Benjamin Wood Email and Phone Number

Direct Air Capture of PollutantsPerformed analysis of various technologies for direct air capture of soot, methane, carbon dioxide, and NOx. Reported benefits and risks of technology options to team. Developed project plan for experimental evaluation of technologies.

Sulfuric Acid Catalyst DevelopmentManaged a team of laboratory researchers investigating improved formulations for sulfuric acid catalysts. Implemented improved statistical procedures for laboratory testing and catalyst plant quality control. Analyzed laboratory data to determine kinetic parameters for new catalysts. Introduced project management software at laboratory to track project progress and optimize utilization of laboratory resources.Commercial Sulfuric Acid Converter DesignPerformed commercial sulfuric acid converter designs using proprietary software. Led team implementing improvements to design software, including a major update at the end of 2018 to the kinetic parameters used in the software.PeGASyS Plant TestingManaged a team of field service engineers performing PeGASyS (Portable Gas Sampling and Analysis) testing at customer plant sites. Mentored engineers on analysis of plant data.

Pilot-Scale Silicone Process for Low-Cost CO2 CaptureLed $7.4MM DOE funded project (DE-FE0013755) to evaluate the performance of the GE aminosilicone-based solvent during a 0.5 MW pilot test at the National Carbon Capture Center. Collaborated with NCCC team to successfully modify their Pilot-Scale Test Unit to operate with a non-aqueous solvent. Demonstrated >90% carbon capture at 0.5 MW.Bench-Scale Silicone Process for Low-Cost CO2 CaptureLed $3.8MM DOE funded project (DE-FE0007502) to study the performance of the GE aminosilicone-based solvent at the bench scale. Designed and operated automated test rig to obtain process data. Worked with process modelers to complete techno-economic assessment of process.

CO2 Capture Process Using Innovative Phase-Changing AbsorbentsCo-authored proposal to develop novel process for utilizing phase-changing aminosilicone-based CO2-capture absorbents. Awarded $4.1MM of funding from ARPA-e (DE-AR0000084). Designed & implemented spray-column system. Achieved successful formation of solid powder upon reaction of atomized aminosilicone with simulated flue gas.Aminosilicone Solvent for Low Cost CO2 CaptureCo-authored proposal to develop aminosilicone-based CO2-capture solvent. Awarded $3.1MM of funding from DOE NETL (DE-NT0005310). Designed lab-scale system to test solvent performance under continuous, steady-state conditions.Fuels UpgradingConducted research on the removal of sulfur and vanadium from crude oil. Developed methods for removing asphaltenes from oil. Investigated cracking of asphaltenes to convert them to liquid fuels.Waste Heat RecoveryWorked with team to design a novel system for converting waste heat to electricity. Led the effort to determine key chemical thermodynamic parameters for design of system.NOx Hydrocarbon Selective Catalytic ReductionPerformed high-throughput catalyst screening of new materials for NOx reduction under lean conditions. Studied the effect of H2 and SO2 on the activity of Ag/Al2O3 for the reduction of NOx with ethanol. Maintained and ran scale-up reactor used for the transition of catalysts from the screening scale to pilot scale.