Contest urges students to develop future fuel

Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 | 3:40 a.m.

Two Las Vegas chemical engineering students helped spark the eight-member University Nevada, Reno chemical car team to a third-place finish this week at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Chem E Car Competition in Reno.

UNR team captain Mike Fears and Bronsun Duck, both sophomores from Las Vegas, helped the squad install a store-bought model rocket engine and measure the fuel to propel the shoe box-sized car just 19 inches short of the 60-foot goal at Sunday's kickoff to the convention, which ended Friday.

The purpose of the competition that featured teams from 24 universities was to demonstrate means other than gasoline for powering automobiles of the future.

"I believe that fuel-cell technology will replace the combustion engine within my lifetime," said 38-year-old UNR associate chemical engineering professor Chuck Coronella, a co-founder of the chem-car event.

Colorado State University, using a hand-packed rocket motor propelled by a potent mixture of potassium nitrate and sugar, won the competition by coming within nine inches of the 60-foot goal.

Cleveland State University used vinegar and baking soda as the fuel to propel its car within 10 inches of the goal to place second.

The other members of the UNR team were Sue McMurray and Andrew Katz, both sophomores from Reno, Wyatt Robards, a freshman from Reno, Sage Hiibel, a junior from Fallon, and Francisco Vega and Ivan Gantan, both sophomores from Carson City.