CURRICULUM VITAE
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Solon Zarkanitis - the second in row and the youngest, son of the Thessalian parents Glykeria and Aimilios Zarkanitis |
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PLACE OF BIRTH:
DATE OF BIRTH: December 15, 1959 HOMETOWN: Spata, Attiki, Greece
CURRENT ADDRESS: 3 Eleftherias St.
GR-153 42 Agia Paraskevi, Attiki Hellas-Greece
Tel: +30-210-600-5972
email: zark@catalysis.gr web sites: http://www.catalysis.gr, http://www.thermodynamics.gr |
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Marital Status: Married to the immaculate
Laconia-Crete emanated Joanne Aggelaki |
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EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, 1990,
M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, 1989,
Diploma of Chemical Engineering, 1984,
Attended various non-credit courses in electronics, math, science and engineering at the Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Mathematics Departments at the University of Rochester, NY, USA, 1985-1990
(To strengthen knowledge on analog/digital circuitry, structural mechanics, materials characterization and operational analysis/linear algebra-linear operators/tensor analysis)
Attended one year of the two years
MBA program at
Attended one year of the four years
study program at the Chemistry Department, National and Kapodistrian University
of Athens (UoA-ÅÊÐÁ),
(Too much purely chemical, too old fashioned-Lavoisier like methodologies, too neglected facilities, archaic textbooks and too much not engineered!)
Graduate of the Public Lyceum, Agia Paraskevi, Greece, 1974-77
Attended three years program of
the Public Gymnasium, Spata, Greece, 1971-1974
Graduate of the 2nd Elementary
Public School, Spata, Greece, 1965-1971
WORK EXPERIENCE
1997 - present
Independent Professional. Worked
on various educational, research and multimedia projects.
Dioramas development: 3D computerized
multimedia vividly live-working models-structures exemplifying scientific and /
or technological concepts to the general (young) public: “Education (ought)
to be Fun”
Current Themes:
Renewable Energy Sources
Thermodynamics and Thermal Engines:
From calories to quanta
Chemical process simulator development
– Transient Physical and Chemical Processes/Web based
algorithms/packages (Time/Spatial dependent evolution patterns - thermophysical
properties calculation/simulation – database development)
Robust numerical techniques development
– Partial Differential Equations Solver
for Fluid Mechanics problems with/without
chemical reactions
Multi-steady state phenomena and
numerical solvers – Bifurcation Techniques
VSA/PSA process simulator (A multiprocess-multibed-multiphase
model approach)
Esp-r: An energy computer package
for buildings. Adaptation/Enhancements for a windows®
PC based environment, developed entirely in Fortran code, Mechanical
Engineering Department,
On the onset of fluidization: A
numerical technique approach
Hydrogen sulfide formation in an
urban waste sewage pipeline network: A computer model
Blood COHb content and human activity
pattern (life style) in an urban environment: A computer model simulation
Multimedia Applications (subcontracts,
NTUA-ChE Department outsourcing):
Lyceum Chemistry (CD format) with
NTUA, contract with the Greek Ministry of Education
Gymnasium Chemistry (CD format)
with NTUA, contract with the Greek Ministry of Education
Indoor Air Pollution (CD format)
with NTUA, contract with the Greek Ministry of Education
Renewable Energy Sources and Their
Applications (Internet format under the WebCT® platform) with NTUA, contract
with Greek Ministry of Education
Teaching Work:
Courses:
Introduction to Chemical Technology,
Chemistry Department, University of Athens, 1998-2001, a graduate course in the
Chemistry Didactics and New Educational Technologies program.
Multimedia Authoring Tools (Director®/Authorware®
), Chemistry Department, University of Athens, 1998-2001, a graduate course in the
Chemistry Didactics and New Educational Technologies program.
Research Methodology, Food Department,
Agricultural University of Athens, 1999-2001, a graduate course in the Food Science
and Technology program.
Joined Research Projects:
The bio-lime fuel concept: Mathematical
modeling (CFX®
coupled with user code routines) of a biodiesel-biolime furnace, with
Mobile Air Pollution Monitoring
System: Design and prototype manufacturing of the sample air preconditioning unit,
with
1996-1997
1995-1996
Served 18 mos (+3 days) the
Greek Army (Transportation-Fuel Supply/War Supplies Corps) with the rank of
a soldier. Technical duties: evaluation of various projects related to the logistics
of the fuel supply, fuel distribution net and refueling procedures of land surface and
airborne army vehicles under crisis conditions. Analytic methodology troubleshooting
of the CH47D (Boeing/Chinook) helicopter hydraulic fluids quality testing at the
Army’s Chemistry Labs. Adaptation of the NATO directive "Single Fuel Concept" in
the Greek Army.
1990-1995
Universal Oil Products (UOP), Inc.,
(Former Linde Division of Union
Carbide Inc. at
Research and Development Department-R&D
Position: Development Specialist
Duties: Develop New or Optimize
Existing Technologies for the Refinery, Petrochemical,
Gas Processing and the Chemical Process Industries (CPI).
Perform preliminary techno-economical
studies of
the various alternatives
in the
product/process manufacturing/development.
Conduct lab-scale experiments for
the "proof-of-principle".
Improvise, design and commission pilot plant systems for data development
demanded by an industrial process scale-up.
Supervise and evaluate
the related R&D projects.
Perform the technology Know-How
transfer to Engineering and
Field Service
Support Departments.
Collaborate with various
external customers or other company
departments for problem solving on custom-made applications.
Define and conduct long-term basic
and industrial research
projects in the interest of the
company. Expose ideas/action
plans at the company
annual meetings of its Technical Ladder
Organization (TLO).
Evaluate and propose actions related
to the company annual action and business plans in the lateral business units.
Appraise or revamp "problematic"
or "pathologic" company technologies in cross-department brainstorming meetings.
Facilitate in shaping the "Future
of the Company: What will be the new technologies/markets?"
Facilitate the R&D restructuring
process ("Do the right R&D right the first time!") under the Total Quality Management
process in the company.
Supervising lab technicians charged
with the daily lab work.
1977-1984
Tutoring high school students in
the fields of mathematics, geometry, physics and chemistry.
Driver-Transporter of small pieces
of furniture from
Side-walk building technician's
assistant worker.
1970-1977
Seasonal assistant worker at
the family poultry farm business.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
1990-1995
UOP, Inc.,
Develop a pilot plant multi-bed
system to investigate
the effects of different adsorbents/process
conditions on the
air separation by pressure/vacuum
swing adsorption.
Develop pilot plant units to simulate
reforming, catalytic
cracking, continuous catalyst regeneration
processes for the
refinery industry.
Develop pilot plant units to simulate
separation,
purification processes for the petrochemical
industry.
Develop pilot plant units to simulate
separation,
purification and recovery processes
for various environmental
applications (VOC control).
Perform simulation studies for combined,
in-situ, reaction-separation processes for the refinery industry (e.g., MTBE production process by reactive-distillation).
Explore alternative routes for natural
gas transportation
from remote off-pipeline
system gas fields.
1984-1990
Ph.D.
Dissertation.
Topic: Pore Structure and Reactivity
Evolution in Noncatalytic Gas-Solid Reactions.
Advisor: Prof. Stratis V. Sotirchos
(**)
Development of an integrated thermogravimetric
analysis system (Cahn 2000®)
for use in the investigation of pore structure and
reactivity evolution in noncatalytic gas-solid reactions.
Use of the system for studying the
dependence of the
sulfur capacity of calcined limestone
and dolomite for sulfur
dioxide removal from coal combustion
gases on factors related
to the pore size distribution
of the solid.
Experimental evaluation of detailed
mathematical model for
diffusion, reaction and transport
in porous structures
undergoing decomposition, deposition,
or solid transformation
for calcination and sulfation of
limestones and dolomites.
Finite element/Gaelerkin numerical
technique code development for Structural Mechanics tension/deformation problems
solving (Partial fulfillment of the graduate course in Numerical Techniques, Mechanical
Engineering Department, University of Rochester, USA, 1987)
1983-1984
National Technical University of
Athens
ChE Diploma Thesis.
Topic: Model-Based Investigation
of Atmospheric Pollution.
Advisors: Prof. Nikolaos Coumoutsos (**) and Prof. John A. Palyvos
Multistage Air Pollution Transport
Modelling.
