Resume

Ralph A. Dalla Betta, Ph.D.
NSIT Technologies, Inc.

Recent Career Overview

Ralph Dalla Betta managed the technology development group at Catalytica Inc. and Catalytica Energy Systems where he led teams that invented innovative technical concepts, lead teams that developed and demonstrated the technology and worked with the engineering groups to commercialize the technology. In these positions, he provided the planning and interface between management and the development staff, presented status report to the board of directors and worked with the business development group in meetings with potential customers.

Specialized Professional Competence

Technology innovation, invention and development; Manage technology development from concept to proof of principle through field demonstration and commercialization; Management and motivation of technical innovators; Management of intellectual property in an invention and development environment; Use of process simulation and kinetic modeling to direct research and development and product commercialization. Areas of special technical competence includes heterogeneous catalysis, characterization of catalytic materials, development of new catalytic materials, development of coatings and coating technology, development of high temperature catalytic materials, use of catalytic process modeling in the design and development of new catalyst materials, use of rapid techniques in the development of new catalytic materials, device engineering for catalytic applications.

Representative Asssignments

Manage intellectual property portfolio and consulting on technology development (NSIT Technologies--Kurz Instruments-2006-present)

Conduct research at NSIT facilities to develop coating technology to improve sensor performance, develop flow and aging systems to evaluate sensor performance and aging characteristics, run aging tests and evaluate performance using outside high resolution imaging facilities.
Develop new sensor technology concepts and designs, work with vendors to generate production cost estimates and produce prototype units for testing at client.
Develop understanding of technology and products, hire legal firm to handle patent filing and litigation, bring patent portfolio up to date.
Interface with engineering staff, write initial disclosures, drive patent filings.

Consulting on reformer technology and competitive IP (NSIT Technologies--Eaton Corporation-2006-2009)

Review competitive technologies, identify IP issues for future legal analysis, assist engineering analysis of ongoing technology development.
Develop new concepts for next generation technologies.

Diesel NOx Control System (Catalytica Energy Systems 2000-2006)

Developed the basic concepts for a diesel fuel reforming system to produce H2 and CO for the efficient regeneration of NOx trap systems for the removal of NOx from diesel and lean burn engines
Directed program to prove the technology and to develop first prototype reformer
Managed prototype testing at partner diesel engine manufacturers
Established the intellectual property portfolio and worked with outside intellectual property firm to prosecute patent applications. Three basic patents have been allowed and 3 additional patents are in prosecution.
Technology sold to Eaton Corporation

Catalytic Combustion System (Catalytica Inc.)

Worked with partner Japanese firm to develop the basic concept to catalytically combust natural gas to produce combustor outlet gas temperatures up to 1500°C.
Managed cooperative development program centered at Catalytica
Developed prototype catalyst models for testing at gas turbine manufacturing companies
Managed the Intellectual Property strategy putting in place a web of patents protecting the technology
Oversaw the development and field testing of a gas turbine prototype system based on a 1.5 megawatt gas turbine
Technology was commercialized in a 1.5 megawatt Kawasaki Heavy Industries gas turbine.
Combustion catalyst manufacturing business sold to Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Sensors for Measurement of Combustion Gas Components (Catalytica Inc.)

Developed technology and catalysts for high performance and durable sensors for components of combustion gases
Developed a CO sensor for coal fired boiler off gas that was commercialized by Babcock and Wilcox.
Developed the concept and managed the development program for a NOx sensor for combustion off gas. This sensor was commercialized by a Catalytica spin off company, Advances Sensor Devices (ASD)
Advanced Sensor Devices (ASD) sold to Monitor Labs

Other areas of emphasis:

Development of liquid fuel reforming technology for fuel cell power generation for stationary and military applications
Preparation and production of high stability catalytic materials including noble metal catalysts
Development of low cost catalytic processes for the manufacture of pharmaceutical intermediates and other specialty chemicals
Development of rapid methods for the catalyst characterization useful in manufacturing quality control

Professional Experience

1972-1976--Ford Motor Company, Senior Scientist, Scientific Research Staff, Dearborn Michigan.
1976-2000—Catalytica, Inc., Mountain View, California.
Laboratory Director—1976-1982
Vice President—1979 to 2000
1995-2000—Catalytica Combustion Systems, Inc.
Vice President and Chief Scientist—1995 to 2000
2000-2006—Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc.
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
2006 to present—NSIT Technologies Inc.
President and Consultant

Academic Background

The Colorado College, B.S. Degree, Chemistry, 1967
Stanford University, Department of Chemistry, Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, 1972
Adjunct Professor, Stanford University, Department of Chemical Engineering, 1978-1984 (Part time appointment)

Professional Associations and Honors

American Chemical Society
Society of Automotive Engineers
Phi Beta Kappa, 1967, The Colorado College
2004 Excellence in Catalysis Award from the Catalysis Society of Metropolitan New York

Publications

Over 50 technical publications in the areas of heterogeneous catalysis, emissions control and energy conversion. Over 40 basic patents with numerous foreign filing of these basic US cases in a variety of areas: Catalytic combustion for ultra low emissions gas turbines for power generation---basic innovative combustion system design, catalytic combustion materials development, combustor and fuel injection system design, control strategies for gas turbines with catalyst combustion system; Particulate and NOx emissions control for diesel engines---diesel fuel reforming and use of reformer for NOx emissions reduction, system design for NOx control on lean burn engines, control strategies for reformer control and integration with NOx trap systems; Miscellaneous---catalytic sensors, synthesis gas conversion, automotive emissions control catalysts. ss