1. Summary of Professional Experience, Expertise and Education

    • Professional Experience:

    • Expertise:

      • Energy Conversion Technologies:

        • Solar Thermal Power Systems
        • Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Cells
        • Heat Engines
        • Broad Knowledge of Alternative/Renewable Energy Technologies

      • Thermochemical Processes:

        • Hydrogen Production from Water and Hydrogen Sulfide
        • Thermochemical Nitrogen Fixation
        • Zinc Oxide Direct Dissociation
        • Biomass Rapid Pyrolysis for Olefin Production

      • Thermal/Chemical Sciences:

        • Heat Transfer
        • Thermodynamics
        • High Temperature Thermochemistry
        • Chemical Equilibrium and Kinetics
        • Chemical Engineering

      • Other:

        • Analytical Modeling
        • Computer Modeling
        • Numerical Analysis
        • Heat Transfer Modeling Codes
        • Nuclear Criticality Modeling Codes
        • Circumsolar Measurement (for Atmosphere Aerosol and Solar Resource Studies)
        • Biofuels from Algae (recent interest)

    • Education:

  2. Detailed Outline of Professional Experience:

    • Mechanical Engineer, Energy Programs, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), 1990–1995

      • Solar Enterprise Zone. Initiated and led LLNL interest in participating in the proposed Solar Enterprise Zone, a joint venture between industry and DOE to build commercial solar power plants in Nevada and surrounding states. The possibility of converting part of the Nevada National Security Site for solar power generation was explored as part of this effort.
      • Energy Programs. Served as an advisor to LLNL’s Energy Program in the areas of solar energy conversion, novel thermochemical processes for hydrogen production and nitrogen fixation, solar water desalination, and other innovative energy conversion processes.
      • Hydrogen Fueled Hybrid Automobiles. As a support engineer, investigated several options for hydrogen-fueled hybrid automobiles, which use a hydrogen-optimized IC engine as the primary powerplant. Studies included the onboard generation of hydrogen using methane pyrolysis, and running vehicle cost modeling codes to optimize the configuration of hydrogen-fueled hybrid vehicles to determine their overall economics. A funding cutback shortly after starting curtailed most activity on this project.
      • Zinc-Air Battery. Served as co-Principal Investigator to design and test the first generation, laboratory-scale (600 cm2), refuelable zinc-air battery for transportation use. This effort was successful beyond expectation, and proved the general concept, leading to developing commercial-scale prototype batteries for in-field demonstration projects which are still ongoing.
      • National Ignition Facility (NIF). Served as heat transfer and thermal analyst for the conceptual design of the National Ignition Facility, the next generation laser fusion test facility after Nova. Heat transfer analysis was done for the NIF amplifiers, final optics, and Beamlet frequency converters and included HVAC considerations. Also supported the effort to use cutting-edge SAIC computer optimization codes to design the ultra-complex mirror layout to direct the laser beams radially into the target chamber.
      • Special Isotope Separation (SIS) Project. Served as thermal analyst for the project to separate plutonium isotopes using a process similar to AVLIS (atomic vapor laser isotope separation) being developed in parallel to separate uranium isotopes. 2-D and 3-D finite element heat transfer codes were used to model various designs of the separator and the collector components. Also performed criticality and thermal analyses for various components in a related project called CEPOD; mathematically analyzed Thor vapor property data; performed a thermal analysis of the HYDEC facility; supported efforts in new missions for laser isotope separation, in particular, carbon and silicon; performed chemical equilibrium calculations for various high temperature actinide systems associated with a process for purifying plutonium using chlorination.
      • YMP Large Block Test. Assigned the lead Project Engineer for the Yucca Mountain Project Large Block Test, a very important, ambitious, and politically visible experiment to determine the suitability of the Yucca Mountain tuff for containing the proposed Nuclear Waste Repository. Funding and other pre-existing difficulties delayed this experiment for several years shortly after becoming Project Engineer.
      • Nuclear Waste Storage. Performed nuclear criticality modeling for various concepts in nuclear waste and plutonium storage, including investigating Los Alamos National Laboratory’s claim that an unintended nuclear fission explosion could occur in the storage area under certain unusual circumstances. 2-D and 3-D modeling was done using state-of-the-art MCNP and KENO codes.

