Investigators

R. Mitchell, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University

Objective

The primary objective of this activity is to begin a collaborative research effort on coal energy conversion using supercritical water conditions with aquifer-based carbon sequestration. The efforts of the Stanford and Brigham Young University/University of Utah groups will be combined to promote synergistic effects between research activities. Exploratory efforts by the Stanford group will include a preliminary thermodynamic analysis of one option of the energy conversion process wherein mass and energy balances for each process unit will be determined along with first and second law efficiencies. Scenarios using either oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizer will be compared to determine which is best suited to yield a synthesis gas with the desired properties.