Mass Transfer Reaction Engineering Laboratory

In our laboratory, we are working on the development of energy systems that support the future through chemical engineering approaches. Recently, we focus on researches on nuclear fusion reactor systems and hydrogen energy systems.

From the viewpoints of “securing long-term resources”, “stable supply” and “social acceptability”, we consider nuclear fusion reactors as an important energy source for the future. We are developing an optimum system for efficiently producing and recovering hydrogen isotope as fuel and are studying on safety of nuclear fusion reactors. Specifically, we am trying to elucidate the mass transfer phenomena in special environments such as simultaneous irradiation field of hydrogen isotope plasma and neutron, and supercritical carbon dioxide atmosphere, and inside of flowing lithium-lead alloy. Under international collaboration, the fusion experimental reactor “ITER” is under construction in France and this research field requires many researchers.

Hydrogen is attracting attention as a clean secondary energy with small environmental load. Research on SOFC and PEFC, research on hydrogen storage, research on high efficient hydrogen production system by utilizing nuclear reactor, etc. have been done so far. Recently, we have been developing high-efficiency hydrogen production method utilizing catalytic reaction and hydrogen permeation phenomena and investigating new hydrogen production method using plasma.