Molten metal membranes for H2 separation

Reducing green house gas emissions (GHG) from the energy and industrial sectors is crucial to meet this goal and the hydrogen economy will play a big role in accomplishing a greener and more sustainable future. Nearly 70 million tons of hydrogen are produced annually via conventional steam reforming of natural gas today. This results in over 700 million tons of carbon dioxide, which would be avoided if low carbon hydrogen were available and affordable. New thermochemical hydrogen production processes are being developed which produce significantly less GHG such as biomass gasification, methane pyrolysis, and thermal water splitting; however, all of these operate at very high temperatures and result hydrogen mixed with other gases, which need to be separated and purified. This project intends to develop molten metal membranes that can survive in these aggressive conditions and enable more efficient, low GHG, hydrogen production and purification.

Faculty Supervisor:

Chester Upham;David (Chester) Upham

Student:

Partner:

BC Research Inc.;NORAM

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Green/Alternative Energy

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: