Letters, posts and emails

Engineering new energy

Readers responded to our cover story in the spring issue on the Great Lakes Energy Institute and its efforts to lead the region into advanced energy industries:

I was in Holland 2 years ago and it was explained to us that the next big wind farm there was going to be: 1. 12 miles off shore 2. on towers 200 feet above sea level 3. use an underwater transformer to aid transmission

An aside, Rice was on the front page of the Houston Chronicle today with a story about their next year’s cost, $63,000!!! Not too many years ago Rice did not charge tuition!!!

Glen W. Dorow ’60

I have been experimenting with a couple of solar panels, primarily to power 12 Vdc products in my house. To me, it is an eye opener because of the great variability of the daily watthours provided by two 100 W solar panels. On an optimum day, I get over 1000 watt hours. On a bad day, (e.g. snow covered panels), I get 0 Whr.

At this time, I am powering three products for a total of 30 W or 720 Whr/ day. The average load watthours per month varies between 100 to about 450 Whr. So it very rare that I can provide the daily 720 Whr even though the solar panels have the potential to provide 1000 Whr. I presently have a 125 Ahr battery. I would expect that by having a much larger battery, I would be able to coast much longer at the 30 W maximum during rainy and heavy cloud days.

I am also curious about the efficacy of wind turbines. I live in Wickliffe, OH, and there are four wind turbines within about three miles of my house. I think one is even co-sponsored by CWRU. Do you know if any of the operating records for these turbines (and for the one by the Veale Athletic Center) are made public? It would be interesting to see how close the energy output is to the predicted output. Also, how much “unexpected” downtime there is because of mechanical and electrical failures.

Thanks again for the article.

Rich Masek ’68

Has anyone thought of building a large breakwall or island offshore from Cleveland to put windmills on?

Christopher Neubecker ’81

I like hearing about research that will improve solar and wind energy production through improved hardware and storage methods. As long as you realize that these renewable energy sources cannot provide all the energy that society wants. With land availability and NIMBY, replacement just can’t happen. We are going to have to include some sort of nuclear energy production. Personally I am in favor of fast neutron nuclear reactors, because they are so much better than the thermal reactors that are being used now.

Please continue the research to make renewables more effective with the realization that society needs to speak of “low or zero carbon” instead of “renewable.”

Tim Elder ’61

Our story on the 1957 MGA roadster that Larry Sears ’69 bought as a Case student and recently restored, “The College Car Reborn,” brought this response from one of his classmates:

When I started at Case in 1965 I was driving an MGA with side curtains that made winter less than fun. The next year, I traded it for a Triumph Spitfire with real windows. A friend introduced me to driving in an autocross. I purchased a $200 Bugeye Sprite in 1966. Several parts were made for it in Case’s workshops and a friend did his senior ME project on the suspension.

When I graduated, I took the Sprite SCCA racing and had a great time until 1975 when another driver’s mistake destroyed my race car. I bought a slightly newer Austin Healey Sprite in Shaker Heights and rebuilt it with the undamaged parts from my first car. Except for the minor detail of the body shell, it is the same car.

In the ’80s I met my lovely wife at a race at Nelsons Ledges and did well enough to be invited to the national championships at Road Atlanta, four times. I’ve continued to run and win with the race car up to the present day, sometimes competing against drivers 50 years my junior. It is still the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to do and the most satisfying.

Gary David ’69

Godspeed Joe Prahl

Our story on the passing of Professor Joe Prahl, posted to our website in April, elicited dozens of responses from former colleagues and students. Here’s a sample:

Enclosed is my memorial gift for the Joe Prahl Scholarship Fund. Professor Prahl was a big reason that I went to Case… He was a great teacher who really cared about his students. He knew everyone in our class, their interests, friends, he knew them personally….I was on the football team and I remember him coming to our games each season...It was clear he loved his work and it came through in his teaching.

Rob Trefz ’99 He was an amazing guy! Kathleen Mulligan

I was fortunate to do Fluids and Thermo a la “Dr. Prahl,” back when.

He was just a few years older than we were then. His mathematical fluency with subject matter was inspirational. He would often perk us up with impromptu application side riffs; breath taking.... I remember them today.....he was really good. A devoted and caring teacher. The Case community will sorely miss him.

George DeBarros ’70

I had “Groovy Joe” in ’68 and ’69 for Thermo and Fluids. I’ve thought of him often over the years. I’m an EE but I still remember and use his stuff because of him. There are a lot of professors I don’t remember but he’s one I always will. 75 doesn’t seem like enough :-(

Don Adams ’71, MS ’74

Professor Prahl was my academic advisor from my first day of college all the way through to my dissertation. He was the one that convinced me to continue my education and he was the one that connected me with the opportunity that has turned into my career. He was there for me through a lot of tough times. He was tough on me when he had to be and compassionate when he had to be. He was an incredibly intelligent person and incredibly fun to be around. I know that my experience was not unique as I’m sure he had the same effect on hundreds if not thousands of students, friends, family, and colleagues throughout the years. I wish now that I had made more time to enjoy his company. He was a truly amazing person and I will miss him dearly.

Maxwell Briggs ’06, MS ’08, PhD ’15