Strategic Planning for Technology Programs/Activities Services: SIN 871-1
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Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is a focus for several of the analyses that RTI conducts for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program. This work includes nitrous oxide controls; dust suppressants for roads; and volatile organic compound (VOC) controls for chemical processes, including bioreaction systems. For each of these systems, RTI studies underlying chemical processes as well as control technologies so that control efficiency goals and objectives may be determined.
Since 1997, RTI has performed an analysis of the ETV mission and the program goals and objectives, as well as performed requirements analysis, organizational performance assessment, special studies and analysis, and privatization and outsourcing. RTI develops test protocols that include an analysis of all processes, and conducts full measurements of input and output chemical streams and energy as appropriate.
We then perform the tests or outsource them to other laboratories, based on the test protocol requirements. Outsourcing is through subcontracts to major testing firms and with purchase orders for specified laboratory services. We publish a report for each product verified (tested). As of June 2002, 29 verifications have been completed and 17 are in progress. There is an on-going assessment of the ETV process, with an emphasis on moving towards privatization of the program where vendors pay the cost of the verifications.
Mechanical Engineering
RTI also provides a broad range of mechanical engineering expertise to the ETV process. Our mechanical engineers verify many of the technologies, including fuel additives, alternative fuels, re-formulated fuels and lubricants for mobile diesel engines, controls for gas turbine electrical generation plants, paint overspray arrestors used in the aerospace industry, and baghouse filtration products used for power plants and other industrial applications.