Particle Size Analyzer to Develop Metal-Fuel Technologies

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The proposed particle-size analyser (PSA) will support a range of studies on the combustion of metals as clean and sustainable zero-carbon fuels. Our group at McGill is championing a novel metal-fuel cycle, where metal fuels are burned with air to produce heat, that can be converted to electrical or motive power with heat engines, or be burned with water to produce hydrogen on demand. This concept promises to provide a means for the storage and trade of large quantities of clean, low-carbon energy for a wide range of transportation and power-generation applications, which can bring economic and environmental returns to Canada. ******The PSA will also support our world-leading fundamental research on the physics of metal flames, which is supported by several ongoing research grants including a collaborative project with the Canadian and European Space Agencies to study the combustion of metal flames in microgravity conditions using parabolic-flight aircraft and sounding rockets. This fundamental work has enabled our group to work at the cutting edge of international research on metal combustion and metal flames.******The requested PSA will enable us to understand the influence of particle size and its distribution, a critical property for both the fundamental-science experiments and clean-energy technology development efforts that we are undertaking. The particle size is a critical parameter in combustion experiments as it has an effect on reaction rates, burning velocity, burn time and residence time. For the particle collection system, the particle size to be captured is the primary design criteria. The PSA will be used by over 8 HQP, improving their training experience as they undertake cutting-edge research and develop novel clean-energy technologies. **