Chemical Engineering/Magnegas

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Expert: Angel Evangelista - 11/14/2008


Question
Hello: I came across an interesting website,http://tinyurl.com/6nepb4,which deals with a supposedly new form of matter.Is this hokum,or is there anything to it?
Thanks!

Answer
That is VERY INTERESTING to say the least!  It is not "hokum" AND it is not some brand-spanking new technology either.  The "Magnegas" technology uses a "plasma-arc flow" process that the inventors have patented.  Essentially, a high-voltage electric arc is used to create a "plasma" through which is passed a liquid or sludge substrate, namely sewage or other similar organic.  Look at this website for more information: http://westinghouse-plasma.com/  (And if a company like Westinghouse is in this niche market, the merits of plasma-arc technology are more than confirmed.)

POLITICAL COMMENT (My apologies, but I have to!):
I must say that the recent sharp interest in everything "GREEN" by the American Public is laughable.  Someone somewhere will find clever ways to profit from labeling ANYTHING “GREEN”.  Is Magnegas one of those companies who are merely profiting from the current GREEN craze?   It does not appear to be.   They are using a well-established thoroughly-researched technology that actually does provide an alternative source of energy or fuel from a waste or undesirable by-product.   From the substantial technical information on their website, the technology is immediately recognizable and its viability well understood (by me).  It is entirely because they disclosed this ample technical information about their technology that I can make this conclusion.

Also, I can overlook the apparent “marketing hype” on other pages of their website, but it leads me to believe that their “Patents Pending” and “Research & Development” is probably not substantial, maybe more of a shop where the founders get to “tinker” with things versus a true R&D facility with laboratory test and measurement equipment, test platforms, and research scientists.   My whole point here is that they are a public traded company (OTC Bulletin Board) and although their technology is highly viable, I wouldn’t rush out to buy a bunch of their stock expecting windfall returns.  I would NOT expect major breakthroughs from them, and if there does happen to be any, chances are they leveraged someone else’s breakthrough findings.

Hope it helps.

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Angel Evangelista

Expertise

I can answer all chemical engineering questions, both general and specific, in the following areas of experience and expertise: (1) the field of petroleum refining, distribution, and marketing; (2) the field of tribology, which is comprised of lubricants manufacturing, development, and testing; (3) the manufacture of basic plastics; (4) the industrial application of process controls and distributed computer control (DCS) systems; (5) the area of petroleum fuels specifications, such as octane ratings; (6) the field of industrial water and wastewater treatment; (7)the industrial application of occupational health and safety in the chemical process industries; and (8) the area of environmental regulatory policies in the petroleum and chemical process industries. I can provide specific knowledge and experience about the chemical engineering processes involved in the petroleum refining of crude oil into fuels and other products. I answer specific questions regarding petroleum fuels product quality and the distribution, pricing, supply & logistics, and marketing of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, and other petroleum products, in addition to environmental, safety, and health issues related to the industry.

Experience

I possess over 14 years in the petroleum refining, distribution, and marketing industry for two of the 10 largest US petroleum refining companies, in various roles and responsibilities ranging from a role as a refinery process engineer, project commissioning and startup engineer on a few large-scale plant projects, technical support engineer to the marketing, logistics, and sales divisions, and refinery process controls engineer. In addition, I spent a considerable amount of time in the field of lubricants research & development, and lubricants manufacture & technical support. I possess substantial knowledge & industry experience in the areas of petroleum refining processes and operations, industrial water and wastewater treatment, environmental policies, industrial occupational safety and health, industrial petroleum plant firefighting, plant control systems and control strategies, manufacturing plant IT network environments, and safety systems. I have 4 years experience founding and operating a startup company in the field of high-tech and IT systems. My most recent expertise resides in the chemicals and plastics manufacturing industries. American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Member (On&off since 1990) American Solar Energy Society, Member in good standing. The American Chemical Society, Former member. Microsoft Registered Partner Company, former. Intel Authorized Partner, former. Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, (Univ of Illinois) Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, (Univ of Illinois

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