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SUMMARY:Solar energy to fuels\, chemicals and electricity 
DTSTART:20160331T160000
DTEND:20160331T170000
DTSTAMP:20260915T231748Z
UID:b49fc23527642df55ff1ba62e31ff3c6e1ddea58cc91aa360f88d87a
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Rakesh Agrawal\, Purdue University\nIn the long run\, it
  is likely that all the basic human needs will be met by renewable sources
  like solar energy.  However\, there are several challenges associated wi
 th harness\, storage and use of solar energy to meet our daily needs for f
 ood\, chemicals\, heat\, electricity and transportation. In a sustainable 
 future\, all these usage must coexist.\nWe will first present some results
  from our energy systems modeling highlighting the synergistic interaction
 s that exist for transportation sector and production of chemicals. This w
 ill be followed by a discussion and analysis of candidate processes to pro
 duce hydrogen from solar energy\, our modeling results for energy storage 
 at giga Watt-hour levels  and uninterrupted around the clock electricity 
 production using new solar thermal power cycles with internal hydrogen cir
 culation.  Such cycles have a potential to not only supply solar thermal 
 electricity at an unprecedented efficiency during the period while solar e
 nergy is available but have a potential to supply around the clock electri
 city with efficiencies similar to that from batteries storage\, however\, 
 here energy is stored at a much higher density.  We will then discuss our
  vision of how to use solar thermal processes to meet demand for water\, c
 hemicals and food.  \nAn exciting aspect of producing fuels and chemical
 s from biomass is learning to produce the array of molecules that we need 
 with minimum process transformation steps and energy use while maximizing 
 biomass carbon recovery.  In this aspect\, recent advancements at Purdue 
 by a team of chemists\, biologists and chemical engineers will be presente
 d.  We will show the new pathways along with the associated catalysts and
  reactors that have been developed for the production of fuel and chemical
 s from biomass.  More importantly\, we will showcase how modelling has be
 en used to identify\, design and guide the experiments.\nBio: Professor Ag
 rawal's current interest and passion is in energy production issues especi
 ally from renewable sources such as solar. The thrust of research is to fa
 bricate low-cost solar cells based on nanotechnology. Solar Group Website\
 nAnother major thrust of his current research is efficient conversion of b
 iomass to liquid fuel and maximizing liquid fuel from a given quantity of 
 biomass. He is also involved in modeling to find the role of biofuels vis-
 a-vis other solar energy derived alternatives to propel an entire transpor
 t sector in a solar economy. Biomass to Liquid Fuels Website\nThe group is
  also involved with developing efficient separation processes. Currently m
 ethods to synthesize and identify energy efficient distillation configurat
 ions for multicomponent separation are being developed. Additional effort 
 is being devoted to develop optimal methods for membrane separation proces
 ses. Separations Group Website\nHe has a broad experience in hydrogen prod
 uction and purification technologies. This has evolved from his earlier ac
 tivity in developing integration steps within coal gasification combined c
 ycles for power as well as syngas generation.\nHis research interests also
  include basic and applied research in process development\, gas liquefact
 ion processes\, cryogenics\, and thermodynamics.
LOCATION:EPFL Valais Wallis/Zeuzier conference room
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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