HEMI Seminar: Prof. Katsunori Hanamura

A sustainable conversion systems through nano/micro scaled phenomena

In the lecture I will briefly introduce our ongoing research projects relating to electromagnetic, electrochemical, fluid-dynamic and catalytic phenomena for enhancement of transport of energy and molecule using nano-scaled technologies which can be scaled up for macroscopic enhancement of high efficiency energy conversion.

1. Generation of electricity by radiation spectrally-controlled using micro-structured surfaces

We are conducting a research on an electricity generation system using a GaSb semiconductor thermophotovolaic cell. In this case, since the GaSb cell has an active range from visible to 1.8 microns wavelength, spectral control should be required in both cases of far- and near-field radiation. In the case of far-field radiation, microcavity structure is useful from a wave guide theory for metals, while in the case of near-field radiation, a pillar-array structure is useful from an interference and resonance of Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP).

2. A high power density Solid Oxide Fuel Cell using an anode incorporating Proton Conductor

We are conducting a research on an integrated system between a biomass gasification catalyst reformer with a hydrogen separation film and a solid oxide fuel cell with an anode incorporating proton conductor. The SOFC produces electricity with thermal energy under the condition of an operating temperature around 1000K, while the hydrogen will be produced though endothermic reaction under the condition of thermodynamically-required temperature around 1000K. As a result, an internal reforming system in the SOFC will provide the highest total conversion efficiency. In the case of biomass gasification, only the hydrogen produced in the porous Ni catalyst reformer goes though the separation film made of a thin silica glass and then will be supplied for the SOFC. The reduction of hydrogen concentration leads to advanced progress of reaction to produce hydrogen. On the other hand, in the case of SOFC, a new anode incorporating proton conductor was proposed.

The BCY (Barium Cerium Yttrium oxide) plays an important role of hydrogen adsorption and excellent supply the adsorbed hydrogen into the three phase boundary (TPB). As a result, using the proton conductor, the reaction overpotential (reaction resistnce) was reduced to an almost half of that of the conventional anode SOFC.

3. Development of Diesel Particulate Membrane Filter (DPMF) for zero emission vehicles

We are conducting a research on a Diesel Particulate Membrane Filter (DPMF) and the conventional DPF. The soot filtration efficiency will be almost 100% after soot cake was established on the DPF wall surface. As a result, a membrane made of nano-sized SiC-particles will become an excellent filter even for nano-scaled diesel particulates. In addition, a thin oxide layer on the surface of SiC nanoparticle plays an important role on oxygen adsorption. The adsorbed oxygen was reacted with soot under the condition of a lower temperature than that for the conventional DPF. Moreover, including a single-nano-scaled Platinum particle in the oxide layer, the oxidation temperature becomes lower.

Using the DPMF, a zero emission vehicle will be achieved in near future.

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Katsunori Hanamura is the professor of School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan. He received his Ph. D from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1991. He started his career as the research associate in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1984 and was promoted as the full professor in 2003. Prof. Hanamura’s research interests are primarily focused on thermal engineering, near-field radiation transfer, SOFC and biomass gasification. He is the leader of JST national program on phase interface science for highly efficient energy utilization. (http://www.mep.titech.ac.jp/~TANSO/hanamura/e_framepage/index-j.htm)