installation Manual
D4GL Installation Manual
D4GL-SK10-LK Installation Manual
Product Certification
Product Certification
Slim Guard Lock Safety-Door Switch
If you are evaluating the D4GL for a new application we suggest you click here to find a product with performance, size and price advantages over the D4GL.
Copyright © OMRON Scientific Technologies, Inc. 2006-2014 All Rights Reserved


text:
Classic New England Food?
I'm going to an international potluck on Sunday and I need to bring a dish from my home region, which is New England (specifically CT, so anything with "Boston" in the name doesn't count). Which would be easy, except that it can't be dessert and should (but doesn't have to be) vegetarian. Now I"m stumped. Anyone have any ideas? If only I could get Pepe's clam pizza mailed to me...
Talk is closed, but that doesn't mean the conversations have to stop!
Check out this post for a more thorough explanation, and jump onto our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to keep the conversations going!


text:
Forza for All Volleyball Fundraiser Golf Tournament
Saturday, Feb 28th noon shotgun
$80 includes green fee, cart, BBQ Dinner afterwards, & prizes
All proceeds go to Forza Youth Volleyball teams.
Format is Four person scramble. Anyone can play.
Make check payable to: Forza for All (Tax ID: 47-1082615) Mail to Sierra Lakes Golf Club, Att: Forza for all, 16600 Clubhouse Drive, Fontana, CA 92336
Deadline: February 25th
Questions or if you would just like to donate a prize etc. please email firstname.lastname@example.com
Forza is a youth volleyball club with over 200 girls participating, their players learn the value of being on a team: Practice hard, Help your teammates, learn to learn and grow as an athlete and person, and keep things in balance. Values that help a young lady improve at volleyball but more importantly improve as a person the rest of her life. Your contributions help make it possible for more young ladies to particpate. Please visist www.Forza1North.com.
Beginner /Intermediate
Series of 5 Sessions
Only $99
Our next class will begin soon.
Day 1-Introduction of the sport, fundamentals, etiquette, putting
Day 2- Art of Chipping and Pitching (Short game fundamentals)
Day 3- Full swing fundamentals, stretching, making and repairing divots, and learn how to use your irons.
Day 4-Learn how to use your utility woods and Driver
Day 5- Overall review Putting/Chipping/Pitching/Full swing fundamentals, on the course experience.
Contact Eric Yoo to sign up (909) 350-2500 ext. 31 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Name:_________________ Phone#:_________________
E-mail:_____________________ Desired Class #:____________
With just a few lessons, we will teach everything you need to play golf! Learn various golf skills and apply them on the course.


text: Kate Middleton is the soon to be bride of Prince William and since being thrust into the spotlight, her style has evolved from safe and conservative to elegant and chic. After attending Marlborough College in Wiltshire, Kate met Prince William eight years ago when they both studied at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Since then, her fashion choices as a potential princess have been keenly watched - from polo matches and friends' weddings to roller discos. We love her English elegance and poise and look forward to many more fashionable moments from this soon to be princess.


text:
- Error
Student Education Plan (SEP) Conferences are very beneficial. They are held twice annually to discuss educational goals and objectives, to solve problem situations, to develop plans for helping students at school and at home, and to review student progress. Additional meetings may be arranged upon the request of students, parents, or teachers.
Should a particular problem arise with your student, please contact the teacher first. If the problem is not resolved, contact the school principal. Please do not contact the Superintendent or members of the school board about such concerns if you have not first contacted those parties directly involved with your student. Nearly ALL problems can be resolved quickly and to everyone's satisfaction if you remember with whom the first contact should be made.


