Professor Salim Ciraci, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1974

Bilkent University
Bilkent, Ankara 06533 Turkey
Office: +90-312-266-1216
Fax: +90-312 266-4579
Email: ciraci@fen.bilkent.edu.tr

Presentation Title:

HIGH-CAPACITY HYDROGEN STORAGE THROUGH CARBON BASED NANOSTRUCTURES

Abstract:

The development of fuel cell technologies based on hydrogen hold the promise of producing clean and renewable energy. An efficient and safe storage of hydrogen is essential for the advancement of hydrogen energy economy. Currently, a lot of effort has been devoted to engineer nanomaterials which can absorb hydrogen molecules with high gravimetric and volumetric density, but release the stored hydrogen easily in the course of consumption. Much effort has focused on carbon-based materials such as nanotubes, C60, metal hydrides and metal-organic frameworks and titanium metallocarbohedryne. The main obstacles in hydrogen storage are slow kinetics, poor reversibility, and high dehydrogenation temperatures for chemical hydrides.

At UNAM we have been carrying out theoretical research based on first-principles Density Functional Theory to design nanostructures, which can provide high surface-volume ratio to be used as high-capacity hydrogen storage medium. Carbon nanotubes, carbon chains, graphene and molecules like ethylene C2H4. Unfortunately, the interaction between these nanostructures and hydrogen molecule is too weak, so that absorbed molecule cannot remain attached at ambient temperatures. In contrast, the binding energy can be raised by functionalization of these nanostructures with specific transition metal atoms, Li and Ca. At the end, each of these atoms can bind several (up to five) H2 molecules to yield storage capacity as high as 16w%. The storage mediums we predicted appear to yield maximum gravimetric ratio obtained so far; some of these mediums are confirmed experimentally.

Biographical Sketch:

Professor Dr. Salim Ciraci graduated from Technical University of Istanbul, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in 1965 with a top ranking of the university. He continued his research activities in Condensed Matter Physics in the States and received his MS and Ph.D degrees from Stanford University. After his post doctoral study at Stanford University, he worked in IBM Almaden and Zurich Research Centers. He joined Bilkent University in 1986 and established the Department of Physics as the Founding Chairman. At the same time he directed the founding of Advanced Research Laboratory, a facility for research on compound semiconductor devices. Subsequently, as the founding dean he established the Faculty of Science, which comprises Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Molecular Biology and Genetics Departments. He was appointed the director of Bilkent International Center for Advanced Studies. Professor Ciraci managed several bilateral research projects between Bilkent University and NSF/USA, IBM Almaden Research Center and IBM Zurich Research Laboratories.

Professor Ciraci, being a Condensed Matter Physicist, is well known internationally through his seminal research and contributions on surface physics, semiconductor physics, theory of scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy, quantum ballistic transport, nanotribology, nanotubes and nanowires, high capacity hydrogen storage, graphene and similar honeycomb structures. He published more than 200 scientific papers, which are cited more than 6000 times and he has one of the the highest h-factor (h=44) among scientists in Turkey. Professor Ciraci is a full member of Academy of Science of Turkey, and received the 1980 Sedat Simavi Science Prize and the 1985 Tubitak Science Prize.

David B. Levin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
E2-376 EITC
Department of Biosystems Engineering
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB
R3T 5V6
Tel: (204) 474-7429
Fax: (204) 474-7512
E-mail: levindb@cc.umanitoba.ca

Presentation Title:

Biological Hydrogen Production: Prospects and Limitations for Practical Applications

Abstract:

Hydrogen may be produced by a number of processes, including electrolysis of water, thermochemical reformation of hydrogen-rich organic compounds, and biological processes. Currently, hydrogen is produced, almost exclusively, by electrolysis of water or by steam reformation of methane. Biological production of hydrogen (biohydrogen) technologies provide a wide range of approaches to generate hydrogen, including direct biophotolysis, indirect biophotolysis, photo-fermentations, and dark-fermentation. The practical application of biohydrogen technologies to every day energy problems, however, is still uncertain. Challenges to practical applications of biohydrogen include hydrogen production rates, integration of biohydrogen production systems with hydrogen purification, storage, and application technologies, and niche markets for biologically produced hydrogen.

Biographical Sketch:

David B. Levin is an Associate Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering with expertise in molecular biology, genome sciences (genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics), and biofuels (ethanol and hydrogen). Professor co-Leads a CDN$10.4 million Genome Canada funded initiative on "Microbial genomics for biofuels and co-products from biorefining processes". Prof. Levin also leads the Hydrogen Production & Purification Theme within an the NSERC National Strategic "Hydrogen Canada" Network (H2CAN), and is a co-investigator in an NSERC Collaborative Research and Development project to improve the efficiencies of ethanol production from grain (wheat and corn), with Husky Energy as the industrial partner.

