Dr. Timothy D. Placek
Curriculum Vitae

Assistant Professor
Auburn University
Department of Chemical Engineering
230 Ross Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849

tplacek@eng.auburn.edu
www.eng.auburn.edu/users/tplacek
(334) 844-2022

Research Interests
Has actively pursued research in the areas of environmental studies and computer modeling and simulation since 1971. Areas of application include: modeling the performance of devices used to clean process effluent streams, improvements in processes common to the chemical manufacturing industries included energy production industries, and the development new simulation vehicles (with particular emphasis on microcomputer technology). Projects include energy management within facilities producing ethanol fuels from biomass sources, energy efficiency in various pulp mill processes, and the development of software for performing simulations of pulp and paper mill operations as well as modeling atmospheric and aqueous pollutant dispersion. With regard to the process simulator studies, specific attention was given to the human interfacing problems when non-technical persons routinely need to use software with inherently technical components.

Skill Areas

Teaching and Instruction	23 years teaching experience instructing undergraduate and graduate students in chemical engineering in the areas of material and energy balances, transport processes (fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer), equilibrium stage operations, computer programming and engineering math applications, process simulation, process design, environmental science (air and water pollution).
Process Engineering	Expertise in chemical, environmental, pulp and paper, and energy industries. Industrial experience in carbon products, electrolytic processes, desalination technology. Directed projects in the areas of phase and sedimentation behavior, cellulosic biomass utilization, fermentation of wood hydrolyzates, solvent extraction technology, gas scrubber performance, air quality modeling, black liquor evaporator performance, secondary and tertiary water purification, recycled solvent quality.
Process Modeling and Simulation	Developed models and performed simulation studies in the following areas: (1) area impact model for the distribution of new pollutant sources, (2) analysis of particulate removal during the scrubbing of hot flu gases, (3) bacterial growth in continuous systems, (4) Kamyr pulp digester model, (5) generalized multiple effect evaporator simulator, (6) sedimentation and compression behavior of sludges, (7) ethanol recovery technology using solvent recovery. Has also technically reviewed and debugged (refitted) existing computer simulation programs. Most notably, developed an advanced process simulator for the pulp and paper industry for DOS, OS/2, and Windows operating systems.
Statistic Applications and Process Quality Control	Familiarity with statistical measures, data acquisition, process quality control.
Interpersonal and Organization Activities	Extensive experience in instruction. Preparation of novel course materials for computer-aided learning and web-based learning. Directed project activities for the PPREC Process Modeling Group (PMG) during the development of the ASPPI process simulator. Directed numerous graduate and undergraduate research projects.

Computer Skills - Proficient in project development and management. Has been active in computer related activities for 30+ years.

Selected Publications and Presentations

1. “ASPPI for Windows User's Manual, Advanced Simulator for the Pulp and Paper Industries, Version 2.0,” T.D. Placek, copyright 1994-95, PPREC, Auburn University, 600pp.
2. "Advanced Simulator for the Pulp and Paper Industry, Technical Reference Manual, Version 1.0," T.D. Placek, PPREC, Auburn University, 1992.
3. "A Simulator for Kraft Black-Liquor Evaporation," B. Venkataraman, T.D. Placek (senior author), A. Krishnagopalan, 1988 AIChE Forest Products Division Symposium, 211-217, TAPPI Press (1989).
4. "Electron Intensities Obtained During Backscattered-Mossbauer Spectroscopy - I. Comparison Between Theory and Experiment," T.S. Lee, T.D. Placek, J.A. Dumesic, B.J. Tatarchuk (senior author), Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, B18, 182-193, (1987).
5. "Particle Target Efficiency and Performance of Venturi Scrubbers," T.D. Placek (senior author) and L.K. Peters, American Institute of Chemical Engineering Journal, 29, 877 (1983).
6. "Pyrite Catalysis of Coal Liquefaction, Hydrogenation, and Intermolecular Hydrogen Transfer Reactions," D. Brooks, J. Guin (senior author), C. Curtis, and T.D. Placek, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry - Process Design and Development, 2, 343-349 (1983).
7. "Analysis of Particulate Removal in Venturi Scrubbers - Role of Heat and Mass Transfer," T.D. Placek (senior author) and L.K. Peters, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Journal, 28, 31-39 (1982).
8. "Principles of Unit Operations, 2nd edition, Faust et al.," Timothy D. Placek, The Chemical Engineering Journal, 24, 219-220, (1982). (Book Review)
9. "Analysis of Particulate Removal In Venturi Scrubbers - Effect of Operating Variables on Performance," Timothy D. Placek (senior author) and Leonard K. Peters, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Journal, 27, 984-993 (1981).
10. "A Hydrodynamic Approach to Particle Target Efficiency in the Presence of Diffusiophoresis," Timothy D. Placek (senior author) and Leonard K. Peters, Journal of Aerosol Science, 11, 521-533, (1980).
11. "The Role of Heat and Mass Transfer and Related Effects in Venturi Scrubber Performance," University of Kentucky, 1978, (Ph.D. Dissertation).
12. "Investigation of Mathematical Models Based the Monod Relationship Describing Bacterial Growth in Continuous Systems," Cleveland State University, 1973, (M.S. Thesis).
13. "Object-Oriented Design of Pulp and Paper Process Units," Qinmei Chen, Bala Vaddi, Brent Garner, T. D. Placek, 1994 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Atlanta GA, April 1994.
14. "Steady-State Simulation Model of a Kamyr Digester for ASPPI," Bala Vaddi, Brent Garner, T. D. Placek, 1994 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Atlanta GA, April 1994.
15. "ASPPI Process Simulator," T.D. Placek, TAPPI, Gulf Coast Section Meeting, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, February 1992.
16. "GMEES - Generalized Multiple Effect Evaporator Simulator," T.D. Placek, TAPPI, Gulf Coast Section Meeting, Auburn, AL, February 1989.
17. "Recent Advances in Pulp and Paper Simulation," T.D. Placek, TAPPI, Gulf Coast Section Meeting, Presentation, Destin, FL, June 1988.
18. "Senior Design Experience Using ASPEN - PLUS," Presented at Ninety - Third Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, Atlanta, GA., June 16 - 20, 1985, (senior author with L.J. Hirth and C.W. Roos).
19. "Improving the Quality of Deteriorated Recycle Solvents" Presented at Direct Liquefaction Contractors' Review Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA., November 19 - 21, 1985, (senior author with R.J. Martin and A.R. Tarrer).

