UOIT hosts international nuclear hydrogen workshop
January 2, 2007
UOIT's groundbreaking work in the development of a new method of producing hydrogen was among the highlights of a recent workshop on campus.
The all-day workshop on nuclear-based hydrogen production was held at UOIT on December 8, and included presentations on recent American developments in thermochemical cycles at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), as well as experimental hydrogen research at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL).
In collaboration with AECL and ANL, a 23-member UOIT-led team of researchers in Canada and abroad is developing a new method of producing hydrogen with a copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) cycle that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The collaboration is led by Dr. Greg Naterer, director of Research, Graduate Studies and Development in UOIT's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and includes multiple faculties at UOIT and other universities, including Guelph and Western Ontario.
"The Cu-Cl thermochemical cycle could be eventually linked with Canada's nuclear reactors to achieve higher efficiencies, lower environmental impact and lower costs of hydrogen production than any other conventional technology," said Dr. Marc Rosen, UOIT's dean of Engineering and Applied Science. "This multimillion-dollar project is indicative of the highly relevant nature of our research and partnerships, and will be supported immensely by our Master's program in Mechanical Engineering, which opened earlier this academic year, and by other UOIT graduate programs expected to launch in the fall of 2007."
Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, since its oxidation does not emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. However, a key challenge facing a future transition to a hydrogen economy is a sustainable, lower-cost method of producing hydrogen in large capacities.
Nuclear-based hydrogen production with a Cu-Cl cycle is a promising alternative to conventional methods of steam-methane reforming or electrolysis. The AECL/UOIT partnership is leading Canada's development of Cu-Cl technology within the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). Ten countries around the world are working together in GIF to lay the groundwork for a new generation of nuclear reactors, including capabilities for both electricity and hydrogen production.
At UOIT, the research team includes:
The all-day workshop on nuclear-based hydrogen production was held at UOIT on December 8, and included presentations on recent American developments in thermochemical cycles at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), as well as experimental hydrogen research at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL).
In collaboration with AECL and ANL, a 23-member UOIT-led team of researchers in Canada and abroad is developing a new method of producing hydrogen with a copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) cycle that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The collaboration is led by Dr. Greg Naterer, director of Research, Graduate Studies and Development in UOIT's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and includes multiple faculties at UOIT and other universities, including Guelph and Western Ontario.
"The Cu-Cl thermochemical cycle could be eventually linked with Canada's nuclear reactors to achieve higher efficiencies, lower environmental impact and lower costs of hydrogen production than any other conventional technology," said Dr. Marc Rosen, UOIT's dean of Engineering and Applied Science. "This multimillion-dollar project is indicative of the highly relevant nature of our research and partnerships, and will be supported immensely by our Master's program in Mechanical Engineering, which opened earlier this academic year, and by other UOIT graduate programs expected to launch in the fall of 2007."
Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, since its oxidation does not emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. However, a key challenge facing a future transition to a hydrogen economy is a sustainable, lower-cost method of producing hydrogen in large capacities.
Nuclear-based hydrogen production with a Cu-Cl cycle is a promising alternative to conventional methods of steam-methane reforming or electrolysis. The AECL/UOIT partnership is leading Canada's development of Cu-Cl technology within the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). Ten countries around the world are working together in GIF to lay the groundwork for a new generation of nuclear reactors, including capabilities for both electricity and hydrogen production.
At UOIT, the research team includes:
- Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science: Dr. Ibrahim Dincer, Dr. Marc Rosen, Dr. Kamiel Gabriel, Dr. Greg Naterer, Dr. Scott Nokleby, Dr. Ghaus Rizvi, and Dr. Dan Zhang;
- School of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science: Dr. Lixuan Lu (cross-appointed in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science), Dr. Brian Ikeda, and Dr. George Bereznai; and
- Faculty of Science: Dr. William Smith, Dr. Brad Easton, Dr. Fedor Naumkin, Dr. Peter Berg.
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