Dr. S.A. Sherif

Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Director Wayne K. and Lyla L. Masur HVAC Laboratory
Assistant Director Industrial Assessment Center
University of Florida
232 MAE-B, P.O. Box 116300
Gainesville, Florida 32611-6300, USA
Tel: +1 (352) 392-7821
Fax: +1 (352) 392-1071
E-mail: sasherif@ufl.edu

Presentation Title:

Potential and Problems of Liquid Hydrogen Storage

Abstract:

Hydrogen may be stored in gaseous, liquid, slush and solid forms (metal hydrides). Every mode of storage has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, stability, convenience of usage, and energy density. Liquid hydrogen has several advantages over other storage modes, especially in terms of energy density and convenience of utilization. However, several problems stand in the way of its large-scale production and long-term storage. This includes problems associated with the energy consumed in liquefaction as well as boil-off losses during storage and handling. Boil-off losses occur due to a variety of mechanisms such as ortho-para conversion, thermal stratification and self pressurization, heat leaks, sloshing, and flashing. This lecture will review some of the aforementioned problems and discuss some of the prospects of large-scale liquid hydrogen production and utilization.

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. S.A. Sherif served on the faculties of the University of Florida (1991-present), University of Miami (1987-1991), and Northern Illinois University (1984-1987). He is a Fellow of ASME, a Fellow of ASHRAE, an Associate Fellow of AIAA, a Member of Commission B-1 on Thermodynamics and Transfer Processes of the International Institute of Refrigeration, and a Member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the International Association for Hydrogen Energy. He is a past chair for the ASME Advanced Energy Systems Division, the K-19 Committee on Environmental Heat Transfer of the ASME Heat Transfer Division (2003-2007), the Coordinating Group on Fluid Measurements of the ASME Fluids Engineering Division (1992-1994), the Steering Committee of the Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (2001-2003), and ASHRAE's Standards Project Committee 41.6 on Measurement of Moist Air Properties (1989-1994). He was the Head of the Refrigeration Section of ASHRAE (2004-2008) and the Technical Conference Chair of the 2008 ASME Summer Heat Transfer Conference. He is an Associate Technical Editor of the ASME Journal of Heat Transfer (2007-2010), International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2005-present), and Solar Energy (2004-present). He is a Book Review Editor of ASME's Applied Mechanics Reviews (2001-pesent) and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of numerous thermal science journals. He is the recipient of the E.K. Campbell Award of Merit from ASHRAE in 1997 for "outstanding service and achievement in teaching" and a "TIP" teaching award from the University of Florida in 1998. He is also the recipient of the 2001 Kuwait Prize in Applied Sciences, an ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award (2003), an AIAA Best Paper Award (2005), and an ASME Best Student Paper Award (2005). In 2007, he received a "Superior Accomplishment Award" in recognition of his outstanding service to the University of Florida and in 2010 was awarded an ASHRAE Exceptional Service Award. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the ASME Heat Transfer Division. Dr. Sherif has 380 publications and two patents.

Greg Naterer, PhD, PEng, FEIC, FASME

Presentation Title:

Green Atoms: Role of Nuclear Energy for Hydrogen Production

Abstract:

Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier and potentially major solution to climate change, but a key future challenge is a sustainable, low-cost method of hydrogen production, without fossil fuels. This presentation reports on recent Canadian advances in thermochemical water splitting for nuclear hydrogen production by the copper-chlorine (Cu-Cl) cycle. The Cu-Cl cycle could be eventually linked with nuclear reactors to achieve much higher efficiencies, lower environmental impact and lower costs of hydrogen production than any other conventional technology. This presentation examines the Canadian team’s recent advances in reactor designs, flowsheet modeling, corrosion resistant materials, thermal analysis, among other recent developments towards industrialization of the Cu-Cl cycle.

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Greg Naterer is Associate Dean and Canada Research Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), in Oshawa, Canada. His research interests involve hydrogen production, heat transfer and fluid mechanics, including over 300 journal and conference papers in these fields. In collaboration with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. and other partners, Dr. Naterer is leading a Canadian team which is developing the world’s first engineering scale copper-chlorine cycle for nuclear hydrogen production. Dr. Naterer has authored two books entitled "Heat Transfer in Single and Multiphase Systems" (CRC Press, 2003), as well as "Entropy Based Design of Fluids Engineering Systems" (CRC Press, 2008). He has co-developed 4 patents and received several honours and awards, including the Research Excellence Award of UOIT. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME), American Society for Mechanical Engineering (ASME) and Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC). Dr. Naterer received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1995.

