KAUST student Nawaf Alghamdi won a best poster prize at the XXIII International Conference on Chemical Reactors (CHEMREACTOR-23) in Ghent, Belgium. Alghamdi's poster focused on his research utilizing the stagnation-flow reactor concept to reduce catalytic problems to one dimension. His work is part of his research in the Clean Combustion Research Center, focusing on understanding the kinetics of catalytic processes. Why it matters: This award recognizes promising research at KAUST and highlights the university's contributions to advancements in chemical engineering and catalysis, with potential applications in industrial processes.
KAUST's Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC) hosted the Combustion in Extreme Conditions research conference from March 5-8. The conference focused on combustion under extreme conditions in modern engines, covering high-pressure combustion, advanced diagnostics, and high-performance computations. Experts from academia, national labs, and industry discussed global collaborations toward clean combustion systems, alternative fuels, and emission reduction techniques. Why it matters: The conference highlights KAUST's role as a global hub for combustion research and its commitment to advancing technologies for cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.
KAUST researchers are exploring novel chemical reactors and separation processes using mathematical design, with a focus on time and shape variables to enhance transport, heat transfer, and mass transfer. By aligning design, modeling, and 3D printing, they create customized shapes with great complexity and less material. This approach allows for the creation of bespoke reactors and separation processes tailored to specific applications, improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Why it matters: This research demonstrates the potential of advanced manufacturing techniques to revolutionize industrial design in the Middle East's chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.
KAUST hosted the New Challenges in Heterogeneous Catalysis research conference from January 29-31. The conference brought together catalysis researchers from KAUST and abroad to inspire future research and discuss challenges in heterogeneous catalysis. Discussions focused on new chemistry, catalytic materials, understanding catalytic processes, and activation of small molecules like methane and carbon dioxide. Why it matters: Catalysis research is crucial for KAUST's research thrusts in food, water, energy, and environment, contributing to sustainable development and green chemistry in the region.
The 2017 KAUST Research Conference focused on new combustion concepts, bringing together experts from academia, national labs, and industry. Participants discussed various aspects of combustion, including energy conversion by Professor Igor Adamovich from Ohio State University. Anne Bourdon from École Polytechnique presented on plasma-assisted applications. Why it matters: The conference facilitated knowledge exchange and collaboration on advancing combustion technologies, a field relevant to energy and environmental sustainability in the region.
KAUST's Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC) is expanding its Cloudflame database, a platform providing computational tools and scientific data for combustion research. Cloudflame offers features like flame speed calculations, ignition delay simulation, and a Fuel Design Tool to formulate fuel mixtures. The platform allows researchers to compare findings, perform computations remotely, and receive results via email. Why it matters: Cloudflame fosters global collaborations and accelerates advancements in clean combustion technologies, crucial for energy saving and environmental conservation in the region and worldwide.
KAUST has inaugurated its Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC), five years after its initial planning. The center is composed of seven faculty members and a team of eighty people, focusing on combustion research to address future energy and environmental challenges. CCRC has already attracted industrial funding from companies like Saudi Aramco. Why it matters: The center will provide a boost to research and development in sustainable energy and reduced emissions technologies within Saudi Arabia and the broader region.
KAUST's Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST) hosted a seminar on rechargeable hydrogen gas batteries. Professor Wei Chen from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) presented the seminar. The talk covered aqueous nickel-hydrogen gas, proton-hydrogen gas, halogen-hydrogen gas, and nonaqueous lithium-hydrogen gas batteries, along with applications like self-charging batteries. Why it matters: Hydrogen gas batteries represent a promising avenue for large-scale energy storage, particularly for integrating renewable energy sources into electric grids.