Laboratories

Energy Innovation Center Solar Array System and Control Room 

Located on the fourth floor of the Energy Innovation Center (EIC) are two rooftop solar array systems. One comprises 30 SolarWorld, 280 Watt monocrystalline modules for a total capacity of 8.4 kilowatts; this unit is directly connected to the EIC's electrical service supply. There are three single-phase inverters that work together to send 3-phase power to the building. The output of each panel in this array is individually monitored, logged and displayed in the 4th floor control room. 

The second array consists of eight 300 Watt Silevo Triex monocrystalline solar modules for a total capacity of 2.4 kilowatts. When in use for experimentation, this array is used to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen gas that is combined with syngas from coal to make methanol fuel. When the array is not being used for experimentation, it supplies power to the EIC. 

High Bay Research Facility

The University of Wyoming's High Bay Research Facility contains approximately 90,000 square feet of traditional and high-bay research laboratories, offices and meeting areas. The goal of this facility is to provide sufficient space, capacity and state-of-the-art equipment to grow various niche areas of research being conducted at the University of Wyoming.

The facility has been designed to be easily reconfigurable, modular and expanded as different research areas grow or dissemble over time.

The Center of Innovation for Flow Through Porous Media conducts critical research in oil and gas. Wyoming's economy is largely based on natural resource extraction, so energy research to be conducted in the High Bay has direct implications for the future of the state and its citizens.

Improved Oil Recovery Research Lab

The Improved Recovery Lab studies the chemistry and physics of oil-water interfaces in an effort to better understand pore-level multiphase fluid flow. The lab houses ultrafast laser systems to fabricate microfluidic pore models and characterize multiphase interfacial properties as they evolve within these models. High-speed and time-lapsed microscopy are used to directly observe multiphase fluid events as they occur under microscale confinement. 

Peabody Energy Advanced Coal Technology Lab

The Peabody Energy Advanced Coal Technology Lab is used primarily to analyze and research coal conversion technologies. The Conversion of low-value fossil resources into higher-value products - or advanced conversion - is a key component of the School of Energy Resources strategic plan. This lab supports research in the conversion of natural gas and coal into various manufactured products and liquid fuels.

Projects currently active in this lab include studying the behavior of coal to develop and improve coal conversion system designs and reactors and the conversion of synthetic gas to ethylene glycol and diesel fuel with an emphasis on commercialization.