Lecture

Catalysis for Fuel Synthesis

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In course

ChE-410: Catalysis for emission control and energy processes

The course is an introduction to heterogeneous catalysis for environmental protection and energy production. It focuses on catalytic exhaust gas cleaning as well as gaseous and liquid fuel production. The course content is intensified in experimental exerc ...

Description

This lecture covers the catalytic processes involved in downstream fuel synthesis, such as methanation, gas cleaning, and methanol synthesis. It discusses the conversion of CO and H2 to CH4, the removal of CO for fuel cells, and the production of clean fuels from biomass and coal. Various catalytic reactions and processes, including the Sabatier, Fischer-Tropsch, and Haber-Bosch reactions, are explored. The lecture also delves into the application of catalysis for emission control and energy production, highlighting the importance of catalysts in fuel synthesis and gas upgrading.

Instructor

Oliver Kröcher

Expertise Catalysis, Sustainable Energy Carriers from CO₂ and Biomass, Emission Control, Environmental Chemistry, Materials Chemistry Mission The Group for Sustainable Energy Carriers (GSE) at EPFL works on the development of catalytic processes for the production and use of carbon-neutral energy carriers and intermediates. Current Work Small-scale ammonia synthesis, using induction-heating and sorption-enhancement. Oliver Kröcher was born in Germany and received his Diploma in chemistry from the University

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Fuel cell

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen (usually from air) to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from substances that are already present in the battery. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

Coal

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is a type of fossil fuel, formed when dead plant matter decays into peat and is converted into coal by the heat and pressure of deep burial over millions of years. Vast deposits of coal originate in former wetlands called coal forests that covered much of the Earth's tropical land areas during the late Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) and Permian times.

Renewable natural gas

Renewable natural gas (RNG), also known as biomethane or sustainable natural gas (SNG), is a biogas which has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas and has a methane concentration of 90% or greater. By removing CO2 and other impurities from biogas, and increasing the concentration of methane to a level similar to fossil natural gas, it becomes possible to distribute RNG to customers via existing gas pipeline networks. RNG can be used in existing appliances, including vehicles with natural gas burning engines (natural gas vehicles).

Alkaline fuel cell

The alkaline fuel cell (AFC), also known as the Bacon fuel cell after its British inventor, Francis Thomas Bacon, is one of the most developed fuel cell technologies. Alkaline fuel cells consume hydrogen and pure oxygen, to produce potable water, heat, and electricity. They are among the most efficient fuel cells, having the potential to reach 70%. NASA has used alkaline fuel cells since the mid-1960s, in the Apollo-series missions and on the Space Shuttle. The fuel cell produces power through a redox reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

Catalysis

Catalysis (kəˈtæləsɪs) is the process of change in rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (ˈkætəlɪst). Catalysts are not consumed by the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recycles quickly, very small amounts of catalyst often suffice; mixing, surface area, and temperature are important factors in reaction rate. Catalysts generally react with one or more reactants to form intermediates that subsequently give the final reaction product, in the process of regenerating the catalyst.

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