Short range models: The time-dependent
air pollution patterns developed in the Athens Metropolitan Area established by
point sources – big industries, surface sources – urban central heating systems
and line sources – transportation means, roads of heavy traffic, airport, etc, along
with the timely varied climatic data.
Mid range models: Air pollution
tension on Thessaly plains due to the imported pollution from the Northern Kozane
– Ptolemaida lignite-fired power utility plans.
Long range models: Global Air pollution
– Air pollution transport from the North America continent to Europe.
(Programming languages: Fortran77 and Pascal)
OTHER
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Rochester 1984-1990
Teaching Assistant in Transport
Phenomena, Junior Lab, Senior Lab (undergraduate courses),and
Design of Chemical Reactors and
Numerical Analysis for Chemical Engineers (graduate courses).
HONORS AND AWARDS
Recipient of the NTUA Board of Trusties
honor at the annual special University ceremony hosted by the Rector, given to the
students with excellence in both coursework and Diploma Thesis research work during
the last fifth year of studies with the annual highest GPA across all Departments
of the Polytechnic University, Summer 1985.
Recipient of an award from the Tiftixis
Foundation, given
to the student with the highest
GPA at the
Recipient of an award from the D.
Thomaidis Foundation, given
to the student with the highest
GPA in the fifth year of
studies at the School of
Chemical Engineering at NTUA, 1984.
Recipient of an award from the Technical
Chamber of Greece (TEE),
for best performance in both
research and coursework
in the fifth year of undergraduate
studies at NTUA, 1984.
Recipient of the Chemical Engineering
Department Fellowship (tuition and living expenses) - a grant from U.S. Department
of Energy (DoE), University of
Rochester, USA, 1984-89.
Recipient of the Ellon Hooker Fellowship,
Recipient of the Link Foundation
Fellowship, an outcome of a nationwide (USA-wide) competition, Binghamton, NY, USA,
1988-89.
OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Development of a simulation model
for fixed-bed
desulfurization reactors using a
novel numerical procedure,
a multiphase model, accounting
for solid sorbent
structural
properties changes, and investigating particle and bed
performance.
Development of a model for the investigation
of water vapor
effects on the combustion and gasification
of char particles.
A novel air separation technique:
Oxygen production via electromagnetic fields.
(The James Clerk Maxwell Electromagnetic
Field Theory at the Chemical Engineering Service)
Enriched air internal combustion
(IC) engines: Boosted IC engines without a supercharged/turbo unit.
Computer Simulated Experimental
Resonance Phenomena and The Acoustic Behavior of Ancient Greek Theaters: Application
to the Epidavros Theater.
Machining: An orchestra at your workbench - sound, songs and melody
Heating and sound effects
Blood COHb content and human activity
pattern (life style): A computer model approach
Aortic stenosis: A fluid mechanics/chemical depostion approach
Are you sneezing? Are you short-circuited?
(The human electricity generator
power system)
Atmospheric Electricity Collectors:
A Utopia or a (future) Reality?
STRENGTHS AND SKILLS
Proficient in designing and manufacturing microprocessor-controlled
pilot plant units for refinery, petrochemical, gas processing and CPI applications.
Competent in analog and digital
electronic circuitry for
I/O data management.
Designed and built A/D data acquisition devices (using Analog Devices®
chips) and wrote
appropriate software for data acquisition
and process control (on COMMODORE 64®/PET® PCs) in the early PC era.
Proficient in data measurement/acquisition/process control with Hewlett Packard (HP®) 9000 Series (VXI®-bus/IEEE 488-bus) Test Measurement & Instrumentation Equipment Units. Rewrote all process software migrating an HP 9000 DAC/process control system from the mini computer HP 1000 to a ALR® 486 DR-DOS 6.0® PC in early 90s.
Expertise in LabView®/Strawberry Tree®/National Instruments®, etc, PC based DAC hardware/software modules application.
Expertise in Texas Instruments® (Siemens®) / Honeywell® / Allen-Bradley® programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in process instrumentation.
Expertise in thermogravimetry,
gas/liquid chromatography, mercury
porosimetry, pore structure analysis by gas adsorption
methods, powder characterization,
electron microscopy (SEM
and TEM) for solid surface
characterization.
Proficient in physical
quantities measurement devices/fundamental working principles/automation measuring
methodologies in
gas/liquid flow, temperature, pressure,
stress, chemical species measuring units especially in a harsh/hazardous working
environment.
Superb knowledge on electrochemical
sensors in measuring/monitoring flammable, asphyxiant and toxic gases.
Proficient in various process development
simulation computer
software packages: HYSIM® ,
Specialist in numerical analysis
techniques, including finite
element, finite-difference,
orthogonal collocation
methods, B-splines, etc. Competent with standard numerical
software libraries
(IMSL®, NAG® , etc.)
Proficient in both mainframe and
microcomputer usage.
Expert with various mainframe operating
systems (PRIME®,
VAX/VMS®,
CYBER/VSOS®
, ALLIANT®, SUN/UNIX® ) as well as in programming
languages FORTRAN, PASCAL, FORTRAN 200 (supercomputer version),
PROLOG,
and C.
Expertise in multimedia authoring
tools, DIRECTOR®,
AUTHORWARE®,
FLASH®
.
Proficient in complex applications interfacing pieces of code of mixed
programming languages.
Proficient in Visual Fortran, Visual Basic, Visual Java and Visual
C++ (Microsoft®/DEC®/Compaq®/SUN®/Intel®)
development tools.
HOBBIES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Home made electronics for home computerized applications - robotics (eHome-"smart" Home)
Machining and lathing with the fabulous MyFord® lathe (an enduring british tradition emanated directly from the old good days of the Industrial Revolution) in the home fabshop
History of Science and Technology (with emphasis to Engineering How-To)
History of Ancient Greece
World Civilization
All railroading themes
And travelling, travelling, ...
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Structural and Pellet-Model Effects
on Design Models
for Coal Gas Desulfurization Reactors,
1987 AIChE Annual
Meeting, NY,
NY, November 1987 (with S.V. Sotirchos).
Pellet-Model Effects on Simulation
Models for Fixed-Bed
Desulfurization Reactors, AIChE
J., 35, 1137(1989) (with S.V.
Sotirchos).
Pore Structure and Particle Size
Effects on Limestone
Capacities for Sulfur Dioxide Removal,
AIChE J., 35,
821(1989) (with S.V.
Sotirchos).
Experimental Evaluation of Distributed
Pore and Grain Size
Models for Limestone Sulfation,
1989 Spring AIChE Meeting,
Houston, TX, April 1989 (with
S.V. Sotirchos).
Factors Limiting the Capacity of
Calcined Limestones for SO2
Removal: Model Predictions
vs. Experimental Evidence,
presented at the Third International
Conference on Processing
and Utilization of High-Sulfur
Coal and included in a book
edited by T.D. Wheelock and
R. Markuszewski (Elsevier) (with
S.V. Sotirchos).
Experimental Evaluation of a Class
of Distributed Pore Size
Models for Gas-Solid Reactions
with Solid Product, presented
at the Eleventh International
Symposium on Chemical Reaction
Engineering, July 1990, Toronto,
Canada, and included in a
special issue of Chemical
Engineering Science, 45,
2761(1990).
Experimental Evaluation of a Class
of Distributed Pore Size
Models for Gas-Solid Reactions
with Solid Product, Chemical
Engineering Science, 45,
2761(1990) (with E.A. Efthimiadis,
and S.V. Sotirchos).
Inaccessible Pore Volume Formation
During Sulfation of
Calcined Limestones, AIChE J., 38,
1536(1992) (with S.V.
Sotirchos).
(*) due to the political turmoil
and "games", at the dawn of the Elections Day on October 1981 in Greece, the NTUA
Student Parties go on strike in the Fall Semester 1980 – 1981, on coalition to the
University of Athens and other greek University students, against the Minister of
Education George Rallis’ new law proposal, known as “law 815” – semester-type study
program throughout all greek Universities (NTUA had already employed semester-like
programs since 1975). As a result, that Fall Semester is lost at NTUA (only!) and everything
shifts back one semester. The main students’ motto is “No studies intensification”.
At least, we are honest in order to preserve our current privileged status, i.e.,
no pain (no gain) ...
(**) it grieves me that my teachers
Nikos Coumoutsos and Stratis Sotirchos deceased. Of a few partners of mine to the
unKnown. Hopefully keep their enlightened vibrant spirit alive ...