    • Staff Scientist, Applied Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), 1985–1990

      • Small Particle and Direct Absorption Solar Receiver Research. Work was carried out in an advisory capacity with Bechtel to commercialize the small particle air receiver, which is based on the successful experimental work carried out by LBNL in the late 1970’s. In addition, laboratory work was carried out to attempt to “blacken” molten nitrate salts using carbon particles. Such blackened salts would be used for the Direct Absorption Solar Receiver concepts then being considered. In addition, various computer modeling analyses were performed to study the absorption and scattering optics of small particle systems specific to solar receiver geometries.
      • Circumsolar Data Project. (Note: During the 1970’s, LBNL designed, built and deployed the only circumsolar telescopes in existence at the time. These scopes were used to measure the solar energy outside the apparent solar disk, which must be considered for the proper design of high concentration ratio solar concentrating systems. Circumsolar telescopes are also useful for gathering data important for global climate modeling since much of the circumsolar radiation is due to light scattering by tiny atmospheric aerosols and particulates — such data may be used to infer the local aerosol/particulate state of the atmosphere.) Dr. Noring was co-Principal Investigator on an NREL-funded project to read (from obsolete data tapes with unknown data structure), assemble, clean, and organize the huge amount of data collected by LBNL’s circumsolar telescopes at many sites so it may be made publicly available by NREL. A unique, easy-to-read, and easy-to-convert database format was developed, partly based upon prior work for the unrelated DOE Institutional Conservation Program. This project was entirely successful, and the now-available Circumsolar data is used in solar and global climate research.
      • Thermochemical Nitrogen Fixation. Studied the use of thermochemical and thermo-electrochemical processes to fix atmospheric nitrogen for the production of nitrogenous fertilizers, with an emphasis on lower technology processes suitable for use in developing countries. Several processes, both modifications of older ones as well as new ones, showed great promise, but attempts to secure external funding were not successful due to the severe funding cutbacks in alternative energy research during the Reagan administration.
      • Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Cells (TREC). (Note: TREC is a means to convert high temperature thermal energy sources, e.g., highly concentrated sunlight, into electric power. A compound, AB, is thermally decomposed at high temperature into A and B, which are separately stored and, when needed, recombined back into AB at low temperature in a fuel cell, generating electric power.) An exhaustive survey of candidate TREC chemical processes was performed. Several promising candidate processes in thermal regeneration temperature regimes never before studied were identified, but a lack of external funding during the severe alternative energy funding cutbacks of the Reagan era ended further work.
      • DOE Institutional Conservation Program. In a supporting role, coherently assembled and analyzed all the various energy and institutional data from this program. A uniform and easy-to-read, easy-to-convert database format, later used successfully for the unrelated Circumsolar Data project, was developed as part of this effort.
      • Indoor Radon Program. In a supporting role, studied the production and flow of radon into structures from the surrounding soil. A unique analytical model was developed by solving the second-order partial differential equation governing the radon flow in the soil, and verified by numerical simulation, which gave further insight into the parameters important for determining radon levels within buildings.
      • Indoor Air Quality Program. In a supporting role, performed a statistical sensitivity analysis on the various parameters of a pollutant macromodel used to study general indoor air quality.

    • Member of the Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore (SNLL), 1981–1984

      SNLL was the lead National Laboratory for technically managing U.S. DOE’s Solar Central Receiver Program. The Program was transferred to Sandia’s main facility in Albuquerque in 1985 (no Sandia Livermore staff were allowed to transfer with the Program and were re-assigned to defense-related non-energy projects.) Following are the research and program areas in the DOE-SCR in which Dr. Noring participated:
      • Contract Technical Management. Dr. Noring technically managed a number of subcontracted projects:
      • 10 MWe Solar Central Receiver Pilot Plant (near to Barstow, CA). Supported studies in the areas of beam characterization and mirror module corrosion. Halted the accelerating corrosion of the 43,632 mirror modules on the 1818 heliostats, due to trapped liquid water, by the design and installation of mirror module ventilation tubes. This venting allowed the heliostat field to successfully operate for another two decades.
      • Solid Particle Receiver Project. Investigated the use of solid particles for direct solar absorption receivers. Both analytical and experimental studies were pursued. Recently, this work was revived at Sandia.

    • Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, 1974–1981

      • Thermal Dissociation Processes. Studied three very high temperature thermal dissociation processes (water, zinc oxide, and hydrogen sulfide) that could be operated in high concentration ratio solar receivers. This research supported Dr. Noring's Ph.D. Thesis.
      • University of Minnesota 7 KWt Solar Furnace Facility. Assisted in the design, construction and testing of the then state-of-the-art laboratory-scale solar furnace inspired by the much larger solar furnace at Odeillo, France. This furnace spawned several clones, attesting to the quality of its optics, durability of its design, and cost-effectiveness. Dr. Richard B. Diver, recently retired from SNLA, led this project. (This furnace was retired a few years ago, recently replaced by an innovative, state-of-the-art concentrating solar simulator.)
      • Biomass Rapid Pyrolysis. Experimental studies into the very rapid pyrolysis of cellulosic materials using fluidized beds and molten lead baths, with emphasis on maximizing the yields of ethylene and other olefins. This experimental research ultimately supported Dr. Noring's M.S. Thesis.
      • Ultra-Fine Particle Fuels for IC Engines. Investigated the operation of spark ignition IC engines using aerosols of ultra-fine cellulose. Investigated various methods of finely pulverizing plant materials such as cornstalks.

  3. Detailed Outline of Education:

    • Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering (supporting Chemical Engineering), University of Minnesota. Dissertation: “High Temperature Thermal Dissociation Processes,” August 1981.
    • M.S. Mechanical Engineering (minor in Chemical Engineering), University of Minnesota. Dissertation: “Performance of a Molten Lead [Biomass] Pyrolysis Reactor,” December 1979.
    • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1977. Educational focus included heat transfer, thermodynamics, energy conversion systems, chemistry and chemical engineering, numerical analysis, and computer modeling.

  4. Publications:

    • Papers in Refereed Journals:

    • Reports:

