Mining engineer named distinguished lecturer

The Society of Mining Engineers (SME) has named Jerry Luttrell, the A.T. Massey Coal Company Professor at Virginia Tech, a Henry Krumb Lecturer for 2009-10.

Those selected for this honor each year receive SME funding to provide presentations on specific topics at various SME chapter and section meetings around the country. Luttrell's presentation is entitled "Implications of Constant Incremental Quality on Fine-Coal Dewatering Circuitry.” This presentation provides a case study illustrating the potential productivity gains that can be realized by proper understanding of moisture control at a coal preparation plant.

Luttrell, who is a professor of mining and minerals engineering at Virginia Tech, joined the faculty in 1986 and was promoted to full professor in 1997. He was named the Massey Professor in 2004.

With his name on 15 patents, he has been awarded more than $14 million in research projects. His research has contributed to the development of innovative technologies for coal preparation and mineral processing.

Luttrell was also a Krumb Lecturer in 2001. He is a previous recipient of the American Institute of Mining Engineers’ Nicholls Award and Alpan Award. The Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute of America awarded him its Stephen McCann Educational Award.