Dr. Ruhl has been performing engineering work on solid-oxide fuel cell systems and related technologies since 1985. He has completed detailed conceptual designs on over 20 complete fuel cell systems and overseen their operation. These kilowatt-class systems have operated successfully on numerous fuels including natural gas, kerosene, diesel, and liquid biofuels. He has also done preliminary conceptual designs and calculations for much larger fuel cell systems and other processes using solid-oxide electrochemical technology.
Robert earned BSE degrees in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Michigan (1963) and a PhD in Materials Engineering from MIT (1967). He has been employed by Kennecott Copper Corp., Standard Oil, and British Petroleum. From 1993 through 2018, he was Vice-President-Technology for Technology Management Inc., a company dedicated to developing solid-oxide fuel cell systems.
Formal Education
He attended public schools in Saginaw, Michigan and was co-valedictorian of his high school graduating class of 704 students (1959).
He earned Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees in both Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering (1963) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, with a minor in Electrical Engineering.
Robert was awarded a PhD degree in Materials Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1967) in Cambridge, with a minor in Physics. His thesis work using quenching of liquid metallic alloys led to 12 journal publications.
Continuing Education
From his early teens, Robert has been an avid reader of diverse textbooks and technology publications. On-the-job needs and challenges have also greatly enhanced his education. His in depth expertise now includes many areas within the fields of Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, and Materials Engineering plus Chemistry. He has acquired extensive experience in financial topics, including corporate accounting, capital cost estimation, and operating cost projections.
Employment History
1967-1984: Chase Brass and Copper Co. (subsidiary of Kennecott Copper Co.), Cleveland, Ohio. Held positions in new technology development, manufacturing engineering, and capital projects engineering/management. Promoted to Vice-President of Engineering in 1976. Was responsible for over $30 million of technical projects, serving as lead engineer on most. Kennecott was acquired by Standard Oil in 1981.
1985-1988: Standard Ohio (Sohio), Cleveland, Ohio. Robert joined the Warrensville R&D Laboratory (700 employees in 1985). He invented a new type of solid-oxide fuel cell and system in 1985, which led to U.S. Patent 4,770,955 (9/13/88) and which became the precursor of TMI (see below). At Sohio, he worked on several high-temperature projects including ceramics manufacturing. Standard Oil was acquired by British Petroleum in 1987.
1989-1993: British Petroleum (BP), Cleveland, Ohio. Remaining at the Warrenville Lab, Robert invented a new process and equipment design for producing synthesis gas (syngas) from natural gas and steam at reduced capital and operating costs. The process was successfully demonstrated by a pilot plant and became the basis for a subsequent large investment by BP. He also began part-time consulting for TMI (see below) on his solid-oxide fuel cell inventions.
1969-1991: Carbon Technology Inc. (CTI), Slocum, Rhode Island. CTI was a startup manufacturing company founded by Robert’s father and associates. They manufactured small carbon graphite parts for appliances and industrial applications and grew to about 130 employees. Robert was a part-time corporate director and financial consultant, and became Chairman in 1986. He negotiated an attractive sale of the company in 1991.
1993-2018: Technology Management Inc. (TMI), Cleveland, Ohio. Upon the closing of the BP R&D lab, Robert joined TMI full time. He has performed conceptual designs for over 20 complete fuel cell systems. Extensive supporting calculations have included electrochemistry, reaction equilibria, multi-mode heat transfer, pressure drops, stresses, rotating equipment, power electronics, control systems, material and energy balances, and cost projections.
Detailed studies of possible future systems have included large fuel cell systems with turbocharging, biofuel production systems using solid-oxide electrochemical technologies, and CO2 capture alternatives (all with capital and operating cost estimates). He has examined technologies and costs for the mass production of fuel cell systems with a wide range of sizes.
2019-present: Robert has continued to explore future U.S. energy possibilities, completing additional papers posted on this website.