Wave Rotor Reformer

Hydrogen offers the potential to decarbonize much of our society from clean transportation, to heating homes and businesses, to manufacturing. However, it must rely on a production method that does not release carbon itself. Steam methane reforming, the most common production method today, releases large quantities of CO2. The present project will study the production of methane in a completely new way. It is proposed to utilize shock waves heating to achieve the high temperatures necessary for the thermal decomposition of methane into hydrogen gas and carbon back. The later is able to be easily separated in solid form thereby producing a carbon-neutral hydrogen source. To achieve this shock compression of methane, a wave rotor design will be developed and tested in a series of developmental steps over the course of the project.

Faculty Supervisor:

Colin Copeland;Gordon McTaggart-Cowan

Student:

Partner:

New Wave Hydrogen Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: