ndergraduate students who are interested in research projects in our group can either sign up for an MQP (Major Qualifying Project) or see if there are any opportunities for a summer research job. Often, MQPs are not listed individually on this site, and the best plan is to see Prof. Dixon as which projects are available can depend on the state of the research. Here we briefly describe some areas where undergraduate research is likely to be available.

Catalytic tubular fixed bed reactors are widely used for steam reforming to make hydrogen from natural gas. These reactors have large temperature gradients, especially near the tube wall. Knowledge of tube wall temperature is critical – a tube wall temperature increase of 20 °C will shorten a tube life from its design period of 10 years to less than 5 years, and the cost of a re-tube can be $5-8 million. Our work is directed towards the development of more efficient steam reforming technology, and two major steps in this effort are the optimal design of catalyst particles, and the modeling of heat transfer in reformer reactor tubes. We do simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to find out how the flow, heat transfer, diffusion and reaction interact under reaction conditions, and use lab experiments under simpler conditions to test the computer models as far as possible.

Microchannel reactors reduce the size of conventional chemical reactors without lowering the throughput, as scale-up to larger equipment is replaced by scale-out to multiple microreactors in parallel. We study fluid flow, heat transfer and chemical reaction to understand the differences between transport and reaction in microchannels and on the macroscale (i.e. the usual scale). Both continuum (CFD) and molecular modeling methods are used. As microchannels get smaller, gas flow in them stops following differential equations, and we have to understand how individual gas molecules behave. An example of molecular modeling calculations made as part of an MQP is shown (Gas-Phase Micro-Reactor Simulation, by Patrick O’Malley, 2006). This simulation follows methane oxidation in a microreactor with large reservoirs at either end.

Our work with CFD and fixed bed steam reforming is described at greater length in the research pages of this website. Take a look there to see more results and information. MQP opportunities in these areas are usually available, summer positions depend on current needs and funding. For those who are interested in microchannels, which are not described elsewhere on this site, you can read more here about current MQP opportunities in this area with Professor Dixon.