text:
...for women...
Female hormonal issues are on the rise – PMS, painful, heavy or irregular periods, fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility; the list goes on. Many of these conditions are associated with a situation of 'oestrogen dominance'.
Oestrogen is a complex hormone with many important functions within the body. Traditionally, oestrogen levels have been measured in the blood but it is becoming clear that the way oestrogen is broken down in the body also has a major impact on many areas of our health.
Oestrogen is metabolised by two pathways in women; one via a pathway that produces 'good oestrogen' and the other a pathway that produces 'bad oestrogen'. The ratio between these two oestrogens is gaining acceptance as a predictor of risk for a range of health disorders. Whenever our oestrogen levels get too high we have an increase in bad oestrogen and the effects of this can become clear for many women pre-menstrually.
Fatigue, irritability, sugar cravings, headaches, bloating and general aches and pains can all be signs that your oestrogen levels are too high. Excess oestrogen can also cause you to have painful, heavy periods and, more seriously, is associated with endometriosis, fibroids and breast cancer.
The great news is that there are simple changes we can make to our diet and lifestyle to make sure our oestrogen levels are within a healthy range. For example:
Blood sugar balance
So, it's clear that to stay healthy we need to keep our oestrogen levels within a healthy range and promote the breakdown of oestrogen down the good oestrogen pathway. And by doing so, you'll find your health is taken to a whole new level.
Article by Jessica Donovan, Naturopath
Jessica is an Adelaide-based naturopath, a specialist in live blood analysis, and the founder of Bounce Optimum Health & Wellbeing. She helps people achieve health and vitality using nutrition, lifestyle and natural medicines. Jessica specialises in correcting digestive disorders, female hormonal problems and children's health issues.
For more information visit www.bounceoptimumhealthandwellbeing.com or phone 0410 200 244.
Thanks to the Fitness First Magazine for providing this article


text:
Columbia Gas donates to riding facility
FRANKLIN FURNACE, Ohio -- The Ohio University Center for Therapeutic Riding at the Ohio Horse Park has been given a $5,000 grant from Columbia Gas of Kentucky to continue its mission of healing.
A growing number of participants, including injured soldiers, are benefiting from therapy at the center. Horseback riding helps improve balance and provides physical strengthening to patients. Interacting with the horses also has a calming effect, which can help a variety of patients with different needs, according to a news release from Columbia Gas.
The grant is to improve the riding facilities at the Ohio Horse Park, where the Ohio University Center for Therapeutic Riding provides horseback riding and equine-assisted activities for children and adults with physical, emotional, and developmental challenges. The Center utilizes students and volunteers to work with specially trained horses to offer a variety of services to their clients.
"This grant was such a welcome gift as we were starting to put participants on waiting lists due to lack of equipment and additional riding space," Kelly Hall, director of Equine Studies and the Ohio Horse Park Center for Therapeutic Riding, said in the release. "With the addition of veterans, new needs arose due to their unique challenges and this grant will help us meet those needs. Because of the support from Columbia Gas, our program can provide this beneficial interaction with horses to even more people in the tri-state community."
The organization was nominated for this grant by the Columbia Gas of Kentucky/Ironton Inclusion & Diversity Council, a group of employee volunteers from Columbia Gas of Kentucky and Columbia Gas of Ohio in Ironton. The group visited the facility during the summer of 2012 and was impressed by the positive impact therapeutic riding can have on participants.
"Seeing this facility first-hand was very eye-opening," Columbia Gas of Kentucky President Herbert A. Miller Jr. said in the release. "We are pleased to support the work done by the staff and volunteers and to help more people benefit from the therapeutic services offered at this facility."


