News from Chemical Engineering

Ken Bell Receives National Award 

Kenneth J. Bell, OSU ChE Kerr-McGee professor emeritus, is the 2003 recipient of the Max Jakob Memorial Award. The Award is bestowed in recognition of eminent achievement of distinguished service in the area of Heat Transfer. Made annually, without regard to society affiliation or nationality, the Award consists of a bronze plaque, an honorarium, and an engrossed certificate. The Award was established in 1961 by the ASME Heat Transfer Division in honor of Max Jakob, a pioneer in the science of heat transmission, commemorating his outstanding contributions as a research worker, educator and author. In 1962, AIChE joined in the Award, which is now administered by a Board of seven, three from each Society, and the Past Chair.

It is noteworthy that in 1978 Ken Bell received the AIChE Donald Q. Kern Award. Donald Q. Kern was a pioneer in process heat transfer; and, through the Kern Award, the AIChE Transport Energy Process Division annually recognizes an individual's expertise in heat transfer or energy conversion. Selection criteria include significant contributions to applied heat transfer or conversion or in the translation of research results into useful technological applications. 

Chemical Engineering students and practitioners will recognize the names of Jakob and Kern. Kern “wrote the book” on heat transfer which provides technology for design and application. Jakob, a researcher, developed many of the fundamental principles in heat transfer analysis, and is memorialized by having a dimensionless group named in his honor. The Jakob number represents the ratio of sensible-to-latent heat transfer upon a liquid-vapor phase change.  

“To win both awards,” says Russ Rhinehart, School Head, “Ken Bell demonstrated national preeminence in both the fundamentals and the practice of heat transfer. This balance of fundamental science and engineering application is a characteristic of the OSU Chemical Engineering program, and we are especially pleased in this recognition of Ken Bell’s excellence and balance.” In the 42-year history of the Jakob Award, and 28-year history of the Kern Award, only 5 others have won both. 

The primary nominator for Ken was Dr. Amanie N. Abdelmessih, a Mechanical Engineering professor at Saint Martin's School of Engineering, Lacey, WA. She writes, “Dr. Kenneth Bell is distinguished scientist, engineer, and educator, he has made his mark in the area of heat transfer and two-phase flow applications (condensation and boiling, immiscible mixtures), and the effect of uncertainties in heat exchanger design.  He has more than 100 publications as articles, books, and contributions to parts of books.  His work has advanced heat exchangers from an art that is now approaching a science.”   

“Dr. Bell is a registered professional engineer.  Large companies all over the United States and overseas seek out Dr. Bell’s expertise.  His famous course Process Heat Transfer has benefited engineers all over the U.S.  His Process Heat Transfer notes (updated annually) have been referenced in huge number of technical articles.  He was a founding editor and for 18 years, editor-in-chief of Heat Transfer Engineering, a journal specifically devoted to the practicing engineer.  His editorials, which appeared in almost every issue during his tenure, are classics that really relate to the engineer in industry. 

As an educator, Dr. Bell supervised 65 graduate degrees.  His graduate students have been very successful.  Dr. Bell is an outstanding roll model for engineering educators.  As one of his former students and former teaching assistant, I noticed that he spent a great deal of time preparing for his classes and introducing cutting edge material as well as practical material in his classes.  He cared about every one of his students.  He developed many valuable graduate and undergraduate courses.  Of these courses, I was very fortunate to either attend or assist in grading the following: Process Heat Transfer, Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics, Two Phase Flow and Heat Transfer, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, Advanced Nuclear Engineering, and Process Design and Chemical Engineering Design.  Dr. Bell read his students’ theses numerous times.  I recall for my theses Dr. Bell read my work throughout the different stages, not only for technical content but also for style and grammar.  Recently, while performing research, a thesis of one of his recent graduate students fell in my hands.  I could not help but notice Dr. Bell’s wonderful editorial work.  Having been a graduate assistant gave me a chance to notice Dr. Bell’s high ethics, and how much he cared about all his students and their success.  At Oklahoma State University, students who wanted to learn enrolled in Dr. Bell’s classes.  His grades were not inflated, and his students appreciated his fairness.   

Dr. Abdelmessih, is a 1987 PhD ChE graduate from OSU with a minor in Mechanical Engineering, and spent significant time in industry prior to returning to school for graduate studies. She adds, “As a mater of fact, in my teaching career, Dr. Bell has been my role model, and I believe this is why The Monks of Saint Martin’s awarded me the Outstanding Faculty Award. Now that I am a faculty member, I compare colleagues and previous faculty with Dr. Bell, and he definitely surpasses all.  The main reason is that Dr. Bell connects theory with practice, unlike many other educators who go into deep theory without explaining how it can be applied.”