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- Katie Kruger
Katie Kruger
• Majors: Mechanical Engineering and German
• Cooperative Education Placement in Germany (spring - summer 2007)
Intern (Praktikant)
DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt)
Stuttgart, Germany
I did some preliminary experimental design calculations for Prof. Palumbo's ZnO electrolysis project. I also did a study on the difference between natural gas and hydrogen transport through a pipeline – mostly doing simulations to determine the conditions at which the hydrogen transport would no longer be worth it. Shortly, it takes much more energy to transport hydrogen through a pipeline than it does to transport natural gas. However, when hydrogen is produced with a large portion of solar energy, it can be said that hydrogen transport uses less natural gas energy. These simulations were done with a program called ASPEN-Plus, which I learned there with a few tutorials and some help from a student colleague. My final project was to simulate several different methane reforming processes using the same program, basically to find the best parameters for the reforming process. The product gas would be a fuel typically called "syngas," which has a higher burning value than pure methane.
• Engineering Course Completed in Reutlingen
“ Schwingungslehre ” (Vibrations)
• Post-Graduation Plans
I hope to continue studying Thermal Sciences in graduate school.
• Reflections about VIEP
The study abroad year was a really great experience for me to grow both personally and professionally. My internship with the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Center) helped me to hone my skills in the thermal sciences and even discover a passion for alternative energy research.