text:
By Kathy Bevan
One Percent Realty
One Percent Realty in B.C. is now one of the "veterans" of Canada's non-traditional brokerages. With a network of 140 salespeople serving most of B.C., the firm's business model has changed very little since it first started up in 1998 in Vancouver. The company's share of commission is still its namesake one per cent, but as of January 1, the minimum charge increased to $6,000 from its original $5,000. The firm also charges $900 per listing for MLS fees, title searches and a set amount of advertising; if the vendor wants more ads, there's an additional fee.
"I come from a project marketing background where the developer paid all your costs, so that's where the business model came from," says company founder and broker/owner, Ian Bailey. "I'd show them a book and say, 'Here's what an ad in the Real Estate Weekly costs, here's what a virtual tour costs, what do you want to do?'"
Bailey points to the addition of Schedule A to B.C. listing agreements, about four years ago, as a big plus for his business model. "Schedule A basically says what you're going to do – are you going to hold open houses, have a lockbox, advertise, what's the deal? It's been perfect for us, because prior to Schedule A, other Realtors could say, 'You don't get the level of service that we offer'," says Bailey. "It puts everything on the table and that's what we're all about. Realtors don't really like discussing what the commission is, but we do. We talk about everything, what we're going to do, what you're going to get for that."
Bailey says One Percent had about 2,000 sales last year – a recovery year for the B.C. market – and notes that his business model does particularly well working with consumers in small towns. "These are people who, if we're saving them $10,000, know what that looks like and how long it takes them to get that $10,000."
Donald Hewie Real Estate
Ottawa Realtor Don Hewie had been working in real estate sales for more than two decades when he decided to start up a flat fee brokerage in 2006. His business model was based on unbundling all aspects of the real estate transaction.
"I estimated that, from the time I listed a house to the time it sold, on average it took about 11.5 hours of my time per listing." Hewie then came up with an hourly fee of roughly $150/hour and let his clients choose which services they wanted him to provide.
"I wanted to be the Canadian Tire or the Home Depot of Realtors," says Hewie. "If a real estate company is a pure real estate company, they would be offering whatever services consumers wanted. They'd be selling the marketing tools, the signs and the lockboxes – providing consumers with whatever services they could to help them sell successfully privately. If I go to Canadian Tire, they'll either fix my car or they'll sell me the parts and show me how to fix it myself. So does Home Depot. I want to be that for real estate."
Hewie revised his business model in 2007, when CREA introduced its MLS interpretations. Today his three-person office offers three different fee structures, with the highest commission at 3.5 per cent for full services – Hewie retains one per cent and selling agents get 2.5 per cent.
Hewie says, "In real estate, we're all the same – we have the same tools at our disposal, there is no difference with MLS, the sign, the lockbox. So in order to distinguish ourselves from everyone else, we have to market ourselves. That's why you see a lot of agents marketing themselves – the girl with the hat, the guy with the dog. There's this team, that team. We're all the same, there's no difference. My marketing strategy is, I offer lower fees and that resonates with consumers more than the girl in the hat and the guy with the dog."
ViewPoint Realty
Bill McMullin
Halifax-based ViewPoint Realty is one of the newest non-traditional real estate operations in Canada. The company launched its technology-driven real estate services in January, after more than 12 months of software development and data acquisition. Its full service listing package is priced at three per cent, of which two per cent goes to co-operating brokers and one per cent goes to ViewPoint. The company has three people working as Realtors, including founder and CEO Bill McMullin, plus a half-dozen people working behind the scenes in technology support. A key differentiator for ViewPoint Realty – all salespeople and staff are on salary, none are working on commission.
"We don't believe in the commission model of real estate, we really don't – there's a simple reason for that," says McMullin. "We don't believe Realtors can sell houses – and I want to be clear: Realtors can help market a house, but we've yet to find a buyer who ever bought a house because of something the Realtor told them or some sales pitch the Realtor gave them. Almost 100 per cent of the time buyers indicate they bought because No. 1, they knew it was for sale – that's a marketing challenge. No. 2, it was in the right location. No. 3, it was the right price. It obviously met their needs, of course. None of those involve selling."
McMullin describes his firm as a traditional real estate brokerage focused on streamlining the transaction process for consumers. "Everything the consumer wants to be easier, we want to make it easier – that's our mission. Not to get rid of the Realtor, because the consumer will decide, okay, I need a human to help me with that negotiation and a human to help me with pricing and a human to deal with a scenario or situation in a counter-offer," says McMullin. "You're not going to have a self-service checkout where you take your house, put it on the conveyor and go through with your debit card. I really do believe there's going to be a role for the professional for the foreseeable future. All we're doing is streamlining the front end – the explore stage for buyers and sellers – and the back end."
Looking ahead
McMullin doesn't foresee ViewPoint Realty changing its business model, regardless of any future ruling by the Competition Tribunal, but he questions what a changed MLS would look like. "This national central MLS works really well; it's an efficient system of disseminating information. If we break up that, how does that help the consumer?" McMullin asks.
He adds that he's seen the MLS changes CREA had shared with the Competition Bureau in January. "I'm still at a loss: what is the Competition Bureau looking for? I'd like to know. I'm not skeptical or critical, I just want to know – what is it, what outcome do they want? Because, except for taking the Realtor completely out of the listing process of listing MLS, I don't know what's left."
Ian Bailey of One Percent doesn't anticipate his business model will be impacted by any changes to MLS access, as long as the MLS information itself remains intact. "What I hope it doesn't do is destroy the data. What if you've got all these For Sale By Owners on there and they're not reporting their sales? What's wonderful right now is our access to information. We know what every house sold for, we can look at the pictures, the digital photos for everything that's been on MLS for the last 10 to 15 years and go and see the guy's living room. You know the dimensions of the place, you know everything about it and what it sold for in 1996 and 1998 and 2002. And now, it could turn into a mess, which would be a shame."
Meanwhile, Donald Hewie of Donald Hewie Real Estate is anxious to see changes to MLS access, so his business model can work the way he wants it to, offering everything "from full service to no service", serving FSBOs as well as full-service clients.
Posted: 2010-04-05 07:28:50
Want to sell condo Toronto? If yes then you are at the right place. At Canada, especially in Toronto your search for a perfect real estate broker to find out best Toronto Condo for Sale can't end at a better place. I Marco Momeni, assures you best value for your condo and unmatched customer service at most competitive cost. I can even help you make your condo more attractive so that we can finish the whole transaction and selling procedure in least possible time. Selling a condominium in Toronto is a very herculean task. And if you want to try to sell condo Toronto all by yourself then the whole process will be nightmarish. So let me handle your Toronto condo for sale, I guarantee you best value at most affordable price. I even have the experience to take care of all the legal procedures such as preparation of agreement papers and various other necessary things which are required at the time of condo selling. We are committed to strike the best deal for your Toronto condo for sale by finding out the most suitable person or family who can pay you correct amount. I can achieve this by utilizing mine as well as your network of family, friends, neighbors, office colleague etc. I even strive hard enough to popularize your Toronto condo for sale by using internet, print and visual medium, and various other advanced advertising and marketing techniques. As I have years of experience selling, buying and renting properties in Canada and especially in Toronto, We know in great detail about the important factors that makes difference in sealing a deal. Using all these knowledge, I give my clients many inputs and advices about staging their property which makes them more attractive and gets them better return on that.


