Release Date: January 7, 2009

ASME Selects NETL Researcher for Prestigious Percy Nicholls Award
International Honor Recognizes Achievement in Field of Solid Fuels

Morgantown, W.Va. — For his research in energy conversion and solid fuels, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has selected National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) scientist Dr. George “Geo” Richards to receive ASME’s prestigious Percy Nicholls Award.

ASME’s Fuels and Combustion Technologies Division and the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) Coal Division jointly present the annual award for “notable scientific or industrial achievement in the field of solid fuels.” Dr. Richards will receive his award during the 34th International Technical Conference on Coal Utilization & Fuel Systems set for May 31 to June 4, 2009, in Clearwater, Fla. ASME and AIME created the award in 1942 to honor the scientific contributions of Percy Nicholls in fuels utilization.

“When notified that I would be receiving the Percy Nicholls Award, I was surprised and humbled at the same time,” said Dr. Richards. “I thoroughly enjoy energy research, and I didn’t expect to be recognized in this way. My colleagues at NETL are a big part of this, and I gratefully acknowledge their many ideas and contributions. Together we are conducting research that ranges from capturing carbon dioxide from existing coal boilers all the way to developing new concepts that will increase efficiency, even with carbon dioxide removal. I couldn’t do this without my peers at NETL.”

Dr. Richards began working at NETL in 1988 and now serves as the Focus Area Lead for Energy Systems Dynamics in NETL’s Office of Research and Development. He earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, while focusing on gas turbine combustion. At NETL, Dr. Richards directs researchers who investigate solid-fuel gasification, carbon dioxide capture, high-temperature fuel cells for coal gases, hydrogen turbines, fuel processing, and fuel flexibility. He also facilitates cooperative research agreements with private industry and universities, as well as concepts related to energy conversion.

In addition to his laboratory responsibilities, Dr. Richards serves as a research advisor for graduate and post-graduate investigators who visit from academic institutions.