CMU, NETL Develop Hydrogen Production Computer Model

Fuel Cells Today, Feb 8, 2005

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) recently announced that it, in conjunction with the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), has developed a new computational modeling tool that could help determine the ability of candidate metal alloy separation membranes to produce pure hydrogen.

According to CMU, new research published in the current issue of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's journal Science predicts that hydrogen flux through separation membranes that block impurities present with other gases in the production of hydrogen from fossil energy resources could potentially produce pure hydrogen.

"We coupled computational modeling with experimental activity to develop a predictive model for hydrogen flux through copper palladium alloys," said CMU associate professor in chemical engineering David Sholl. "We now have a solid method in the screening of other complex alloys for the future production of hydrogen."

Contact: Chriss Swaney, CMU, phone 412-268-5776; David Anna, NETL, phone 412-386-4646.

(EIN STAFF: 1/27)