Financial support by R.E. Dimond and Associates, an Indianapolis-based engineering consulting firm, is benefiting learning-in-context curricula in Purdue Polytechnic’s Applied Energy Lab, which is directed by Bill Hutzel, professor of mechanical engineering technology.
A portion of the gift provided funding for electrical work managed by Wil Arnett, a graduate research assistant in the School of Engineering Technology, on the recent replacement of Knoy Hall’s rooftop solar array. The old array, which produced about three kilowatts of power, was replaced with new panels that generate up to eight kilowatts of electricity.
Polytechnic undergraduate students David Zachman and Paige Henry and master’s degree students Megan Switzer and Jacob Torres had the opportunity to attend the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) winter meeting for the “Facilities Engineering Class” in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they networked and learned from industry professionals. ASHRAE is an international organization which focuses on sustainable technology for the built environment.
The School of Engineering Technology also updated an in-class heat transfer experiment. Seniors in MET 42100 (Air Conditioning & Refrigeration) developed the experiment by automating the dating collection process. More than 75 sophomores in MET 22000 (Heat & Power) will conduct the improved experiment each semester to learn about conduction heat transfer and PC-based data acquisition. The new experiment yields faster and more accurate experimental results than before the upgrade.
R.E. Dimond was founded by Robert “Bob” Dimond (ME ’51) in 1977 with four employees to serve Indiana Bell Telephone, their company’s first client. For 18 years, Dimond built a strong base of satisfied clients while also mentoring his son, Daniel (MET ’82). For the past 22 years, Dan Dimond has led the company, developing the business and expanding in size to 30 employees, with a vision of becoming the most respected engineering consulting firm in the Midwest.
Bob’s daughter, Laura Dimond Kelley, an MET ’87 graduate, also worked in the family business as chief operating officer for seven years. Dan and Lynn Dimond’s daughter, Lucy, is a sophomore studying industrial engineering.
Bob Dimond served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, working on the development and implementation of radar in a classified capacity. He was a member of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, ASHRAE, and other professional organizations. Robert Dimond passed away in April this year, upon R.E. Dimond and Associates celebrating their 40th Anniversary.
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