text:
This Saturday, November 3rd is the US premiere of On the Road at the AFI Film Festival. It will be held at Grauman's Chinese Theater at 8pm. Tickets are sold out, but there will be a red carpet.
From AFI's website:
Walter Salles gives Jack Kerouac's coming of age classic new life with a screen adaptation that burns bright and boldly captures the spirit of the novel. The ensemble cast brings Kerouac's characters to life with an intensity that overflows from the start. Garrett Hedlund gives a standout performance as a kinetic Dean Moriarity, the beautiful star who draws everyone in his vicinity into the vortex of his boundary-pushing paths to self-discovery. Sal Paradise (Sam Riley) narrates as he builds up an archive of boozing, sexing and drugging to reference in his future life as a writer and everyone falls for Marylou (Kristen Stewart), who challenges the societal constraints placed on her sexuality because of her gender whenever the opportunity arises. Fueled by post-war Beat Generation disillusionment, Dean, Sal and Marylou hit the road against a backdrop of jazzy '50s cool, to discover, find and challenge the definition of freedom.
There will also be a For Your Cosideration screening with the Screen Actor's Guild that also includes a Q&A with Garrett, Kristen and Walter. This one is only open to SAG members.
On the Road
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 7:00PM
Pacific Design Center
8687 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90069
Q&A: Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, and Walter Salles
And last but certainly not least, OTR producer Charles Gillibert tweeted that there will be a New York City premiere on December 13th.
I'll keep you guys update when I find out more.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2012 at 5:42 pm and is filed under Movies, On The Road. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


text:
The Advocate has been serving the students and staff at Mt. Hood Community College, and other interested readers, for nearly 30 years. The weekly newspaper is produced entirely by students with the student staff numbering between 25-40 students each year. The Advocate is the official publication of the Associated Students of Mt. Hood Community College, although the student government plays no role in dictating policy and content of the publication. The Associated Student Government, through its annual budgeting process, provides partial funding of The Advocate, with the remainder of the operating revenue generated through advertising sales. Quarterly tuition waivers are provided for qualified members of the publications staff.
The Advocate strives to involve all segments of the college community in a fair and balance presentation of MHCC, and works toward the goal of being informative, timely, lively, relevant, compelling and thought-provoking.
Now The Advocate is on-line. Check it out at www.advocate-online.net


