Dr Rachael Elder
MA MEng (Cantab), PhD, AMIChemE
4th Year Tutor
Support Teaching Coordinator
Tel: +44 (0)114 222 7574
Fax: +44 (0)114 222 7501
email : r.elder@sheffield.ac.uk
Chemical and Biological Engineering
The University of Sheffield
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Research Interests
- Thermochemical and Electrochemical Cycles
- Hydrogen production
- Carbon dioxide utilisation
- Membrane Separations
- Whole system analysis
Biography
I completed my PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sheffield in 2007 and continued research here in a post doctoral capacity, becoming a lecturer in 2009. My main research interests lie in thermochemical and electrochemical cycles for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide utilisation. My PhD, entitled "Improving the Efficiency of the Sulphur Iodine Cycle using Membrane Separations", investigated the application of a membrane separation system to the HIx processing stage of the Sulphur Iodine cycle and was part of the European HYTHEC project. Recent projects include the European HycycleS project, looking at key components for the Sulphur Iodine and Hybrid Sulphur cycles, and the KNOO (Keeping the Nuclear Option Open) project, investigating nuclear hydrogen production. I am now concentrating on electrochemical cycles for carbon dioxide utilisation whilst continuing research on high and low temperature membrane separations. In particular I am researching ceramic membranes for use in thermochemical cycles and polymeric membranes for the dewatering of waste streams.
Originally from Teesside, I studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge for four years. After obtaining a first class MEng I spent a year in Sweden before embarking on my PhD.
Key Papers
Elder, R. H. & Allen, R. W. K. (2009) Nuclear heat for hydrogen production: Coupling a very high/high temperature reactor to a hydrogen production plant. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 51 (3), 500-525. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2008.11.001
Elder, R. H., Priestman, G. H. & Allen, R. W. K. (2009) Dewatering of HIx Solutions by Pervaporation through Nafion membranes. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34 (15), 6129-6136.
Elder, R. H., Priestman, G. H., Allen, R. W. K., Orme, C. J. & Stewart, F. F. (2009) The feasibility of membrane separations in the HIx processing section of the sulphur iodine thermochemical cycle. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34 (16), 6614-6624.
Shaw, A. C., Romero, M. A., Elder, R. H., Ewan, B. C. R. & Allen, R. W. K. Measurements of the solubility of sulphur dioxide in water for the sulphur family of thermochemical cycles. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 36 (8), 4749-4756. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V3F-529M7J6-5/2/c692200d9201203b6d8dba0540ab0752
Elder, R. H., Priestman, G. H., Ewan, B. C. & Allen, R. W. K. (2005) The Separation of HIx in the Sulphur-Iodine Thermochemical Cycle for Sustainable Hydrogen Production. Trans IChemE, Part B, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 83 (4B), 343-350.
Teaching
- CPE6300: Introduction to Fuel and Energy - Coal
- CPE321: Design Project
- CPE2012: Chemical Engineering Design
- First Year Computing