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Dr. Robert L. Straitt+, CEM

Examples of Previous Projects of Dr. Robert L. Straitt+

Renewable/Clean Energy

Solar Water Heating Systems:

Dr. Straitt worked on a project to provide low cost solar heated water systems to underdeveloped countries, while studying Environmental Sciences at Austin Community College , Austin TX.  The project included analyzing daily hot water needs, projecting solar hot water generation capacity of various low cost systems and manufacturing low cost water heating system to be shipped to villages in Eastern Europe . 

Acid Rain Reduction Research:

Dr. Straitt performed research in the mid 1980’s as part of an Environmental Geology Program at Fitchburg State College to address the emission of acid rain producing pollutants from coal fired power plants in the mid-west and far-west.  As a result of his preliminary research of the problem he presented his findings in a paper, in which he introduced a process in which limestone could be introduced in the burning chambers of the boilers and would combine with acid compound to help neutralize them before being emitted by the plant.  Variations of this process are used today in number of facilities.

Ultra-High-Temperature (UHT) Biomass Reducer:

Dr. Straitt worked on the design, development, and operation of a UHT Biomass Reducer.  The system operated at temperatures in excess of ~4000° F, and was able to combust wood and other biomass material to virtually no solid residues.  Operating at optimal temperature the furnace was able to reduce approximately 1 ton of biomass, to less than .125 pounds of ash residue.  Exhaust gas from the combustion chamber was vended though a one inch black iron pipe at low pressure.  During prototype operations electrically operated UHT certified ceramic igniters, similar in design and construction to the Norton Crystar Igniter Model 101, provided by the research facility at Norton Industrial Ceramics Corporation of Worcester , Massachusetts , were repeatedly melted.  The Model 101 igniter has a maximum operating temperature of ~3100° F.  Several direct contact UHT temperature probes used to measure combustion chamber temperature were similarly reduced/evaporated. Because a suitable optical temperature sensor was not available during the project ultimate achievable temperatures were not recorded.  A mechanical retraction system for the electrical igniter was eventually added to move it out of the combustion chamber.  Mass to Energy conversion efficiencies were approaching those found in nuclear reactors.

Wind and Hydrogen Hybrid System Conceptual Demonstration:

Dr. Straitt participated in research and practical demonstrations of Hybrid Wind Turbine Systems at Iowa Lakes Community College , Wind Turbine Technology Center .  Dr. Straitt operated and experimented with a fully functional wind and hydrogen electrolyzer/fuel-cell hybrid system.  A wind turbine would generate electricity that would be used to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen gasses that would be captured and used to generate electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell.  DC electricity from the fuel cell was then inputted into an inverter where it was converted into full wave AC power at 110 volts for domestic use.  Dr. Straitt has submitted papers at Iowa Lakes Community College and Excelsior College , SUNY Albany, NY on the usage of Wind hybrid systems, which utilize hydrogen and/or petroleum backup power plants for off-grid applications.  Of particular interest is the use of Wind or Solar hybrids systems that utilize off-the shelf petroleum based generators to provide a substantially green and environmentally friendly power system for small to mid size applications.

Wind Turbine Manufacturing, Installation, and Operations:

Dr. Straitt headed a project with Nordex to develop a training concept for the newly founded American division of the wind turbine manufacturing company.  Dr. Straitt had to learn the complete manufacturing, installation, and maintenance processes for 2.5 MW N90 and N100 wind turbines manufactured, installed, and operated in the United States .

Green Agriculture and Aquiculture

Fisheries and Organic Agriculture/Hydroponics:

Dr. Straitt participated in the conceptualization, research, design, construction, and operation of green fisheries, at the Whitmanville Farm Fishery.  The project can be categorized by the four primary elements of the concept.

