Energy Resources Department

About ninety percent of the world's primary energy is provided by hydrocarbon fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. These resources are limited, and it is essential that high efficiency utilization technologies be developed, which cause minimal environmental impact. This department is responsible for basic research related to such utilization technologies and energy analysis.

Energy Analysis Division

To evaluate environmental impacts of energy technologies the following studies have been carried out in these couple years.

• LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
  Life-cycle assessment is a method for calculating resource consumption and emissions resulting from production, use, and disposal of a product throughout its useful life and for evaluating their environmental impacts. We believe that this technique will facilitate the production of environmentally friendly products. NIRE is developing an LCA computer program and collecting enormous amounts of data in cooperation with various industries. We are also discussing methods to evaluate the environmental impacts of resource consumption and discharges.
 
• Evaluation of renewable energy technologies in the city
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the technologies of renewable energy/co-generation system/district heat supplysystem which could be used in the city, and to make a new proposal to reduce CO₂ emission from the city.
  
• System Analysis for Energy and Environment
  A scenario writing model called "NICE" was developed by which we could analyze the future energy supply and demand structure and CO₂ emission in Japan. It could be used to evaluate the contribution of energy technology development to Japanese CO₂ reduction.

Fundamental Research Division

This division carries out fundamental research relating to the high-efficiencyconversion of coal into a gaseous product. One of the objectives of this work is to predict, via theoretical and experimental approach, the optimumconditions for high-temperature coal gasification.
Current research includes:

• In-situ desulfurization in the gasifies.
• Reaction mechanism of coal pyrolysis and gasification.
• Hydrogasification of coal.
• Database for the coal gasification process.

Hydrocarbon Research Division

Research programs in this division are aimed at developing the advanced utilization technology of energy resources consentaneous with global environmental issues. The studies at present are mainly focused on efficient utilization of coal derived substances, recycling of waste plastics, chemistry of methane hydrate and biomimetic functionalization of hydrocarbons.

• Conversion of coal toward efficient utilization
• Chemical recycling of waste plastics
• Chemistry of methane hydrate cluster
• Biomimetic hydroxylation of hydrocarbons

Advanced Fuel Research Division

Upgrading of heavy oil, shale oil and oil sand bitumen are carried out as well as characterization of these energy resources¥ Coprocessing of coal and heavy oil, separation and utilization of heteroatom containing compoundsfromfossilfuel derived liquids are conducted¥ Research on environmentallyfriendly coal utilization is also carried out.
Current projects include:

• Characterization and upgrading of heavy oil, shale oil and oil sand bitumen.
• Separation and utilization of heteroatom containing compounds.
• Coprocessing of coal and oil.
• Development of low emission coal utilization technology.

Carbon Materials Division

Research is currently being conducted on the preparation of general purpose carbon materials from carbonaceous substances derived from coal and charcoal. The division also emphasizes basic studies on the surface modification of porous carbon materials and on their structural characterization.

• Mesoporous Activated Carbons with Metal Oxide Nanoparticles
• Design of Microtexture and Pore Structure in Carbon Materials
• Surface and Structural Characterization of Carbon Materials

List Page

Global Warming Control Department

Thermal Energy and Combustion Engineering Department

Atmospheric Environmental Protection Department

Hydrospheric Environmental Protection Department

Environmental Assessment Department

Energy Resources Department

Materials Processing Department

Geotechnology Department

Safety Engineering Department

Coal Mine Safety Research Center, Hokkaido

Coal Mine Safety Research Center, Kyushu