text:
We can feel life in an empty playground, an empty factory, an empty classroom. It is the empty academic setting to which artist Gary Simmons has turned his camera, with memorable results.
The St. Louis Art Museum stays afloat in the waters of the latest modern art thanks to the Currents series of emerging artists. The revolving-door gallery that is Currents now showcases the latest development in the career of the evolving artist Simmons.
A visit to Gallery 337 yields a confrontation with seven large-scale photographic prints of abandoned classrooms, conference rooms, study carrels and auditoriums at Ivy League universities. They are sufficiently large and of such perspective that we feel we are inside these rooms. Why have we come here? The viewer is alone, perhaps as a ghost, in "rooms that have had successive generations of use," as Rochelle Steiner, assistant curator of modern art, puts it. All of the traffic, these generations of youth who have come to expand their minds in spaces specially constructed for learning, has left a kind of spoor.
What we see in these photos varies according to the viewer. What is significant is that there is some resonance for each of us, because images from the formative years, as they are called, hold power. The large field of numbered chairs of "Not in Session" reveals us as numbers in a cattle culture of impersonal masses. Similarly, the study carrels of "Low Noise Zone" are practically solitary-confinement cells in a prison. The periodic table resting above 10 sliding blackboards in "Periodic" lies ready to indoctrinate another year of eager freshmen into some obscure cult. The dim lighting and grid of sturdy chairs in "511" suggest some secret knowledge imparted to a pack of acolytes who fled just before the photographer arrived. Viewers will make associations with hard work, happy times, exclusion of minorities from higher education, useless knowledge and who knows what else. The images are purposely ambiguous yet universally resonant.
Looking at Simmons' career makes it apparent that he is still very much changing and developing as an artist. At Minneapolis' Walker Art Center in 1991, for a group exhibit called Interrogating Identity, Simmons displayed a pair of bronzed Reeboks, a video installation of a bouncing basketball paired with the sounds of tap dancing, and a pair of robes hung on the gallery wall, their backs embroidered "Us" and "Them." These early stabs at conceptual art clearly sent messages about his views on the black experience in America. He later placed a live and voluble cockatoo on a podium before a blackboard, communicating his views on education rather baldly.
Then, switching the medium and the message, Simmons' work became more complex. He attracted attention for a series of exhibits involving wall-sized blackboards marked by chalk drawings that he had rubbed partially out with his hands. Visitors were affected by the reproductions of racist images from old cartoons, such as the avuncular crows from Disney's Dumbo, and the way Simmons had nearly but not entirely erased them. The effect was of a subjective dream image hovering in blackness. His political explanation was that a stereotype cannot be completely erased but persists in the mind, perhaps indistinctly, partly because of pop culture.
He turned his focus to learning and memory and how they interact, drawing objects that carry loaded memories like a romantic Victorian gazebo and a roller coaster that filled the museum wall. His hand-blurring of the chalk drawings was different for each image, depending on what he wanted to convey. His roller coaster is a humongous ghost that must be seen to be fully appreciated. It and other objects seem to be in motion or frantic buzzing as a result of the smearing.
Most recently Simmons filled a New York gallery with a glut of free-standing chalkboards on which he drew coniferous trees on one side and buildings on the obverse. The effect of twisting around the blackboards to view the exhibit was of moving in a train past forests and small towns. Again he was playing with the way "sites of memory," as he puts it, embed themselves in the mind, perhaps influenced by the hypnotic motion of a journey by train and the ever-shifting views from the window. And, of course, the chalkboard exhibits were all site-specific and temporary, underscoring the fleeting nature of memory.
"The (Currents) pictures are focused on the idea of memory and pedagogy, the ways we learn and remember, sites where we learn and remember, the ways our memory is formed based on our learning," says Steiner.
These sites are nearly as big as life, in photographs sized to dominate a wall. They can't be ignored, not because they are a lively spectacle but because they are a dead spectacle. They are charmless pupae from which lectured-at young adults emerge annually. This is the last place we come to learn about life before we are released into it.
Sponsor Content