a)      Fisheries – A design of three 16 foot diameter round concrete fish growth tanks protected by metal roofs made of recycled materials made up the main fish facility.  The water was supplied by a shallow drilled well that was custom drilled by Dr. Straitt and other workers, operating a hammer drill to drill the well.  Because of the geological substrata, which consisted of impervious hardpan, it had been determined that a gravel packed drilled well would not be able to a produce sufficient recovery cycle after well drawdown.  Because of the well location it was impractical to use blast fracturization of the hardpan, so a somewhat antiquated hammer drilling technique was successfully implemented. Dr. Straitt participated in the in-house recycling/reengineering of a 1940’s era hammer drill to serve as a drilling platform.  Water was then pumped to a 10,000 gallon, recycled fully insolated water storage tank, which had to be constructed on site, before being circulated into the fish tanks.  Insulation of the tank allowed for virtually energy free temperature control of the water supply to the tanks.  This concept eliminated the need for continuous pumping of water and/or the need to refrigerate or heat the water depending on ambient environmental conditions to maintain optimum water temperature for fish production.  The fisher continues to produce fish on a commercial basis.

b)      Green Houses – Several designs for green houses were conceptualized and experimented with, including rigid panel, before a final green house design was selected.  The design ultimately proven to be the most durable, functional, cost-effective, and environmentally green/friendly was that of an inverted half round metallic frame covered with two layers of 6 and/or 8 mil UV-stabilized poly film sheeting. A small box fan similar to what is found in a standard desk top computer was used to pressurize the space between the layers, in order to lift the outer layer and provide 4 to 6 inches of insulating air.  For extremely cold operations a third layer could easily be added to provide additional R value, however it was found that even in the coldest New England weather this was not necessary.  Additionally a solar powered fan could be used to inflate the layers.  The insulation value, ease of operations, and maintenance of this structure was found to be far superior to the double layered UV-stabilized polycarbonate panels.  The cost of construction was considerably lower then other alternatives as a complete 14 by 45 foot greenhouse kit, including frame, coverings, vent fans, 60,000 BTUH heater, and all necessary hardware currently costs only about $4,028.00.  Additional savings can be achieved if the frame is made from recycled tubing. Dr. Straitt participated in all phases of design, construction, and operations of the Green Houses.  Dr. Straitt did the electrical layout and design of the custom controls system to control water flow for the Hydroponics and Raised Gardening discussed below.

c)      Green House Hydroponics and Raised Bed Gardening – The green houses were used to support a commercial Truck Farm operation, primarily growing tomatoes for the local restaurant and farm stand markets. Raised beds were constructed out of recycled materials and were filled with organic compost costing of decomposed sawdust and shavings mixed with locally produced chicken and swine manure. Compost mixing, excavation, and screening, was performed on-site with a restored Bucyrus Erie 5 yard cable shovel, owned/operated by the Farm. Site preparation was completed with a restored Allis-Chalmers HD-21 cable operated bulldozer also owned and operated by the farm, and a John Deer excavator on loan from a neighboring farm.  Tomato seedlings were started and then transferred to the raised beds before being transplanted outdoors, or being moved to the hydroponics growth area.  Initially about 2 - 3 acres of naturally grown tomatoes where kept under cultivation at the farm.  Other plants including squash, zucchini, peppers, and cucumbers were also raised as seedlings in the green house and then transplanted. High nutrient water supplied by the fisheries was gravity fed into the green house to irrigate the raised beds and provide high nutrient water for the hydroponics operations.

d)     Wet Lands Restoration Vegetation – Obviously the transplanting of wetland plant life from one wetland area to another compounds the wetland decimation problem. Thus the restoration of damaged wetlands with plants species native to the damaged area is dependent on an abundant supply of cultivated wetland plant species. Nutrient rich water from a commercial fisheries operation can significantly damage an ecosystem if it is dumped directly into the environment, such as allowing it to flow directly into a surface water stream.  Because of the large volumes of water a leach field system adequate in capacity would be cost and land area prohibitive.  It was found by creating multiple artificial wetland growing areas that the waste water coming from the fisheries, after being used in the greenhouses, could have its nutrient content reduced to acceptable levels by running it through these artificial wetlands that were used to grow wetland plan species.  The plants are then able to be harvested on demand to fill the needs of wetland reclamation projects around the country.  Also, plant species could be custom grown as needed to meet any reclamation project’s requirements; a controlled environment can also be obtained by placing a green house over designated growth beds.

Grass-fed Natural/Organic Black Angus Beef, Sheep, Dairy Goats, and Chickens:

Dr. Straitt has owned and operated two separated livestock operations that focused on the production of Grass-fed natural/organic livestock.  Dr. Straitt performed all aspects of the operations from, raising of livestock from birth to market weight, to cultivating and harvesting of natural/organic feed stocks, to processing/packaging of meats and eggs, to finally the marketing/selling of the products.

