Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Usable Energy Resources Expand Under The Economic Pressures Of Fuel Scarcity, Raphael Shen

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Until mankind finds properties in materials that are useful and usable under given economic conditions, these materials are not resources. In the past, many of them became usable as the ones they replaced became scarce and expensive. Market induced R & D toward profit seeking and cost minimization hastens to incorporate currently unused materials into the productive processes. With the increase in oil and natural gas prices, hitherto untapped energy sources present themselves as attractive alternatives. There will be no permanent shortage of energy resources, and the current energy crisis will be a page of past history in the foreseeable …

The Cost Of Crop Residues As An Auxiliary Fuel Source For Coal-Fired Power Plants, Cameron Short, Burton C. English, Steve K. Johnson, Earl O. Heady

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Estimates are made of the costs of crop residues as an auxilary fuel to existing coal-fired power plants. Costs of crop residues include costs for foregone agronomic benefits of incorporating crop residues, and costs for harvesting transporting processing and boiler modifications. A range of cost estimates is given depending on annual demand.

University Of Missouri--Rolla Wood Energy Research, Yildirim Omurtag, V. J. Flanigan, Nathan E. Welch

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The overall objective of this project is to conduct a research and development program which will lead to the early commercialization of wood gasification technology to process wood residues typical of those found in the Ozark region.

Innovations In Heat Pumps, Ronald Hunter Howell, Harry J. Sauer Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The status of the residential heat pump industry is reviewed. Some potential improvements in energy efficiency, operational reliability, and initial cost are described and delineated. These possible innovations include two-speed or variable speed compressors, reliable defrost initiation and termination, improved system components, modifications to the basic thermodynamic cycle, add-on-heat pumps, solar assisted heat pumps, annual cycle energy system, chemical heat pumps, and gas fired heat pumps.

It's The Effort That Counts, Wayne L. Daniel

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This paper outlines the approach taken by a graphic arts company to continue operating within the confines of its non-interruptible General Service Rate for natural gas and simultaneously expand its production volume.

Geophysical Approaches To Coal Exploration, Gerald B. Rupert

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The exploration for minerals by geophysical means has been confined largely to the search for hydrocarbons and metallics while applications to coal exploration are somewhat limited. However, the surface reflection seismic technique has been successfully applied not only to delineating coal deposits but also as a tool in mine exploitation. Furthermore, channel waves generated underground have demonstrated potential in detecting the presence of faults in advance of the coal face and Vibroisis* experiments have been conducted whereby abandoned underground workings have been detected by surface seismic arrays. Examples of all of the preceeding are presented and discussed.

Energy - Minerals - Environment: How Now Brown Cow?, Bobby G. Wixson

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Energy, technical, social, political, economic, and environmental problems are all people related problems which will continue to increase along with the world's population. With the growing demands for more energy and minerals along with the constraints of protecting the environment, new approaches must be considered to these complex problems.

Energy sources, modifications, alternatives, and new developments must be considered for the present as short term resources (next 25- 30 years) and in the future as long range research necessary to develop and implement new technology (25 years on). Major energy sources and their environmental considerations are generally classified as:

I. …