Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
In the early 1970s, Stan studied at the University of Bath, graduating in 1974 with a BSc (Hons) in Chemical Engineering having also completed a one year industrial placement working on coke works (South Wales) for the National Coal Board. He remained at the University of Bath in order to complete his PhD, which he did in 1977. Then for seven years he worked for Esso Petroleum Co Ltd, in a range of technical and managerial positions on environmentally related themes.
In 1984 he returned to the University of Bath as a Lecturer, where he developed research interests in the field of Chemical Reaction Engineering, and in particular, in applications that relate to the solution of environmental problems.
In 1996, Stan was awarded a Personal Chair and became a full Professor in Chemical Engineering. From 1997 to 2003, he was Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and led the Department through a challenging period that culminated in the construction of a new building.
Since 1984, Stan has published more than 90 papers and been involved in more than 80 grants. He has supervised about 27 PhD students, who have all completed and submitted their PhDs successfully.
After 31 years of service at the University of Bath, in Jan 2016, he retired from his paid position; however, as an Emeritus Professor he still remains involved with colleagues in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the University. He is a Life Member on the Court of the University of Bath.
Research:His main interest was in Chemical Reaction Engineering, in particular applications that have environmental benefits. This work involved the development of mathematical models of chemical reactors, combined with associated experimental work - from laboratory bench-top to pilot-plant scale.His areas of research expertise cover:
- Deposit formation - heat exchangers on oil refineries; hydrocarbon fouling.
- Two-phase flow & heat transfer in heat exchangers.
- Chemical reactions in catalytic structures and novel catalyst supports, taking a particular interest in monoliths (e.g. as used in catalytic converters). This has involved a study of the measurement of effective diffusivity of species in catalyst structures.
- Catalytic combustion: co-authored the first textbook on this topic: Introduction to Catalytic Combustion, by: Hayes and Kolaczkowski (1997).
- Experimental and modelling studies examining the performance of catalytic devices to control emissions of CO, hydrocarbons and NOx, from a variety of stationary (e.g. gas engines) and mobile sources (vehicles).
- The design of catalytic reactors to turn batch processes in the pharmaceutical sector into continuous processes using compact multi-functional catalytic reactors. The catalysts are supported on structures that are retained in the reactor – this avoids the problem of catalyst separation from the product.
- The development of new heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production: turning batch to continuous processes and supporting catalysts on monolith supports
- The gasification of biomass to produce hydrogen/CO, then electricity: system integration, catalytic enhancement of producer gas quality, conversion of char to ash & producer gas, and catalytic clean-up of emissions from the gas engine
- Carbon dioxide scrubbing in an absorption column, using sea water, Dixon rings, and the development of compact multi-chamber column designs for submersible habitats
- Distillation as a method of separating isotopes in aqueous streams (e.g. deuterium & tritium).
- Use of metal foams as catalyst supports – in particular for steam methane reforming.
Over many years he has been a Member of the Scientific Committee which reviews papers and considers the scientific programme for an International Conference on Structured Catalysts & Reactors (ICOSCAR – held about every 3rd year).
Teaching interests
Teaching Experience - provided as examples:
Lectures on: Chemical Reaction Engineering (2nd and Final Years); Applied Thermodynamics - prediction of properties and non-ideal vapour-liquid phase equilibrium (Second Year); Environmental Legislation and Control (Final Year); Environmental Control in the Process Industry (MSc in Environmental Science, Policy and Planning); Material Balances (First Year); Management & Economics (2nd and 3rd Year students); Transport Phenomena (3rd Year students).
Tutorials: in Chemical Engineering (1st, 2nd, 3rd and Final Years)
Laboratory Classes – 2nd Year; Experimental Projects – Final Year
Design Projects: Co-ordination of Final Year Design Projects; Supervision of Group and Individual Design Projects (Final Year); Design Projects (2nd Year).
Other responsibilities
Industrial & Academic Contacts
Throughout his academic career, he has retained close contact with industry. Because of commercial sensitivity (which he has always respected), there are many topics (consultancy) on which he has worked, where his contribution is not evident in the public domain:
“There are secrets in all families” Farquhar (1678-1707) remarks in The Beaux’ Stratagem, III, iii
At present, he still maintains good contact and works with a number of companies engaged in Chemical Engineering activities - some in the UK, others in Germany and Poland. Many of his former students hold key positions in a wide range of industries around the world. He remains in contact with a number of them.