Research Grants and Support Received

1. “Phase and Compression Behavior in Sedimentation," National Science Foundation, #ENG - 78 - 20965, 1978 - 1981.
2. "Hemicellulose and Cellulose Hydrolysis and Pentose Utilization/Liquid Fuel and Chemical Production from Cellulosic Biomass: Studies Leading to an Integrated Biomass Processing Complex," Midwest Research Institute (Solar Energy Research Institute Division), DE - AS05 - 79ET23051 & MRI - Z - 0 - 9254 - 1, 1979 - 1981.
3. "A Proposal for Biomass Processing and Product Recovery Trainee Program," U.S. Department of Energy, #DE - FG05 - 81ER10265, 1981 - 1982.
4. "Phase and Compression Behavior in Sedimentation and Thickening of Liquid - Solid Suspensions," Office of Water Research and Technology, Department of the Interior, Project A - 086 - ALA., #DI - 2101 - 82 - CHE, 1982 - 1983.
5. "Ethanol Recovery From Fermented Wood Hydrolyzate Using Solvent Extraction Technology," Tennessee Valley Authority, Project TV - 60661A, 1982 - 1983.
6. "Processes for Improved Production of Fermentation Ethanol from Carbohydrates in Acid Hardwood Hydrolyzates," Tennessee Valley Authority, Project TV - 63512A - CHE - 84, 1984 - 1985 (Co-Principal Investigator).
7. ASPEN - PLUS Process Simulator, Research and Instructional Support, Aspen Technology, Inc, Cambridge, MA, Ver Dec83F, Ver Sep84, 1984 - 85. (System Administrator).
8. "Implementation of Combined Backscatter Conversion Electron And Backscatter - Photon Mossbauer Spectroscopy," Army Research Office, #DAAG29 - 84 - 0057, 1984 - 1985 (Faculty Investigator).
9. "Evaluation of Rust 561 Process Simulator," Rust Engineering International, Project ASPPI, 1986 - 1987.
10. "Development of An Advanced Process Simulator for the Pulp and Paper Industries", Rust Engineering International, Project ASPPI, 1987-90.
11. "Wet Scrubber Performance Including the Effect of Droplet Dynamics," Engineering Experiment Station, Auburn University, 1978 - 1980.
12. "Phase and Compression Behavior in Sedimentation and Thickening of Liquid - Solid Suspensions," Engineering Experiment Station, Auburn University, Project 2 - 12851, 1982 - 1984.
13. "Biomass Separation and Product Recovery," Energy Research Award, Auburn University, 1982 - 1983.
14. "Microcomputer - Aided Process Simulation in Pulp and Paper Industry," Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, Auburn University, Project AMTC CONT SYSTMS, 1984 - 1985.
15. "Advanced Simulator for the Pulp and Paper Industry," PPREC, Auburn, University, Project PLACEK P&P - 95, 1985 - 1995.

Membership in Professional and Scientific Organizations
AIChE - American Institute of Chemical Engineers including CAST (Division of Computing and System Technology), CACHE (Computer - Aided Chemical Engineering Committee), Microcomputing Task Force.
TAPPI - Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry