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Microreactors: ‘micro’managing our macro energy demands

Olivia Rossi (Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Arvind Chandrasekaran (Department of Chemical, Biological and Bio Engineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA)

International Journal of Energy Sector Management

ISSN: 1750-6220

Article publication date: 20 December 2018

Issue publication date: 8 August 2019

167

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer this question by discussing the practicality of implementing microreactor technology towards large-scale renewable energy generation, as well as provide an incentive for future researchers to utilize microreactors as a useful alternative tool for green energy production. However, can microreactors present a viable solution for the generation of renewable energy to tackle the on-going global energy crisis?

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the practicality of implementing microreactor technology toward large-scale renewable energy generation is discussed. Specific areas of interest that elucidate considerable returns of microreactors toward renewable energy production are biofuel synthesis, hydrogen conversion and solar energy harvesting.

Findings

It is believed that sustained research on microreactors can significantly accelerate the development of new energy production methods through renewable sources, which will undoubtedly aid in the quest for a greener future.

Originality/value

This work aims to provide a sound judgement on the importance of research on renewable energy production and alternative energy management methods through microreactor technology, and why future studies on this topic should be highly encouraged. The relevance of this opinion paper lies in the idea that microreactors are an innovative concept currently used in engineering to significantly accelerate chemical reactions on microscale volumes; with the feasibility of high throughput to convert energy at larger scales with much greater efficiency than existing energy production methods.

Keywords

Citation

Rossi, O. and Chandrasekaran, A. (2020), "Microreactors: ‘micro’managing our macro energy demands", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 590-596. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-10-2018-0009

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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