Date & Time: May 22, 2023
Place: Engineering 110 Lecture Room, Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University

Commentary: Yukihiko MATSUMURA Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University

Lecture: Yoshiaki KOMATSU M1, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University
“Reaction field control of hydrothermal reactions by addition of organic solvents.”

Hydrothermal reactions change when the properties of the solvent, such as dielectric constant and ionic product, change, so understanding what reactions are promoted or inhibited under what conditions is necessary for the production of the target substance. Although there are examples that focus on changes in reaction behaviour due to changes in dielectric constant and ionic product due to changes in temperature and pressure, there are no examples that focus on changes in reaction behaviour due to changes in the solvent itself. Therefore, acetone was added as an organic solvent to the hydrothermal reaction to conduct research.

Lecture: Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed ALI D3, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University
“Evaluation of Ru/CNT Catalyst at High Concentration of Glucose in Supercritical Water Gasification.”

Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a promising carbonaceous catalyst support for the biomass conversion and that is because of its unique structure and low decomposition rate in the supercritical water. 0.5 wt% Ruthenium (Ru)-based catalyst with CNT support was prepared. The performance of the catalyst was evaluated at 500 ℃ and 600 ℃ and space velocity of 40–160 h-1, while the feedstock concentration and the catalyst loading were fixed to be 5 wt% and 0.15 g, respectively. The catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity. Reaction rate constants were determined to be 361.8 h-1 and 161.1 h-1 at 600 ℃ and 500 ℃, respectively assuming the first order equation. Complete gasification was also observed for 10 wt%.

Lecture: Wookyung KIM Associate professor, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University
“Effect of Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide on the Laminar Burning Velocities of Methane-air mixtures from Livestock Waste.”

The effects of different mole fractions of hydrogen and carbon dioxide on the combustion characteristics of a premixed methane–air mixture are experimentally and numerically investigated. The results show that increasing the carbon dioxide mole fraction decreases the laminar burning velocity, attributed to the carbon dioxide dilution, which decreases the thermal diffusivity and flame temperature. Conversely, the velocity increases with the thermal diffusivity as the hydrogen mole fraction increases.

Chair: Yukihiko MATSUMURA Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University