History

In the early 1950's Dr. Karl Hachmuth, of Phillips Petroleum Company, was studying the effectiveness of distillation devices and decided that too little was known for design engineers to properly predict distillation results. He concluded that research was needed on plant-scale equipment and also concluded that such research was too expensive for any one company. He then promoted the concept of cooperative research to technical representatives of other companies, who found the idea good. Mr. T.B. Hudson, of Phillips, did much of the organizational work that developed the structure of Fractionation Research, Inc. (FRI) and became its first President. By February 1, 1952, 15 companies had executed the FRI agreement and incorporation was completed on April 4, 1952. By the first stockholder meeting, November 10, 1952, there were 37 member companies.

From the start, FRI was organized as a corporation with a limited life unless extended by the membership. The first operation was envisioned as a 5 year research program. Since then, FRI's life has been extended, in periods of 3 or 5 years, because the members continued to see important research projects of interest to a large group of member companies. The research proposed for each extension is outlined in prospectus form for membership approval. Since the research is membership directed, the research program can and has been modified during an extension by vote of the Technical Advisory Committee.

Dr. E.H. Amick of Columbia University was the first Technical Director. He was followed by Mr. F.W. Winn. Mr. George Keller was employed in August, 1954, and became Technical Director in January, 1959. Dr. John Kunesh became Technical Director in October, 1984. Dr. G.X. Chen was employed in 1993 and served as Technical Director and Chief Technology Officer after retirement of Dr. John Kunesh in 2004. Mr. Michael Resetarits is the current Technical director.

In January, 1954, F.R.I entered into a contract with C.F. Braun & Co., Alhambra, California, to use their simulator. The first four foot (1.2m) diameter FRI column was contracted in March, 1954, and operations began September 30, 1954. An eight foot (2.4m) diameter extension to the research column was made in 1960. A four foot diameter high pressure column was added in 1963. Operations continued at C.F. Braun until November, 1989. The equipment was then moved to a site at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and began operating in August, 1991.