Natural/Organic Truck Farming 

Dr. Straitt has owned and operated two separate natural/organic Truck Farms where he cultivated and harvested fruits and vegetables for local markets.  Dr. Straitt also built, owned, and operated a farm stand that sold produce grown locally and from regional suppliers, as well as meats, dairy, and other natural/organic farm products.  In addition Dr. Straitt has owned and operated Maple Syrup operations, responsible for all aspects from maintenance of Maple Groves, to collection and processing of maple sap into Maple Syrup that was sold internationally.  Dr. Straitt has also been actively involved in the production of Goat Milk and Cheese, and the production of natural lotions and soaps previously marketed under the trade name Sunslime Lotions and Products.

Construction and Project Management

Dr. Straitt has managed a variety of small and large ($500 Million) projects involving various technologies.  Dr. Straitt also holds a current Iowa Electricians License.

Test Laboratories

a)      Dr. Straitt had full Program Management Authority and was responsible for all aspects of the construction and equipping of an a $30 million dollar plus, advanced electronics test facility, to be operated for the United States Government by the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (IITRI), in support of the United States Government’s JTIDS interoperability verification program.  Dr. Straitt’s responsibilities included floor plan layout, monitoring of construction and electrical installations, equipment specifications and purchasing, and management of all Government Furnished Equipment.

b)      Dr. Straitt had full Test Program Management Authority over the operations and maintenance of an 80,000 square foot advanced technology laboratory and test facility for the United States Government’s WIS program development and testing activities.

c)      As a Geophysical Scientist assigned to the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, Geodesics Center , Dr. Straitt Managed an advanced digital mapping program and participated in the monitoring of underground nuclear weapons testing performed by foreign government.  Monitoring of these explosions was performed clandestinely from the Laboratories in the United States utilizing various geophysics techniques.  Dr. Straitt also provided technical support for advance applied research in Gravitational Anomalies Studies being performed by the Geodesics Center.

d)     Dr. Straitt had Project Management Authority over a High Voltage Equipment Design and Testing Laboratory for evaluating electronic equipment for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s command and control vehicles under manufacture by CTA Inc.   Dr. Straitt was responsible for the design and operations of the controlled access test facility that was testing equipment susceptibility to voltages of no less then 10 kV.

Reclamation of building products and environmentally safe removal of building materials:

a)      Dr. Straitt has managed and directly participated in the environmentally safe and totally green removal of large scale agricultural structures and the green recycling and/or reuse of all materials in removed from the site.

b)      Dr. Straitt has managed and directly participated in the recycling and restoration of residential structures, including the complete restoration of a 60 foot condemned mobile home trailer into a serviceable Chapel/Sunday school for a small rural church congregation. Recycled materials were used when ever possible and green building concepts were incorporated into the structure where practical.

c)      Dr. Straitt has recycled and restored a number of small and large agricultural buildings utilizing environmentally friendly processes and techniques.  One such structure was a post and beam barn originally built in the 18^th century.  Dr. Straitt personally cut all the wood shingles used on that barn, using a recycled/restored 19^th century shingle mill.  All raw wood materials were reclaimed from a commercial sawmill operation, where they would have otherwise gone for land fill.

Information Technology

Geographical Information System development and implementation:

Dr. Straitt, participated in the design, implementation, and populating of a Geographical Information System for the island of Corsica France .  The project under the direct control of Dr. Jean-Francois Santucci, VP of Research, was significant to the development of the island’s natural wind, solar, and hydro energy resources.  In addition the system was able to aid in the protection of environmentally sensitive or culturally important areas by being able to show planners all environmental, commercial, infrastructure, and cultural aspects of area overlaid upon the geographic/geological representation of the land.

Small Satellites for Power Utilities

Dr. Straitt along with Dr. Robert Twiggs of Weber State University , Utah , and Dr. Roosevelt Fernandez formally of Niagara Mohawk Power and Southern California Edison developed a concept to utilize a constellation of low cost small satellites operating in low earth obits collect residential and commercial meter data and control remote equipment from space based communications platforms.