Ongoing activities

Hydrogen Lab

At this very moment the Energy Conversion Department is building and preparing the new Hydrogen Lab on Zernike Campus.

With the increasing share in renewable electricity, balancing the electricity grid becomes a bigger challlenge. Especially bridging the gap in the supply created in summer and the demand for energy in the winter. Using electrolysers to transform the surplus electricity in summer into hydrogen, energy can be stored. Using fuel cells, the hydrogen can be transformed to electricity and reused in the winter to fill the gap between supply and demand. Having this reversible process take place in the same cell (a regenerative fuel cell), will save material consumption and costs. This is one of the researche topics that will be done in the new Hydrogen Lab.

More information about the progress of the building will follow soon.

Contact person: Prof. dr. A. ( Aravind) Purushothman Vellayani

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Exergy analysis

Exergy analysis is an assessment technique for systems based on the
second law of thermodynamics. Exergy is the maximum amount of
work that can be obtained in a reversible process (this means for
instance no friction in the process) from a certain amount of energy,
with the environment as a free source. This environment needs to be
defined, to make proper calculations.

NB: In real life the environment is not in equilibrium with itself; in the
definition it is.

Exergy analysis helps improving the efficiency of powerplants, both
conventional and renewable-source-based plants. By analysing where
exergy losses occur, measures can be searched to reduce these losses.
Implementing fuel cells in energy production chains, is one of the steps
to reduce exergy-losses. For optimising a plant the whole fuel-cell-
system need to be analysed. So in general we focus on whole systems,
and make a deeper analysis of components with high exergy-losses.

The German Professor Baehr suggested the term anergy, complementary to exergy: energy = exergy + anergy. This means: energy can be (partly) converted into work (= exergy), according to the second law of thermodynamics, and the part that cannot be converted into work we name anergy. This way the defined
environment is considered fully anergy, so containing no exergy.

Contact person: Prof. dr. A. ( Aravind) Purushothman Vellayani

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Flame structure and pollutant formation in premixed and non-premixed flames

This activity encompasses understanding the elementary physical and chemical processes that are responsible for the structure of premixed and non-premixed flames and the relationship between flame structure, propagation and pollutant formation. Towards this end, we develop and use laser-diagnostic methods for the spatially resolved measurement of gas temperature, key intermediates (OH, CH, HCN, C2H2) and particles, and analyze the results using theoretical and numerical models. A particular current emphasis is on modern combustion techniques, such as Moderate or Intense Low oxygen Dilution (MILD) combustion, which can have a high impact on reducing the carbon footprint of high-temperature industrial combustion systems.

Contact person: Dr. A.V. (Anatoli) Mokhov

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Ignition processes in future fuels

Here we measure and analyze the ignition properties of fuels to be used in the future energy infrastructure, such as hydrogen, hydrogen/hydrocarbon mixtures, and fuels of renewable origin.

For the two areas above, comparison of the results with those of numerical models using detailed chemistry provides insight into the adequacy of the models and guide the improvement of the chemical mechanisms used.

Contact person: Dr. A.V. (Anatoli) Mokhov

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Ongoing projects

Circonica micro-WKK

The route to a CO2-neutral energy supply in the built environment has several paths. To be in 2050 In order to achieve a significant reduction in natural gas consumption, it will be necessary to determine which solutions can be deployed cost-effectively in the short term and in the longer term. Micro-CHP systems are bidding on in the short term an excellent all-round solution for both heat and energy supply in existing buildings. Their large-scale application is currently being hindered by the cost price of such systems. Which problem is solved with Circonica's solid-oxide fuel cell technology (HELP-SOFC). This technology is a breakthrough in cost-effective production method of the fuel cell through the injection molding of the ceramic components. The system can reduce CO2 emissions from households by 70-100%, depending on the type of fuel. The core technology has already proven itself on a lab scale and partners before large-scale production and application are already involved. Due to the potential of this technology in micro CHP systems, Circonica wants to further develop this technology within this project for this application >>> more information.

Contact person: P.V. (Aravind) Purushothaman Vellayani

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Nautilus | Nautical Integrated Hybrid Energy System for Long-haul Cruise Ships

Maritime transport, including long-haul passenger ships, emits greenhouse gases and pollutants. To reduce these emissions and comply with the International Maritime Organisation's targets for 2030 and beyond, the EU-funded Nautilus project will develop an integrated marine energy system that will use liquefied natural gas. The project will build a pilot technology that will gradually replace the internal combustion engine-based generators with a solid oxide fuel cell-battery hybrid genset. What is more, Nautilus will work on a digital design and a demonstrator of an on-board energy system for vessels transporting 1000 and more than 5000 passengers, which will be evaluated according to the marine safety regulations >>> more information.

Contact person: P.V. (Aravind) Purushothaman Vellayani

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Formation of nanoparticles (soot, silica) in flames

In this project, which is nearing completion, various light-scattering methods are applied to understanding the formation and growth of nanoscale clusters of carbonaceous (soot) and silica particles in methane flames. The impact of hydrogen in the fuel on particle formation is a specific subject of study. The results have impact both in assessing the environmental impact of hydrogen/natural gas mixtures or siloxane-containing biofuels and with an eye towards flame synthesis of nanoparticles.

Contact person: Dr. A.V. (Anatoli) Mokhov

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Flame propagation and Ignition of future fuels

This project examines the ignition and propagation of the flames of future fuels, for example dimethyl ether (DME), which is a fuel that can be made from renewable sources. The propagation properties, i.e., the laminar burning velocity, are essential for assessing the utility of new fuels in practice. Furthermore, the ignition properties are important for determining the use of these fuels in internal combustion engines. This project is also performed with the company DNV GL, who provides their ‘dual-fuel’ rapid compression machine to study the ignition of new fuels under conditions similar to those in diesel engines.

Contact person: Dr. A.V. (Anatoli) Mokhov

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Flame structure and pollutant formation in MILD combustion using future fuels

Here, using the ‘laminar jet in hot coflow’ burner developed at the RUG, we explore the suitability of future fuels, such as hydrogen/natural gas mixtures or DME for use in MILD combustion systems. Laser diagnostics are used to examine flame structure and pollutant formation in both ‘normal’ and MILD combustion regimes, while the experiments also show how the transition from normal to MILD combustion can be utilized in practical systems.

Contact person: Dr. A.V. (Anatoli) Mokhov