      (Note: This list is not complete. A number of unpublished and DOE classified reports from SNLL and LLNL are not included here).
      • J.E. Noring, et al, “Development of a Solar Enterprise Zone for Promoting the Continuing Commercialization of Solar Power Technologies,” Expression of Interest submitted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Energy Directorate to Robert Martin, Project Manager, Solar Enterprise Zone, U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, Golden, Colorado, dated 08 July 1994. (Report Number not assigned.)
      • W. Lin, D.G. Wilder, J. Blink, P. Berge, S. Blair, S. Boyd, V. Brugman, P. Burklund, T. Buscheck, Y. Chang, D. Chestnut, W. Daily, R.S. Glass, W. Glassley, L. Hall, C. Landram, K. Lee, J. Nitao, J.E. Noring, M. Owens, R. Pletcher, A. Ramirez, N. Rector, T. Reitter, J. Roberts, D. Ruddle, S. Sommer, D. Trummer, J. Ueng, J. Wagoner, R.J.Glass, M. Nicholl and G. Danko, “A Progress Report for the Large Block Test of the Coupled Thermal-Mechanical-Hydrological-Chemical Process,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UCRL-ID-119101, 1994.
      • J.F. Cooper, L.E. Keene, J.E. Noring, A. Maimoni and K. Peterman, “Regenerative Zinc/Air and Zinc/Ferricyanide Batteries for Stationary Power Applications,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory UCRL-JC-117428, May 1994.
      • J.F. Cooper, L.E. Keene, A. Maimoni, J.E. Noring and K. Peterman, “A Continuous-Feed Zinc/Air Fuel Battery for Fleet Electric Vehicle Applications,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory UCRL-JC-115776-EXT-ABS, 1993.
      • J.E. Noring, D.F. Grether, and A.J. Hunt, “Circumsolar Radiation Data: The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Reduced Data Base,” National Renewable Energy Laboratory Report NREL/TP-262-4429, December 1991.
      • E.A. Platt and J.E. Noring, “SIS Separator, 3-D Finite Element Thermal Model (U),” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CLYA-91-203, September 27, 1991.
      • A.J. Hunt, I. Hodara, F.J. Miller, and J. E. Noring “Direct Absorption Receivers for Catalyzing Chemical Reactions,” Solar Thermal Technology — Research, Development and Applications, B. P. Bupta and W. H. Traugott, Hemisphere Publishing (New York) 437–446, 1990.
      • A.J. Hunt, J. Ayer, P. Hull, F. Miller, J.E. Noring, and D. Worth, “Solar Radiant Heating of Gas-Particle Mixtures, FY 1985–86 Final Report,” Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, LBL-22743, December 1986.
      • A.J. Hunt, J. Ayer, P. Hull, R. McLaughlin, F. Miller, J.E. Noring, R. Russo and W. Yuen, “Solar Radiant Heating of Gas-Particle Mixtures, FY 1984 Final Report,” Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, LBL-20447, June 1986.
      • E.V. Decker, C.W. Lopez, C.L. Mavis and J.E. Noring, “10 MWe Solar Thermal Central Receiver Pilot Plant Mirror Module Corrosion, Torque Tube Damage, and Mirror Reflectance Survey, July 1984,” Sandia National Laboratories Livermore, SAND85-8225, July 1985.
      • P.K. Falcone, J.E. Noring and J.M. Hruby, “Assessment of a Solid Particle Receiver for a High Temperature Solar Central Receiver System,” Sandia National Laboratories Livermore, SAND85-8208, February 1985.
      • J.E. Noring, C.L. Mavis, E.V. Decker and P.E. Skvarna, “10 MWe Solar Thermal Central Receiver Pilot Plant Mirror Module Corrosion Survey,” Sandia National Laboratories Livermore, SAND84-8214, March 1984.
      • P. De Laquil III, C.L. Yang and J.E. Noring, “Solar Central Receiver High Temperature Process Air Systems,” Sandia National Laboratories Livermore, SAND82-8254, February 1983.
      • E.A. Fletcher and J.E. Noring, “High Temperature Electrothermal Processing—Zinc from Zinc Oxide,” Interim Technical Report for 1 July to 31 October 1982, AD-A-122084/7, November 1982.
      • D.B. Kittelson, J. Gilkeson, R.E. Lovrien and J.E. Noring, “Biochemical and Engineering Conversion Systems Design and Prototype Development,” Final Report to the Minnesota Energy Agency, June 26, 1980.
      • D.B. Kittelson, P.L. Blackshear, T.C. Choi and J.E. Noring, “Recovery of Energy From Farm Solid Waste and Timber Residues—Pyrolysis,” Final Report to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Resource Recovery Grant-In-Aid Project, November 1977.
      • D.B. Kittelson, T.E. Murphy, T.C. Choi and J.E. Noring, “Progress Report on Pyrolysis of Crop and Forestry Residue,” in Recovery of Energy From Farm Solid Wastes and Timber Production Residues, Final Report to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Solid Wastes, Resource Recovery Grant-In-Aid Project, NP-20954, December 1975.

    • Conference Proceedings and Presentations:

      • J.E. Noring, S. Gordon, A. Maimoni, M. Spragge, and J.F. Cooper, “Mechanically Refuelable Zinc/Air Electric Vehicle Cells,” Proceedings of the 183rd Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, May 16–21, 1993, Honolulu, Hawaii. Also published as UCRL-JC-112422, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, December 1992.
      • A.J. Hunt, I. Hodara, F.J. Miller and J.E. Noring, “Direct Absorption Receivers for Catalyzing Chemical Reactions,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Research Development, and Applications of Solar Thermal Technology, June 13–17, 1988, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
      • E.A. Fletcher, R.B. Diver and J.E. Noring, “High Temperature Oxide Electrolytes for the Splitting of Water—The ROC Process,” Proceedings of the Conference on High Temperature Solid Oxide Electrolytes, August 16–18, 1983, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York.
      • P.K. Falcone, J.E. Noring and C.E. Hackett, “Evaluation and Application of Solid Thermal Energy Carriers in a High Temperature Solar Central Receiver System,” Proceedings of the 17th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, August 8–12, 1982, Los Angeles, California.

  5. Contact Dr. Noring