Orku- og umhverfistæknifræði og mekatróník tæknifræði í Orku- og tækniskóla Keilis

Eftirfarandi búnaður er til staðar í Rannsóknarstofu Orku- og tækniskóla Keilis:

1. Gasgreinir með massagreini (Gaschromatograph-MS). Tækið er ætlað til magngreininga t.d. á þrávirkum efnum í umhverfi. Með viðbótarbúnaði sem samanstendur af TCD („Thermal conductivity detector“) og „packed column“ sem settur verður upp bráðlega verður mögulegt að magngreina gastegundir t.d. í útblæstri frá jarðvarmavirkjunum svo sem koltvísýrung (CO2), brennisteinsvetni (H2S), methani (CH4) o.fl.
2. Vökvagreinir (HPLC) sem hentar til greininga á lífrænum efnum t.d. niðurbrotsefnum í vatni og frárennsli.
3. Atomic absorbtion mælir til greininga á málmum og öðrum frumefnum.
4. Búnaður til dauðhreinsunar („autoclave“) og ræktunar á örverum („incubator“) auk skilvinda

Greiningar á lofttegundum sem losaðar eru í andrúmsloftið:

• Mælingar á útblæstri frá sorpbrennslum og iðnaði svo sem þrávirkum lífrænum efnum (PBT) og rokgjörnum lífrænum efnum (VOC).
• Mælingar á brunagösum frá iðnaði svo sem kolmónoxíði / koltvíoxíði og brennisteinsoxíðum.
• Mælingar á útblæstri jarðvarmavirkjana einkum koltvíoxíði, brennisteinsvetni, metani og eðallofttegundum.
• Mælingar á loftgæðum í umhverfi sorpbrennsla og iðnaðar  

Greiningar á ólífrænum efnum í vatni eða jarðvegi:

• Greiningar á þungmálmum og öðrum frumefnum í ösku frá sorpbrennslum.
• Greiningar á söltum og kísli í jarðhitavatni.
• Greiningar á mengunarefnum í sjó / vatni í nágrenni sorpbrennsla og iðnaðar

Work in the chemical lab is centered on the chemical, biological and environmental aspects of energy technology and the efficient use of our natural resources. This includes, for example, work on renewable fuels such as methane, biodiesel and hydrogen, as well as research on novel uses of geothermal effluents. Environmental monitoring, bioremediation and the prevention of scaling and corrosion in geothermal power systems are further research interests. Collaborations with industry, government agencies and universities play an important role.

Integration of Teaching and Research
The lab space was designed from ground up to closely integrate teaching and research. The teaching lab consists of a classroom with wet bench space for up to 24 students and fume hood space for up to 12 students, as well as a demonstration bench and lecture area. The classroom is connected to the adjacent research lab with wet bench space and desks for up to eight visiting scientists, M. S. or Ph. D. students. Undergraduate students can also use the research lab for project work. Equipment and reagents can easily be shared between both sides.

Technology in the Classroom
As with all programs at Keilir, emphasis is being placed on using technology to improve students‘ learning experience. To this end, many instruments with USB interface are used in students‘ experiments and demonstrations. Students can connect them to their own laptops to record experimental data and teachers can project data in real-time via their computer and LCD projector. The collection of USB compatible instruments used in chemistry includes a UV-VIS spectral photometer, balance, pH probe, conductivity probe, gas pressure sensor and temperature probes.  Results and reports are exchanged online between students and teachers.

Classes and Outreach
Initial classes taught in the lab include undergraduate instruction in chemistry and biofuels in the B. Sc. programs in Energy Technology and Mechatronics, and college preparatory classes in Chemistry, Physics and Biology (Háskólabrú). M. S. and Ph. D. projects will be carried out in collaboration with other institutions.

The lab is also part of wider efforts to increase the knowledge base on the Reykjanes peninsula, and is available for outreach programs such as summer courses for schools, science teachers, and continuing education for various audiences. We always welcome ideas and inquiries about custom-tailored science classes.

Facilities and Utilities
Total research and teaching lab space is about 250 m². Free floor and wall space for additional equipment is available in the research lab. In addition, some large equipment is located nearby in a shared machine room. All necessary utilities are provided:

• Propane gas
• Vacuum
• Compressed air
• Deionized water (regular and ultrapure grade)
• Fume hoods with vented storage cabinets
• Wireless LAN, Ethernet, LCD projector

Access to the lab is controlled by chip cards.

Equipment
The lab is well equipped for organic and inorganic analytical work, sample preparation and storage. Major instrumentation:

• Perkin Elmer Clarus 500 gas chromatograph with FID detector, coupled to a Clarus 560 S mass spectrometer
• Perkin Elmer Flexar HPLC
• Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 400 atomic absorption spectrometer with autosampler
• UV-VIS spectral photometer
• Analytical balance
• Refrigerators and freezers (-86°C, -20°C, +4°C)
• Sorvall RC-6plus high-speed centrifuge
• Refrigerated tabletop microcentrifuge
• Autoclave
• Heated/cooled incubator shakers and cabinets