RAPID Funded Projects

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Multiphase Microchannel Separator

In conventional two-phase separation, mass transport between the two phases can be intensified via increased surface area, usually in the form of smaller droplets or bubbles. The increase in the interfacial surface area typically results in higher energy cost due to agitation or mixing and slower processing time as the smaller droplet phase requires more time to separate. One can increase processing speed in centrifugal extractors but this, in turn, increases energy requirements significantly.

Investigators

Goran Jovanovic
Professor, Chemical Engineering

Partner Organizations

Oregon State University

Focus Areas

Date approved

November 01, 2017
Current TRL
4

Thermoneutral Propane Dehydrogenation via a Solid Oxide Membrane Reactor

This project is utilizing solid oxide membrane reactors for chemical transformations that are critical to the seamless integration of shale natural gas and liquids into the chemical industry supply chain. The project is particularly interested in the production of propylene from propane. Current propylene production occurs primarily via naphtha steam cracking, a highly energy-intensive process that is not amenable to distributed operations, which are highly desirable when shale natural gas and liquid is used as the carbon source.

Investigators

Suljo Linic
Professor of Chemical Engineering

Partner Organizations

University of Michigan ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company

Focus Areas

Date approved

November 01, 2017
Current TRL
3

Microfibrous Entrapped Sorbents for High Throughput Modular Process Intensified Gas Separation and Ion Exchange

This project will utilize microfibrous entrapment of small particulate sorbents or ion exchange (IX) resins to overcome physical barriers and identified technology gaps that currently prevent energy efficient and cost-effective wellhead CO2/CH4 separations through pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and Cs+ removal from nuclear fuel processing streams. Both commercial cyclic adsorption processes are currently limited by heat and mass transport restrictions occurring in large particle (1-4 mm diameter) packed beds.

Investigators

Paul Dimick
General Manager

Partner Organizations

IntraMicron Savannah River National Laboratory University of South Carolina Auburn University Oregon State University BASF Corporation

Focus Areas

Date approved

November 01, 2017
Current TRL
3

Intensified Microwave Reactor Technology

This project looks to develop both foundational hardware and modeling tools for microwaves as a non-conventional energy input source - a key theme in process intensification - for reactions across chemical conversions and materials synthesis. The project develops scalable microwave technology (MWT) across industries and RAPID focus areas (FAs) and demonstrates its diverse applications with different spatial, temporal, and phase characteristics, often combined with additional process intensification (PI) technologies.

Investigators

Dion Vlachos
Allan and Myra Ferguson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Partner Organizations

University of Delaware Rutgers University Raytheon Technologies

Focus Areas

Date approved

November 01, 2017
Current TRL
4

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