On the Ground in Wyoming

September 17, 2020

Greetings from the Integrated Test Center at Dry Fork Station, a carbon utilization research facility operating alongside a coal power plant in Gillette, Wyoming.

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We are here competing in the Carbon X Prize. Our mission: to make jet fuel from carbon emissions and sunlight.

Three weeks ago we loaded our truck and trailer in Ithaca, New York and drove halfway across the country to set up camp at the ITC. 

Now, after years of lab work, we are just days away from commissioning our reactor on-sun for the first time.

Below is a collection of photographs showcasing our collective efforts up to this moment.

We’ll soon have results from our first day of data collection, so stay tuned!

Enjoy the ride,
Jason Salfi

Packed in Ithaca

Heading west with 11 tons in tow, it was only fitting that we get ourselves a dually.
Heading west with 11 tons in tow, it was only fitting that we get ourselves a dually.

Arrival in Coal Country

Gillette, Wyoming produces 35 percent of the country’s coal. Active and retired mines like these are scattered across the region.
Gillette, Wyoming produces 35 percent of the country’s coal. Active and retired mines like these are scattered across the region.

The ITC at Dry Fork                    

The Wyoming Integrated Test Center is a state-funded research partner of Dry Fork Station, “the cleanest coal-fired power plant ever built.” X Prize partnered with the ITC to provide all the carbon competitors with a uniform facility to commission f…
The Wyoming Integrated Test Center is a state-funded research partner of Dry Fork Station, “the cleanest coal-fired power plant ever built.” X Prize partnered with the ITC to provide all the carbon competitors with a uniform facility to commission from. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, only we and the team from UCLA were able to make it here. The others are commissioning in their home countries.

Cooper Makes A Podcast

We were greeted on site by Wyoming NPR journalist Cooper McKim, who’s producing a podcast on the XPrize competition called Carbon Valley. Check out some of his recent work here.
We were greeted on site by Wyoming NPR journalist Cooper McKim, who’s producing a podcast on the XPrize competition called Carbon Valley. Check out some of his recent work here.

Hydrogen Delivery                    

Local treasure Jim Ford runs a tight ship on the ground at the ITC. Here he runs the senior engineers through safety protocol around the hydrogen trailer—no smoking.
Local treasure Jim Ford runs a tight ship on the ground at the ITC. Here he runs the senior engineers through safety protocol around the hydrogen trailer—no smoking.

Shelters Raising

Fresh out of university, Adrienne joined the team for our commissioning here in Wyoming. Before the science-ing could begin, we all spent some quality time with mallets and impact drivers.
Fresh out of university, Adrienne joined the team for our commissioning here in Wyoming. Before the science-ing could begin, we all spent some quality time with mallets and impact drivers.

Placing the Skid

The placement of all our equipment was carefully planned to minimize risk by maximizing the distance between electronics and volatile gases.
The placement of all our equipment was carefully planned to minimize risk by maximizing the distance between electronics and volatile gases.

Tracker Assembly

Our solar tracker stays on-sun with the guidance of GPS and the power of two independent motors which control elevation and azimuth. Adrienne and Huck handled the details of assembly.
Our solar tracker stays on-sun with the guidance of GPS and the power of two independent motors which control elevation and azimuth. Adrienne and Huck handled the details of assembly.

First Movement

We were all smiles as the tracker reared its head for the first time, Mihir holding the reins with software he helped develop. With his notes, Brian gives the beast some love.
We were all smiles as the tracker reared its head for the first time, Mihir holding the reins with software he helped develop. With his notes, Brian gives the beast some love.

Parts Fabrication

Many of the mechanical details of our operation are being worked out for the first time here on site. Some of us work with calipers; I’m a “hammer, Sawzall, grinder” kind of guy.
Many of the mechanical details of our operation are being worked out for the first time here on site. Some of us work with calipers; I’m a “hammer, Sawzall, grinder” kind of guy.

Attaching the Reactor

Not every moment here looks as epic as it feels, but this was one of those moments.
Not every moment here looks as epic as it feels, but this was one of those moments.

Wiring Tracker to Trailer

And then there are moments that look more epic than they feel. Thanks, Adrienne, for taking on any task and handling business.
And then there are moments that look more epic than they feel. Thanks, Adrienne, for taking on any task and handling business.

Tracker Rigging

To do away with the weighted wobble of the tracker we treated it like the mast of a ship. Fugitive carbon, beware this pirate vessel.
To do away with the weighted wobble of the tracker we treated it like the mast of a ship. Fugitive carbon, beware this pirate vessel.

Carbon Calibration

One of our on-board computers measures the exact amount of gases flowing through the system to register the conversion rate of CO2 to more valuable feedstocks, like jet fuel. We’re hoping to start at a high conversion rate and raise the bar througho…
One of our on-board computers measures the exact amount of gases flowing through the system to register the conversion rate of CO2 to more valuable feedstocks, like jet fuel. We’re hoping to start at a high conversion rate and raise the bar throughout our time in Wyoming.

Precision Plumbing

Some of our tubing costs five dollars a foot. Some of it goes for a seventy dollars a foot. Brian taught us to bend. Bolaji cut with care.
Some of our tubing costs five dollars a foot. Some of it goes for a seventy dollars a foot. Brian taught us to bend. Bolaji cut with care.

         

A Visit from X Prize

Do I need a moment to fix my hair before talking about saving the planet? No.
Do I need a moment to fix my hair before talking about saving the planet? No.

Tech Inspection

Kevin is the eyes and ears of the X Prize Judges. He’s very serious.
Kevin is the eyes and ears of the X Prize Judges. He’s very serious.

Electrical Problem Solving

Every day comes with its share of on-the-fly engineering, but this bump in the road nearly sent us over the edge. As we wired the skid to the shelter, we discovered its components matched neither the plans we sent in to our contractor or the parts l…
Every day comes with its share of on-the-fly engineering, but this bump in the road nearly sent us over the edge. As we wired the skid to the shelter, we discovered its components matched neither the plans we sent in to our contractor or the parts list they provided on delivery. We dropped everything for two days, and scrambled to bring the project back from the brink.

Balancing Gas Flow Rates

With the electronics sorted, we dove into adjusting the flow meters on the skid.
With the electronics sorted, we dove into adjusting the flow meters on the skid.

Mirror Attachment

We had one chance to get our parabolic solar concentrator onto the tracker without shattering it. The two backups we’ve got are on loan from the Greek Orthodox Pilgrims who bought the company in recent months, and we’d prefer not to have to answer t…
We had one chance to get our parabolic solar concentrator onto the tracker without shattering it. The two backups we’ve got are on loan from the Greek Orthodox Pilgrims who bought the company in recent months, and we’d prefer not to have to answer to god.

A Moment of Peace

On-sun testing is now just a few steps away. After we find the focal point of the mirror and adjust the reactor to position the light exactly where we want it, we’ll remove the cover and dive into data collection.
On-sun testing is now just a few steps away. After we find the focal point of the mirror and adjust the reactor to position the light exactly where we want it, we’ll remove the cover and dive into data collection.

If you’ve made it this far, the journey has just begun. Thanks for joining us on this journey to redefine the future of carbon dioxide.

That’s all for now. Next time, we’ll do formal introductions to the team and follow with some backstory on our time competing for the X Prize.

Live long and prosper.

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