The International Alternative Fuel Technology Center (IAFTC) at Southwest Research Institute assists clients in exploring, developing, and evaluating current and future alternative fuels from source, through production, to real-world use. |
Southwest
Research Institute launched a collaborative effort to assist their clients to
reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to address governmental mandates for
alternative fuel production and tightened emissions standards. SwRI’s new
International Alternative Fuel Technology Center (IAFTC) will maximize the
Institute’s decades-long expertise in fuels and fluids.
The
new center draws from a variety of disciplines at the Institute to offer all
alternative fuels capabilities under one umbrella, providing original equipment
manufacturers and fuel suppliers a comprehensive approach to resolve their
technical challenges.
“Through
the IAFTC, Southwest Research Institute can do everything for the client from
the initial concepts and development testing at the bench scale, through
operational evaluation, commercialization, and registration with the Environmental
Protection Agency,” says Robert Fanick, a manager in SwRI’s Engine,
Emissions and Vehicle Research Division. “Many companies offer one or two
aspects of alternative fuels research and development. But there are few
companies that can offer the full spectrum of services that we can.”
With
more than 60 years of experience in fuel and engine research and development,
SwRI is uniquely positioned as an international expert in the research,
development, and evaluation of alternative and renewable fuels such as those
from shale, tar sands, coal, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and synthetic
paraffins. Its staff has extensive knowledge of preparing and analyzing conventional
and alternative fuels and will blend field experience, engineering and
chemistry skills with design and fabrication capabilities to offer an
interdisciplinary approach to fuel-related services.
SwRI
laboratories are outfitted with state-of-the-art instrumentation and equipment
to perform fluids processing and analysis safely and efficiently. Process
technology capabilities include a Fuels
Processing Center
with laboratory-scale unit process equipment, quantitative and qualitative
analytical support, and drum-scale pilot plants.
The
Institute’s engineers, scientists, and technicians bring extensive experience
in all facets of alternative fuels research and development to each project,
including alternative fuel formulation to required specification, biodiesel
fuel analysis and evaluation, aviation fuels, and hydrocarbon processing. They
regularly conduct process evaluations, fluids testing and qualification, fleet
and field evaluations, fuels performance evaluations, and fuels applications
testing and evaluation.
“We
have the research support, engineering, equipment and facilities to support
clients, whether they are start-ups or established international companies, in
all facets of alternative fuels development and research,” Fanick says.
