Energy and Fluids

在第一届任期取得重大成就的基础上，主席将推进流体和流体系统开发方面的研究，这是释放可再生能源技术潜力的关键。更好地了解流体和流体系统是实现全球能源向可持续发展过渡的关键。流体是无处不在的能源载体(碳氢化合物、氢气)、能源储存(储存碳氢化合物、水力发电、抽水发电和流动电池)，与能源相关的排放也是流体-二氧化碳和甲烷。该计划的总体目标是开发能够减少二氧化碳排放(或通过大气二氧化碳捕获负排放)的技术，支持可再生能源技术，并扩大可再生能源的利用和储存。这些目标将通过以下两个研究方向实现：1.电化学二氧化碳捕获和转化为产品：主席将开发能够清洁和高效地电合成可再生燃料和原料的技术，包括作为液体燃料的乙醇、用于取暖的甲烷、用于制造塑料的乙烯和用于工业应用的一氧化碳，二氧化碳来自直接空气捕获和工业废气排放；和2.支持能源转换的工业流体的开发和测试：主席将通过筛选和开发工业工作液来开启清洁能源技术，用于闭路地热能源等应用，其中将开发使用相变材料有效地从热的地热岩石中获取热量的工作液，并开发用于电池的冷却液，其中将筛选电池冷却剂的热性能。这些计划目标将通过利用流体分析和能源系统设计、开发和扩展方面的丰富内部专业知识来实现。最终，被提名者的研究计划将加快可再生能源技术的开发和部署，这些技术将有助于在加拿大和全球实现到2050年实现零排放的承诺。

Building on the significant achievements of the first term, the Chair will advance research in fluids and fluidic systems development key to unlocking the potential of renewable energy technologies. A better understanding of fluids and fluidic systems is key to enabling the global energy transition toward sustainability. Fluids are ubiquitous as energy carriers (hydrocarbons, hydrogen), in energy storage (stored hydrocarbons, hydroelectricity, pumped hydro, and flow batteries), and energy-related emissions are also fluids - CO2 and methane.The overarching goal of the program is to develop technologies that lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions (or negative emissions, through atmospheric CO2 capture), empower renewable energy technologies, and expand the utilization and storage of renewable energy. These objectives will be accomplished by targeting two streams of research:1. Electrochemical CO2 capture and conversion into products: the Chair will develop technologies that enable clean and efficient electrosynthesis of renewable fuels and feedstocks, including ethanol as a liquid fuel, methane for heating, ethylene for the manufacturing of plastics and carbon monoxide for industrial applications, with carbon dioxide sourced from direct air capture and industrial flue gas emissions; and2. Development and testing of industrial fluids that support the energy transition: the Chair will unlock clean energy technologies through screening and developing industrial working fluids, for applications such as closed-loop geothermal energy, where working fluids will be developed that use phase change materials to effectively draw heat from hot geothermal rock, and developing cooling fluids for batteries, where the thermal properties of battery coolants will be screened.These program objectives will be achieved by leveraging a wealth of inhouse expertise in fluids analysis and energy systems design, development, and scaling. Ultimately, the nominee's research program will accelerate the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies that will help meet Net-Zero by 2050 commitments, in Canada and globally.