Thermal Systems
Presentation
The research group aims to study and develop reactive systems and power plants through simulation, experimentation, and advanced monitoring using analytical and optical techniques at laboratory and industrial scales.
Research lines
Advanced numerical simulation of reactive systems.
Calculation and numerical simulation of heat transfer in electrical systems and metallurgical and process furnaces.
Experimental developments in combustion using new analytical and optical techniques. Laboratory work and adaptation to measurements in the actual field.
Advanced simulation of the dynamics of coherent (fixed bed and fluid) and chaotic particle and gas systems.
Thermal monitoring of boilers, furnaces, recovery plants, and process regenerators. Interpretation of field measurements.Development of new physically-based measures applicable in the actual field.
Simulation of complex power plants and study of configurations using energy optimization tools and reduced-order models.
Experimental study and detailed modeling of complex thermochemical processes: pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion.
Experimentation, optimization, characterization, and modeling of physical activation processes for developing microporous carbonaceous materials for energy uses (CO2 capture, H2 storage, development of supercapacitors).
Simulation of lumped parameters, CFDs of solar heaters, and PCMs.
Projects
Ecological Transition in Rural Areas-Ecological traNSition rUral aREas (ENSURE). Ref.: TED2021-131397B-I00. MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION. Julio Melero Estela and Javier Uche Marcuello (CIRCE Institute- University of Zaragoza). 01/12/2022- 30/11/2024. €276,000.00.
DEVELOPMENT OF A REACTION MODEL OF THE PROCESS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVATION OF BIOCARBON FOR ENERGY APPLICATIONS (BIOCARB). Ref.: RTI2018-098888-A-I00. MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND UNIVERSITIES. Javier Pallarés Ranz. (CIRCE Institute - University of Zaragoza). 01/07/2019-30/06/2022. €105,270.00.
PRODUCTION AND EVALUATION OF A FERTILIZER WITH LOW NITROGEN EMISSIONS BASED ON ACTIVATED CARBON FROM LANDFILLS AND BIOMASS. Ref.: RTC-2015-3411-5. MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS. Javier Pallarés Ranz. (CIRCE Institute - University of Zaragoza). 01/10/2015-31/12/2018. €235,940.10.
INTEGRATED PROCESS CONTROL BASED ON DISTRIBUTED IN-SITU SENSORS INTO RAW MATERIAL AND ENERGY FEEDSTOCK. COMUNIDAD EUROPEA SPIRE 2014, Integrated Process Control nº 604140. Cristóbal Cortés Gracia. (Fundación CIRCE). 01/01/2015-01/01/2018. 441.125 €.
E-GLASS. RTC-2014-1570-5- ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE MONITORING OF COMBUSTION AND EFFICIENCY OF REGENERATIVE EXCHANGERS IN GLASS FURNACES. Antonia Gil Martínez (CIRCE Institute- University of Zaragoza). 01/09/2014 - 31/05/2018. €127,903.35.
TOOLS FOR MONITORING AND ASSESSING RESOURCE-EFFICIENCY IN THE VALUE CHAIN OF PROCESS INDUSTRIES, Unión Europea (Fundación CIRCE), Antonia Gil Martínez, 16/01/2014 - 01/07/2017, 879.599,8 €.
SUPPORT TO INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING OF THE CHINA-EU INSTITUTE FOR CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. EUROPEAN COMMISSION. Inmaculada Arauzo Pelet. (Fundación CIRCE). 01/07/2010-15/10/2017. 952.710 €.
Infrastructure
The thermochemical processes laboratory has the necessary infrastructure for pyrolysis, torrefaction, carbonization, gasification, and physical activation tests of biomass and other solid fuels. A fixed-bed heated horizontal tube furnace, steam generator, gas chromatograph, precision and thermogravimetric balances, mill, and drying oven are available.
HPC high-performance computing server for numerical simulations equipped with two advanced Intel processors with 128 cores. Matlab and ANSYS-FLUENT licenses.
Technological and service offer
Customized models adapted to the client's needs as a monitoring and control system for processes (burners, furnaces, boilers, stoves, heaters, heat exchangers, recuperators, and regenerators).
Simulation and energy optimization of plants and processes.
Integration of renewable energies.
Characterization and experimental optimization of thermochemical processes.
Instrumentation and control of thermal and thermochemical processes.
Thermal analysis of solid fuels (biomass and waste) using thermogravimetry.