Dr. Athanasios G. Konstandopoulos, Descartes Laureate 2006

Mail address: Aerosol & Particle Technology Laboratory
CPERI/CERTH, PO Box 361, 57001, Thermi Thessaloniki, GREECE
Phone: + 30 231 0498192
Fax: + 30 231 0498190
E-mail: agk@cperi.certh.gr

Presentation Title:

Solar Reactors for Hydrogen and Carbon Neutral Fuel Production: Hydrosol Technology and Beyond

Abstract:

Solar monolithic reactors represent an enabling technology for a cleaner and renewable energy future, as the Hydrosol technology (hydrogen production by solar thermochemical water-splitting in advanced monolithic reactors) has already demonstrated. The present work addresses the design, manufacturing and testing of nanostructured/nanoparticle material coated monolithic reactors for Solar Hydrogen production and CO2 recycling into carbon neutral fuels, enabled by recent advances in solar thermochemical H2O/CO2 splitting technology.

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Athanasios G. Konstandopoulos is the coordinator of the HYDROSOL projects which introduced and developed a novel process for renewable hydrogen production, employing solar thermochemical water splitting. This achievement has received worldwide recognition through the 2006 Descartes Prize for Research (the highest scientific award in the European Union), the 2006 International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) Inaugural Technical Achievement Award and the Global 100 Eco-tech Award at the 2005 Expo in Aichi, Japan.

Dr. Konstandopoulos is a specialist in nanoparticles and combustion aerosols, with extensive research and engineering consulting experience in the design, modeling and testing of monolithic reactors for many applications including solar hydrogen production, emission control for mobile and stationary applications and biotechnological applications. He is the Founder and Director of the Aerosol & Particle Technology (APT) Laboratory at CPERI/CERTH (Thessaloniki, Greece), since 1996 and in 2006 he was elected as Director of CPERI and member of the Board of Directors of CERTH. Since 2006 he is also a member of the faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Aristotle University (Thessaloniki, Greece).

He has coordinated and managed more than 50 research projects, funded by the European Commission (EC) as well as leading international industries and European SMEs. He is the author of more than 140 scientific and technical papers, his research is widely cited and used by many academic and industrial research groups, and he is frequently an invited speaker in industry and scientific conferences.

In 2005 he was elected as one of the youngest ever Fellows of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). In addition he has received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers First Place Award (1991) and the Yale University H. P. Becton Prize for excellence in research (1992). Dr. Konstandopoulos reviews publications for several scientific journals and he also serves as an evaluator for international research funding organizations.

He has served as adjunct/visiting professor in Universities in Europe and the US, and he is among others a member of SAE, The Combustion Institute, the Gessellschaft fur Aerosolforchung and the Hellenic Association for Aerosol Research (elected to be its first president for 2006-2009). He has a hybrid background in Mechanical (Dipl. ME, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1985; MSc ME Michigan Tech, 1987) and Chemical Engineering (MSc, MPhil, PhD, Yale University, 1991).

Salvador M. Aceves, Ph.D.

Energy Conversion and Storage
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
7000 East Avenue, L-792
Livermore, California, 94550
(925) 422 0864

Presentation Title:

Compact Hydrogen Storage in Cryogenic Pressure Vessels

Abstract:

LLNL is developing cryogenic pressure vessels with thermal endurance 5-10 times greater than conventional liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks that can eliminate evaporative losses in routine usage of (L)H2 automobiles. Cryogenic pressure vessels contain 2-3 times more fuel than conventional ambient temperature compressed H2 vessels. LLNL has demonstrated fueling with LH2 onboard two vehicles. The generation 2 vessel, installed onboard an H2-powered Toyota Prius and fueled with LH2 demonstrated the longest unrefueled driving distance and the longest cryogenic H2 hold time without evaporative losses. A third generation vessel reduces weight and volume by minimizing insulation thickness while still providing acceptable thermal endurance.

Biographical Sketch:

Salvador Aceves has expertise in the areas of applied thermodynamics, internal combustion engines and hydrogen for transportation systems. As a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), he has contributed to many areas of knowledge, including energy analysis, heat pumps, thermal energy storage, electric and hybrid vehicle analysis, hydrogen engines, hydrogen storage, and homogeneous charge compression ignition engines.

Salvador received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University in 1989. He was an assistant professor at the University of Guanajuato in Mexico from 1989 to 1991 and an assistant professor at Oregon State University in 1992. He has been at LLNL since 1993 and is the group leader for energy conversion and storage. He currently directs analytical and experimental work on cryogenic hydrogen storage.