OSU team advances to national finals in Chem-E Car competition

Thursday, April 13, 2017

A team of chemical engineering students from Oklahoma State University will advance to the national finals of the Chem-E Car competition after placing at a regional contest held recently in Tulsa.

Two teams from OSU, Team Absolute Zero and Team Orange Juice, took on counterparts from Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas in the competition, which focuses on the design, construction and performance of cars the students power with a chemical energy source. Each car must safely carry a specified load a given distance and stop.

Team Absolute Zero placed third in the car component of the contest when its car, powered by baking soda and a strong version of vinegar, traveled 21.1 meters of a targeted 22 meter distance.

“We are delighted to have our student group participate and qualify for the national contest,” says Sundar Madihally, associate chemical engineering professor, who traveled with the teams to oversee the competition. “We want to thank our sponsor, Chevron Phillips Chemical, which has supported this program for a long time.”

The national Chem-E Car competition is set for October in Minneapolis during the annual Student Conference of the American Institute for Chemical Engineering (AlChE).

The chemical engineering teams from OSU that competed in the regional contest and their individual members include:

Team Absolute Zero or ABS(0) Musaad Al-Jafari – Saudi Arabia – Luke Bower – Claremor – oshua Sallee – Broken Arrow – Adam Summers – Ponca City

Team Orange Juice Josh Baker – Choctaw – John Hayes – Broken Arrow - Holly Palmer – Cashion – Nathan Shellady – Sapulpa – Sara Wilson – Owasso

PHOTO: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/albums/72157679324548393