Oscar Garcia (right), College of Engineering dean, and Victor Bogomolov, vice rector of Kharkov National Automobile and Highway University in Ukraine, sign an agreement between the two institutions for cryogenic research.

Agreement links UNT, Ukranian university

Scientists worldwide are expanding research on energy sources that don't pollute the environment. Cryogenic, or low temperature, substances like liquid nitrogen are one such source.

Cryogenic research has received a boost with the signing of an agreement of cooperation between UNT and a Ukranian university.

Oscar Garcia, dean of UNT's College of Engineering, and Victor Bogomolov, vice rector of Kharkov National Automobile and Highway University in Ukraine, recently signed the agreement as a formal renewal of research.

"We believe that destruction of the environment is one of the most important challenges for humankind," Bogomolov says. "With this project, we are trying to develop non-polluting devices."

"We are pleased to be collaborating with Dr. Bogomolov and Dr. Igor Kudryavtsev," Garcia says. "This project is an innovative initiative for UNT's new College of Engineering." Igor Kudryavstev serves as Kharkov's research collaborator on the project.

In the past, the research by the universities attracted $70,000 in funding from the Civilian Research and Development Foundation in the United States. The funding was used to continue cryogenic research and develop a nitrogen-powered car called the CooLN2Car. The car is operated by a mechanical system that uses nitrogen as fuel.

"It's an absolutely ecologically friendly and fire-safe automobile not requiring usage of hydrocarbon fuels," says Mitty Plummer, UNT associate professor of engineering technology.

The car emits only pollution-free gas as exhaust. It currently travels at 36 mph and runs 15 miles on a 48-gallon tank of liquid nitrogen.

Plummer, UNT's principal collaborator on the project, says the new agreement allows the universities to apply for additional grants to continue to improve the car.

"Through this new agreement, the cryogenics team can continue to improve the car," Plummer says. "We can work to achieve highway speeds and greater fuel efficiencies."

During the signing ceremony, Plummer was awarded a plaque designating him as an honorary professor of Kharkov National Automobile and Highway University.

"We are happy to accept joint research with such an excellent scientist as Mitty Plummer," Bogomolov says.

BY CATHY CASHIO ccashio@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

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• UNT announces tuition task force, seeks to create guaranteed tuition rates
• UNT to petition Texas Education Agency for virtual charter school authority
• UNT offices moving to, from and within the Hurley Administration Building
• UNT Observatory to provide up-close view of Mars
• New Fouts Field scoreboard, videoboard to be finished in time for first home game
• Faculty members honored at annual convocation
• Dance, theatre arts tickets on sale soon

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