He is a Director of Bath Process Consultants Ltd, which provides the opportunity to work with his brother Dr Jan Kolaczkowski, who is also a Bath Chemical Engineering graduate (who worked for ExxonMobil until he decided to take early retirement). Bath Process Consultants Ltd, only select projects which they find interesting, and have the time to support. These are usually in the field of process scale-up (lab to pilot-plant), or related to plant safety as encountered in the oil and petrochemical sectors of the industry.
An example of recent collaborative work with Alantum Europe GmbH (Germany), led to the publication of this paper: Kolaczkowski, Awdry, Smith, Thomas, Torkuhl and Kolvenbach. (2016) Potential for metal foams to act as structured catalyst supports in fixed-bed reactors. Catalysis Today, 273, 221-273.
His position of Emeritus Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering enables him to provide assistance to colleagues in the Department and to be involved in research projects when he has the time to help. This he is pleased to do, as the University and Department have a special place in his heart and he enjoyed his working life there. He continues to maintain especially close contact with Prof Barry Crittenden, Prof Semali Perera, Dr Serpil Awdry and Dr Alf Hill, and they discuss teaching issues and research opportunities.
He also continues to maintain very close contact with Prof Bob Hayes (University of Alberta, Canada), and Prof Joanna Lojewska (JagielonianUniversity, Krakow, Poland). New challenges in their fields of research and commercial interest are discussed, and he tries to visit Krakow at least once per year.
Balance between Life and Work!
Finally, on a lighter note: in 2016 he retired early from his paid position in the Department of Chemical Engineering, so as to have more time to devote to other activities of interest to him. These include spending more time at his holiday house on the coast near Bordeaux, improving his French language skills, visits to Poland, and continuing to work on some Chemical Engineering projects for sponsors who can benefit from his expertise.
He has also assisted his wife as an author (pen name Alex E Robertson), in the writing and promotion of two historical thrillers set in the 1830s (Riot & Retribution; and Napoleon’s Gold – The Wages of Sin). A big change from Chemical Engineering, but one that utilizes his expertise in the field of Martial Arts and in particular Karate – and his skills in adopting a systematic approach to tasks. The third in the trilogy remains to be written!
Projects
- 4 Finished
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KTA0047 - Continuous Flow Solutions for Pharmaceutical Manufacture and Speciality Chemicals
Kolaczkowski, S. (PI) & Williams, J. (CoI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
24/01/11 → 17/01/12
Project: Research council
-
TERTIARY AMINES FROM ALCOHOLS WITHOUT OXIDANTS, REDUCTANTS O R ALKY HALIDES
Williams, J. (PI) & Kolaczkowski, S. (CoI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
14/01/08 → 13/01/11
Project: Research council
-
TERTIARY AMINES FROM ALCOHOLS WITHOUT OXIDANTS, REDUCTANTS O R ALKY HALIDES
Kolaczkowski, S. (PI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
14/01/08 → 13/01/11
Project: Research council
-
ON-LINE AND ON-ENGINE CATALYST CHARACTERISATION - A DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE TO DESIGN A BETTER CATALYST
Kolaczkowski, S. (PI) & Lukyanov, D. (CoI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/10/07 → 30/11/10
Project: Research council
-
Application of the chromatographic method to determine the effective diffusivity in spherical γ-alumina pellets using convolution theorem and a fictitious column
Zhang, R. & Kolaczkowski, S. T., 1 Jul 2017, In: Chemical Engineering Research & Design. 123, p. 248-258 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Potential for metal foams to act as structured catalyst supports in fixed-bed reactors
Kolaczkowski, S., Awdry, S., Smith, T., Thomas, D., Torkuhl, L. & Kolvenbach, R., Sept 2016, In: Catalysis Today. 273, p. 221-233Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
54 Citations (SciVal) -
Removal of CO2 from a submersible atmosphere by scrubbing with water: Experiments in a single column
Kolaczkowski, S., Awdry, S., Le, C., Nuckols, M. L., Smith, T. & Thomas, D., Aug 2015, In: Chemical Engineering Research & Design. 100, p. 157 - 169 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (SciVal)282 Downloads (Pure) -
Steam gasification of a refuse derived char: reactivity and kinetics
Le, C. D. & Kolaczkowski, S. T., 1 Oct 2015, In: Chemical Engineering Research & Design. 102, p. 389-398 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile32 Citations (SciVal)265 Downloads (Pure) -
Using quadrupole mass spectrometry for on-line gas analysis - Gasification of biomass and refuse derived fuel
Le, C. D., Kolaczkowski, S. T. & McClymont, D. W. J., 1 Jan 2015, In: Fuel. 139, p. 337-345 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile21 Citations (SciVal)301 Downloads (Pure)