Western Precipitation Experiment Station

Summary
Full Description

"Cottrell precipitators are widely used to collect flyash from coal-fired electric power plants, thus minimizing air pollution by such ash. However, in 1957, it appeared that oil-fired power plants might soon be required to follow the same practice. Therefore W. P. ordered me to set up an experimental precipitator at the El Segundo (oil-fired) Steam Station of Southern California Edison Co. to ascertain how a precipitator would perform there.
This photo shows the tests in progress in 1957. The center man in the group of three is Prof. A. J. Haagen-Smit of Cal Tech, who was in charge of a group measuring the concentration of SO2 [sulfur dioxide], SO3 [sulfur trioxide], and other gases in the stack gas stream during our tests. He was the first one to discover how Los Angeles smog, containing ozone, is generated by sunlight acting on hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen in the air.", Credit Line: Western Precipitation Corporation, courtesy AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, gift of Wayne Sproull

Abstract/Description:	"Cottrell precipitators are widely used to collect flyash from coal-fired electric power plants, thus minimizing air pollution by such ash. However, in 1957, it appeared that oil-fired power plants might soon be required to follow the same practice. Therefore W. P. ordered me to set up an experimental precipitator at the El Segundo (oil-fired) Steam Station of Southern California Edison Co. to ascertain how a precipitator would perform there. This photo shows the tests in progress in 1957. The center man in the group of three is Prof. A. J. Haagen-Smit of Cal Tech, who was in charge of a group measuring the concentration of SO2 [sulfur dioxide], SO3 [sulfur trioxide], and other gases in the stack gas stream during our tests. He was the first one to discover how Los Angeles smog, containing ozone, is generated by sunlight acting on hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen in the air."
Subject(s):	Equipment and supplies Outdoors Institution building Experiment--physics El Segundo (Calif.) Cottrell, Frederick Gardner, 1877-1948 Haagen-Smit, A. J. (Arie Jan), 1900-1977
Date Created:	circa 1957
Credit Line:	Western Precipitation Corporation, courtesy AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, gift of Wayne Sproull
Catalog ID:	Cottrell Frederick F2

Title:	Western Precipitation Experiment Station.
Type of Resource:	still image
Date Created:	circa 1957
Extent:	1 photographic print (black and white; 4 x 6.5 inches)
Abstract/Description:	"Cottrell precipitators are widely used to collect flyash from coal-fired electric power plants, thus minimizing air pollution by such ash. However, in 1957, it appeared that oil-fired power plants might soon be required to follow the same practice. Therefore W. P. ordered me to set up an experimental precipitator at the El Segundo (oil-fired) Steam Station of Southern California Edison Co. to ascertain how a precipitator would perform there. This photo shows the tests in progress in 1957. The center man in the group of three is Prof. A. J. Haagen-Smit of Cal Tech, who was in charge of a group measuring the concentration of SO2 [sulfur dioxide], SO3 [sulfur trioxide], and other gases in the stack gas stream during our tests. He was the first one to discover how Los Angeles smog, containing ozone, is generated by sunlight acting on hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen in the air."
Identifier(s):	Cottrell Frederick F2 (Catalog ID)
Note(s):	Credit Line: Western Precipitation Corporation, courtesy AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, gift of Wayne Sproull
Subject(s):	Equipment and supplies Outdoors Institution building Experiment--physics El Segundo (Calif.) Cottrell, Frederick Gardner, 1877-1948 Haagen-Smit, A. J. (Arie Jan), 1900-1977
Held by:	Niels Bohr Library & Archives
Copyright Holder:	American Institute of Physics
Related Title:	Emilio Segrè Visual Archives General Collection. https://libserv.aip.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?uri=full=3100006~!4022~!0&ri=3&menu=search&source=~!horizon
In Collections:	Emilio Segrè Visual Archives General Collection