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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 1, 2007) - Southern Research Institute today announced that Robert S. Dahlin, Ph.D., P.E., has been named director of its Power Systems and Environmental Research Department in Birmingham.
"Bob knows and understands the environmental issues facing the coal-fired electric utility industry, so we are fortunate to have him guide and direct the research group which focuses its efforts on specifically addressing the R&D needs for electric power producers," said Michael D. Johns, vice president of the Engineering Division at Southern Research.
Dahlin has 28 years of experience in engineering, design, and evaluation of advanced technologies in gasification, combustion, and hot-gas cleanup. Dahlin will be responsible for Southern Research's environmental and energy research in Birmingham and at the Power Systems Development Facility (PSDF) in Wilsonville, Ala. His research work at the PSDF has been key to the highly successful on-site programs in hot-gas filtration and hot-gas cleanup, and served as the basis for the first published procedure for sizing hot-gas filter systems in gasification applications. Recently, his research was key to the successful demonstration of procedures and treatments for the prevention of agglomeration during the gasification of high-sodium lignite.
Dahlin will continue to serve as Southern Research's on-site project manager at the PSDF where he will be responsible for developing test plans and budgets, analyzing test results, and preparing reports concerning the evaluation of hot-gas cleanup systems.
Dahlin has managed a wide variety of environmental projects for private corporations, utilities, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Electric Power Research Institute. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Alabama and North Carolina and is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Air & Waste Management Association. Dahlin holds seven patents related to in-situ particulate sampling and flue gas conditioning. He is also a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honorary, Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honorary, and Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. Dahlin also serves as a reviewer for DOE's Small Business Innovative Research Program, the Journal of Air and Waste Management Association, and the Symposium for Gas Cleaning at High Temperatures.
Dahlin is the author of more than 45 technical publications and presentations, co-inventor on seven patents, and recipient of several awards for scholarly research and academic achievement, including Tau Beta Pi, Omega Chi Epsilon, Whitehill Award in Chemistry, Benedum Foundation Scholarship, and the Mason-Hangar-Silas-Mason Fellowship in Chemical Engineering. He earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University, an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky, and holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama.
Stephen D. Piccot will continue to direct Southern Research Institute's North Carolina-based Advanced Energy & Transportation Technologies department, including the Greenhouse Gas Technology Verification Center and the new Carbon to Liquids (C2L) Development Center.
About Southern Research
Southern Research Institute is an independent 501-(c)-3, not-for-profit center for scientific research. Founded in 1941, Southern Research is known for innovative leadership in environment and energy research, aerospace and materials engineering, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Public and private sector clients include the U.S. Departments of Justice, Defense, and Energy; the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, the National Institutes for Health, as well as major private and public companies in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, energy, manufacturing and more. For more information visit www.SouthernResearch.org.