text:
Top Paw® Seat Belt Strap
Item: 36-7479
- Restrains your pet in case of an accident
- To be used with Comfort Wrap or any harness
- Made exclusively for PetSmart
- Place seatbelt strap through the loop (handle) at theend of the restraint strap.
- Tighten the handle by adjusting the plastic slide
- Attach the snap of the restraint strap to the D shaped ring on your dog'sharness
Can also be used as a lead.
Note: Not to be used with a collar.
Top Paw Seat Belt Strap 9 11
Did not work for us I brought this strap to keep my dog from climbing in the front seat while driving. I worried that if we got into an accident that he would be hurt. The strap is easy to attach to the seat belt. The problem was, my dog was determined to get into the front seat and chewed through the seat belt. He was getting anxious because he was unable to move around the back seat. I am afraid to try it again because I am down one seat belt and I need them to drive the kids around. I'm happy for the people it worked for, but it was a complete flop for us. September 4, 2013
Great Car Harness I purchased this seat belt (and a car harness) after I was in a car accident very close to home. We frequently drive with our dog, Trudy, and realized it was a good precaution. This seat belt strap is simple to use, and can be left on the seat belt. It attaches quickly and still provides a lot of movement for your pup in the car if they like to lay on the floor or move from window to window. January 17, 2013
Life Saver- for your nerves and your pet! I have 2 BIG boys (Shepherds) who love to ride with me in the car, but they cant sit still. They are constantly going back and forth between window seats and one even crawled in my lap once to look out my window! Nearly causing a crash was the last straw for me, so I bought these harness/seatbelts and from the first day I LOVED it! It keeps my boys from falling off the seat every time I brake or turn. It keeps my rear view clear now that they aren't constantly standing up in the backseat. And it keeps them in one spot so there are no distractions for me, They love it too cause now I can roll the windows down for them without fear of them jumping out! Great Product for anyone who has adventurous & mischievous pets like me!! January 10, 2013
I bought this for my Pom-Chi mix and it is wonderful! It keeps her safe in the car and it keeps her off my lap while I drive. I highly recommend this product. July 8, 2012
$ 20.99
$ 12.99
$ 39.97Reg: $ 75.99
$ 6.49 to $ 8.49
$ 9.99
$ 22.99 to $ 26.99
$ 10.99 to $ 14.99
$ 19.99 to $ 21.99
$ 19.99 to $ 27.99
$ 22.99 to $ 26.99
$ 9.99
$ 34.99 to $ 44.99


text:
Dom Famularo
View Single Post
Platinum Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 2,685
Re: Dom Famularo
I first met Dom back in 1980 at a clinic for the Long Island Drum Center. I could imagine it was one of his earliest, if not his first major clinic. So I feel special.:) He was great even back then, captivating and imaginative. Dom was doing the open-handed playing back then, though he played traditional grip. I had read through Jim's book, Advanced Techniques, open-handedly as the instructions say, so I was impressed. It is strange that many notables will disparage Jim's book. I still use that book today. Just recently I went through it with a baiaon samba foot ostinato and cascara cymbal rhythm. It was all there in Jim's book 60 years ago if you had the foresight to see it. Jim invented everything when it comes to a modern approach to playing the drum set. When I was a kid I wanted to study with Jim Chapin. But I moved out to California after college so I never got the chance. Now back in NY, I still e mail Dom asking him when Jim is going to be available for a lesson. God Bless Jim.
I always wanted to study with Dom, as well, which I finally got to do recently. He really helped me to get focused on the drum kit. He has the formula for success, and I've been able to use his technique in concrete applicable ways. That's what it is all about in the end. His drumming style has changed over the years and is still changing. He is truly an innovator .I think if I had to note one thing about Dom, it would be his openness. Every teacher you go to will say this is the way to do things; but Dom brings it all in. He does not scoff at anything. His openness in that regard is a breadth of fresh air. I continue to learn from his teaching everyday both as a student and a teacher.
Last edited by Deltadrummer; 10-05-2007 at
View Public Profile
Send a private message to Deltadrummer
Find all posts by Deltadrummer


text:
Zac in Us Weekly – Scan
Posted by Hayley in Feb 27,2012 with No Comments
This entry was posted on Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 10:07 am and is filed under Zachary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


text:
Hold down Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key + mouseclick to select more than one option
|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by Doc on 06/09/2014
Friendly staff, extensive menu, quick delivery and the burritos never disappoint! I love this place <3
Posted by Darren on 10/24/2013
They should list Mexican as one of their food categories above! I was just wondering by this nondescript deli and noticed a sign promising Mexican and Spanish food inside. Of course, I had to investigate, so I walked in and made my way past the regular food bar/deli counters to find a Mexican menu and counter in the back. Excited, I ordered a grilled chicken burrito with "everything on it": creamy black beans, shredded cheese, yellow rice, guacamole, pico de gallo, spicy verde salsa, sour cream, and shredded lettuce. They made it fresh right in front of me and even heated it on the grill to melt the cheese. It was authentic and delicious and will turn out to be two meals because I could only finish the first half. I'll definitely be back!
Posted by R.R. on 04/29/2011
I just found this place recently by work, but have ordered many times already and so have my co-workers. We all like it a lot. Food is good, prompt delivery and very nice people. :-)
Posted by jack on 05/27/2010
Great deli for breakfast and lunch. Great food, speedy delivery - nice people.