The main activities of this laboratory consist in:
Chemical-physical characterisation of fuels, catalysts and residues
Analysis and optimisation of technology for combined production of heat and electricity
Characterisation and prototype development of pyrolysis and gasification reactors, as well as innovative filtering systems
On-site monitoring and diagnostics of pyrolysis and gasification systems
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Research Focus
The main area of research is energy production from biomass – through traditional processes such as combustion as well as innovative ones like pyrolysis, gasification and torrefaction. The entire processing chain is covered, from characterisation of fuels and fuel residues to process optimisation of combined heat, district heating and power systems for both pilot and productive systems.
Main Instrumentation
Sample Preparation (Cutting Mill)
Pulverisette 19 (Fritsch) with cyclone separator
Thermal Analysis
STA 449 F3 (Netzsch) coupled to a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR Tensor 27, Bruker)
DSC 200 F3 Maya (Netzsch)
Thermal Diffusivity
LFA 447 NanoFlash (Netzsch)
Gas Composition
Micro GC Rack R-3000 (SRA Instruments) equipped with: a MOLSIEVE column for detection of H2, N2, O2, CO, CH4; a PLOT U column for detection of CO2, C2’s, C3’s, H2S
Micro GC 490 Agilent (SRA Instruments) equipped with: a MOLSIEVE column for detection of H2, N2, O2, CO, CH4; a PoraPLOT U column for detection of CO2, C2’s, C3’s, H2S; a CP Sil 5 CB column for detection of high molecular weight hydrocarbons (C3-C9); a CPWAX 52 CB column for detection of BTX
Tar Content
2 tar sampling systems complying with UNI CEN/TS 15439:2008
Elemental Composition
Vario MACRO Cube, CHNS-O version with Cl module (Elementar)
Calorific Value
C 200 (IKA)
Surface analysis, macro and micro-pore size distribution, specific surface are (BET)
3Flex 3500 (Micromeritics)
Pyrolysis and Gasification Tests
2 batch reactors of different sizes for analysis of thermochemical conversion processes (micro/meso scale)
open-top gasifier (Betel), for gasification tests (pilot scale, 4 kW)
Char bed reactor, for testing char filtering and catalytic effects.