Novel Magnetic Oxygen Distiller

Electricity generation from coalthe nations most abundant energy sourceusing oxygen- blown coal gasification in coal-fired plants requires a low-cost oxygen supply. Current oxygen- production methods such as cryogenic air separation and pressure swing absorption are energy-intensive, making it uneconomical to use oxygen as feedstock for oxygen-blown coal gasifiers. An oxygen-separation technology based on the interaction of magnetic field gradients and paramagnetic oxygen is proposed. Using this technology will result in & gt;30% lower oxygen production costs and offer more efficient and significantly lower-cost carbon sequestration. In Phase I, multiphysics simulation software will be used to develop a computational fluid dynamic model of the oxygen separation process. The computational fluid dynamic results will be used as design guidance to fabricate and test a bench-top prototype to demonstrate its technological feasibility. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Development of the proposed system can potentially revolutionize oxygen production by lowering its production cost, thus increasing its application and distribution. Not only does it address the nations oxygen needs by accelerating the research and development effort in achieving federal objectives for a pollution-free power plant to meet the nations energy need, but it also has immediate commercial applications such as construction and manufacturing, semiconductors, scientific research, medical industries, and aerospace. Military applications include lower cost oxygen for aerospace rocket boosters and oxygen supplies for military hospitals.