Penn State To Partner Hydrogen Research Project

February 8, 2000

University Park, Pa. -- A hydrogen research project agreement among Penn State, the U.S. Department of Energy, and two private sector research and development companies will look at more practical uses of hydrogen for industry and manufacturing.

Dr. Robert McGrath, Penn State associate vice president for research, led the research team that developed the proposal. He says "Molecular hydrogen is a combustible gas that is both produced and used by the chemical, petroleum and glass industries. Monitoring hydrogen levels at various points in the manufacturing process is essential for both product quality control and safety."

The goal of the three-year, $1.3 million project is to develop an alternative, reliable, low-cost easily fielded sensing technology for on-line, real time measurements that are applicable to multiple manufacturing processors.

In addition to Penn State, the project partners are Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. and Livermore, Calif.; DCH Technology, Valencia, Calif., and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. of Allentown, Pa.

Penn State's role will be to produce prototype sensors as the University’s Nanofabrication Clean-Room Facility located in Penn State's Research Park. The facility is supported by the National Science Foundation and by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge's newly established Pennsylvania Technology Investment Authority (PTIA).

U.S. Rep. John Peterson provided facilitation throughout the review process. "I see enormous potential for hydrogen as future source of clean, affordable energy for nearly every aspect of our lives. But we must boost our efforts toward research and development to make it a reality," said Peterson.

Additional applications of hydrogen include its use as a fuel in combustion engines and rockets, and emerging fuel cell technologies.

Funding comes from the Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies as one of only four research projects selected during the most recent competition. Continued funding for the second and third year of the project depends on successful completion of year one milestones and DOE approval.

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Contacts:

Barbara Hale (814) 865-9481 (o)/ (814) 238-0997 (h)

Vicki Fong (814) 865-9481 (o)/ (814) 238-1221 (h)