Conversion of Heavy Organic Aqueous Mixtures by Film Boiling

0933521 avedisian根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）提供资金。将研究一种新的反应堆技术，这种技术有可能将成本较低的有机化合物转化为燃料或其他高价值产品。具体来说，将甘油（生物柴油生产的副产品）或乙二醇转化为有用的燃料（如合成气）的可行性将被确定。知识价值。该研究和反应器概念的智力价值来源于传热、质量传递、多相过程和化学变化的独特组合。主要的技术挑战涉及高沸点有机（如甘油）和水混合物的研究。将采用实验方法来测量与水平管上膜沸腾相关的产品产量，并确定工艺变量（如壁温、管径、过冷度和混合物成分）的影响。结果将指导模型的开发，以优化和利用该过程。更广泛的影响：新兴的生物燃料工业产生大量低价值的副产品。在生物柴油的生产中，用该方法可以将副产物甘油转化为合成气。因此，净燃料产量可以增加，而与处理过量甘油有关的问题可以得到改善。该教育计划包括开发一个小型夏令营，将华盛顿特区五所当地学校的学生带到康奈尔大学。简单的实验说明核沸腾和燃尽现象将发展，让学生动手的实验室经验。除了迷你夏令营之外，还将选择一名本科生参加NIST夏季本科生研究（SURF）计划。

0933521AvedisianThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A new reactor technology will be investigated that can potentially convert lower cost organic compounds into fuels, or other highly valued products. Specifically, the feasibility converting glycerine (a byproduct of biodiesel production) or ethylene glycol into a useful fuel such as syngas, will be determined.Intellectual Merit. The intellectual merit of the research and the reactor concept is derived from the unique combination of heat transfer, mass transport, multiphase processes and chemical change. The principal technical challenge involves the study of high boiling point organic (e.g., glycerine) and water mixtures. An experimental approach will be taken to measure product yields associated with film boiling on a horizontal tube and to determine the influence of process variables such as wall temperature, tube diameter, subcooling and mixture composition. The results will guide development of a model to optimize and exploit the process. Broader Impacts: The emerging biofuels industry produces large quantities of low value byproducts. In the production of biodiesel, the byproduct glycerine might be converted to syngas with the proposed method. Hence, net fuel production could be increased while problems associated with disposal of excess glycerine could be ameliorated. The educational plan includes development of a minicamp that will bring students from five local schools in Washington, DC to Cornell. Simple experiments illustrating nucleate boiling and burnout phenomena will be developed allowing students a hands-on laboratory experience. In addition to the minicamp, an undergraduate student will be selected for participation in the NIST Summer Undergraduate Research (SURF) Program.