Grantee Research Project Results
Conversion of Wind Power to Hydrogen Fuel: Design of an Alternative Energy System for an Injection Molding Facility
EPA Grant Number: SU831888Title: Conversion of Wind Power to Hydrogen Fuel: Design of an Alternative Energy System for an Injection Molding Facility
Investigators: Thorn, Brian , Nasr, Nabil
Current Investigators: Thorn, Brian , Ngo, Quoc Khahn , Carrano, Andres , Szratter, Justin , Miller, Michael , Griffin, Patrick , Braymiller, Sarah , Raymond, Stephen
Institution: Rochester Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 2004 through May 31, 2005
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2004) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Nanotechnology , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Description:
Injection molding plants are large consumers of electricity. At its current level of operations, Harbec Plastics (Ontario, NY) uses about 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Based on the US average fuel mix, approximately 1.5 pounds of CO2 is generated for each kilowatt hour of energy produced (source: http://www.harbec.com/pdf/harbecforest.pdf). Producing the power to meet Harbec's needs through conventional means would result in the production of 3,000,000 pounds (1500 tons) of CO2 in addition to other fossil fuel emissions. The objective of this study is to explore the technical, environmental, and financial feasibility of using wind generated electricity to manufacture hydrogen when the facility is consuming less power than the wind turbine generates. Hydrogen produced during these periods could be stored onsite and used in a number of different ways. For instance, the hydrogen could be used to power fuel cells which would generate electricity for the facility, or it could be mixed with the facility's compressed natural gas and used to fuel the microturbines that power the plant. The study will be conducted by a team of students participating in the Multidisciplinary Design Experience at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) and supervised by a faculty advisor and a team of faculty who oversee the entire Design Experience.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 3 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
clean technologies, innovative technology, renewable, environmentally conscious manufacturing, cost benefit, engineering, global climate,, RFA, Sustainable Industry/Business, POLLUTION PREVENTION, Sustainable Environment, Energy, Technology for Sustainable Environment, energy conservation, environmentally friendly fuel cell power system, green design, ecological design, environmental sustainability, hydrogen fuels, injection molding facility, energy efficiency, energy technology, engineering, alternative energy source, wind energyRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.