Michael Hu
KNOXVILLE—Sticker shock at the gas pump could soon be a thing of the past thanks to research being conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Among the key components in processing fuels, particularly bio-friendly ones, are the membranes that aid in the process of separating unwanted compositions such as water from the fuel or hydrocarbon from aqueous phase.
“We can help wallets and help profits at the same time,” said Michael Hu, a joint faculty member of ORNL and the College of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. “If we can improve that separation process it will mean a reduction in cost to make, a reduction in cost to supply, and a reduction in cost to buy.”
The breakthrough technology being brought to life by the research team combines nanotextured pores with superhydrophobic or superhydrophillic—or, in plain terms, super water-repulsing and water-attracting—substances.
Additionally, the membrane can be manufactured in the tubing platform of larger pore sizes, allowing for a higher continuous flow rate than previously achievable. This means that the process is both more efficient and faster.
The close partnership between UT and ORNL helped researchers on the project utilize resources in a way that benefits both.
“Being able to do studies like this, to really explore the theoretical and make it practical, goes back to our collaboration,” Hu said. “With ORNL, we have the labs, the facilities to really do some amazing things, and with UT we have some research associates who provided assistance to collect the initial data.
“Bamin (Khomami, head of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) is fully engaged in and supportive of my nearly 20 years of ORNL-UT collaboration.”
The payoffs from such collaborations on the project go far beyond the gas pump.
Any industry involved in separating liquids or vapor mixtures as part of its manufacturing process could see its costs reduced, leading to consumer savings on everything from medicine to plastics.
“Much like with fuel, if you can speed those up and make them more efficient, it could save consumers money,” said Hu.
By coming up with their new approach to refining fluids, Hu and his group also caught the eye of R&D Magazine, which named their breakthrough one of their Top 100 ideas of 2014.
Hu is quick to caution that the end benefit could still be years away, however.
“We have a proof of process concept worked out, but there’s still plenty of nanomaterials development and testing to be done,” said Hu.
For more on Oak Ridge National Laboratory, visit http://ornl.gov.
For more on the College of Engineering, visit http://engr.utk.edu.
For more on the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, visit http://engr.utk.edu/cbe.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
He means bio-fuels, which one he doesn’t state. Just stating fuel pump here in America is not a true statement. Gasoline requires more processes than diesel, yet gasoline is 7 cents a gallon to process. It seems there is an agenda than a real break through for diesel which is about 4 cents a gallon to process. The largest cost to all transportation fuels is the purchase of crude oil which is regulated and shipped in from all over the world. That is the cost to work on. Does Mr. Hu really believe the cost will drop with this? Not, unless his research is provided to refineries for free. Does Mr. Hu really believe the tankers crossing our oceans will operate on his Bio-Fuel approach? I don’t see where he is addressing that crude oil price. Notice the disclaimer of this tech being years in the future, if at all.