Five Challenges of Mechanical Engineering and Classical Physics

Valedictory lecture
Prof. Bert Brouwers
October 31, 2014
Visiting address
Den Dolech 2
5612 AZ Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Postal address
P.O.Box 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 40 247 91 11
www.tue.nl/map
/ Department of Mechanical Engineering
Five Challenges of
Mechanical Engineering and
Classical Physics
Where innovation starts
Prof. Bert Brouwers was appointed full-time professor of Process Technology in
the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1998. He will deliver his
valedictory lecture on Friday, October 31, 2014.
Bert Brouwers (1949) obtained an MSc in Mechanical Engineering at TU/e
in 1972 (cum laude) and a PhD at Twente University in 1976. In 1972 he
started at UCN/Urenco in Amsterdam to become Head of Isotopes
Separations Research in 1974. In 1979 he joined Royal/Dutch Shell,
initially as Group Leader in the E&P Laboratory in Rijswijk before moving
to London to become Staff Member for Economics. From 1986-1998 he was
appointed full professor of Thermal Engineering at Twente University. From
1 October Bert is CEO of Romico Hold in Maastricht.
The achievements of Bert Brouwers include:
• Solutions in closed-form of gas flows in rotating cylinders; results
steered the development of ultra centrifuges applied today by Urenco.
• A patented method for separating micron-sized particles from fluids by
centrifugation; the design has been implemented in, among others,
indoor air-cleaners sold worldwide by Philips.
• The solution of an old problem of classical physics: a general statistical
description of turbulent dispersion based on universal constants.
• The invention of Condensed Rotational Separation: gas-gas separation
by fast preferential condensation and separation by centrifugation;
the technology is under development for application in the oil and gas
sector, filtering biogas and removing industrial greenhouse gases.
Bert is the exclusive author of more than 20 articles in top SCI-ranked
journals, owner of commercially applied patents, founder of the Romico
Companies, advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA in
Vienna, recipient of the Dow Chemical Energy Award, promoter of more
than 40 PhD’s and responsible for over 250 MSc’s.
Invitation
The Executive Board of Eindhoven University of Technology cordially
invites you to attend the valedictory lecture of prof. Bert Brouwers on
Friday, October 31, 2014, at 4.00 PM in the Blauwe Zaal of the Auditorium
of the university.
The lecture concerns
‘Five Challenges of Mechanical Engineering and Classical Physics’
After the lecture, drinks will be served in the Senaatszaal.
All full professors are invited to join the cortège. Please register in advance
with the P&P office which organizes all academic ceremonies.
T +31 (0)40 247 5940; E [email protected].
Prof. C.J. van Duijn
Rector Magnificus
About the lecture
Attention focuses on five topics Bert dealt with during his career: the
Ultra Centrifuge; the dynamics of offshore structures under random
wave loading; the invention of the Rotational Particle Separator;
the statistical description of turbulent dispersion; and the new
technology of Condensed Rotational Separation.
The valedictory lecture will be recorded and will be available online.

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