Friday, September 29, 2006
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Professor
Levi T. Thompson
University of Michigan
Department of Chemical Engineering
Abstract:
Securing our nationÕs energy supply is arguably the most important challenge we face. Our energy supply impacts nearly every aspect of our lives including our mobility, health and welfare. Presently, the U.S. depends heavily on foreign energy resources. For example, in 2005, nearly 60% of the crude oil consumed in the U.S. was imported; nearly one-quarter of this oil came from the Persian Gulf. With growing demands from emerging economies, declining environmental quality and global political instabilities, there is a critical need to develop a sustainable energy strategy. Hydrogen has the highest energy density of any non-nuclear fuel, can be easily converted to electrical and thermal energy via highly efficient, non-polluting processes, and is viewed by some as the ultimate energy carrier for the future. In fact, development of the science and technology needed to produce, store and utilize hydrogen has emerged as a national research priority. This presentation will highlight our efforts in the development of highly integrated reactors and cells for hydrogen production, and low-cost hydrogen fuel cells.