| Staff |
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Head:
Research team:
Francesc Reventós Puigjaner, Researcher
Albert Casanovas, Tech. Support Marina Pérez, Tech. Support Leonor Alves, PhD student Montserrat Domínguez Escalante, PhD student
Raúl Espinal, PhD student Nuria Jiménez Divins, PhD student Ali Hedayati, PhD student Monika Mac, PhD student
Vanessa Rheinheimer, PhD student
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| Aims of the programme |
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- To design, develop, characterize and test new catalytic devices based on nano- and micro-structures for the generation and purification of hydrogen.
- To develop fuel reformers based on catalytic walls, membrane reactors and microreactors for commercial fuel cell application.
- To design and evaluate the performance of new, environmentally-friendly, energy efficient construction materials with the aid of sophisticated macro-to-nanometric experimental techniques and advanced numerical modeling tools
- To provide the scientific and technological basis for the study and control of dissolution and mobilization of leachates from hazardous reservoirs and facilities.
- To design and develop miniaturized systems for space-based experiments devoted to energy and in-situ resource utilization
- To promote understanding and awareness of energy issues and the development of responsible energy policies through our Energy Observatory.
- To provide analytical scientific support to international relevant initiatives on system behavior for nuclear safety testing
- To develop methodologies for thermalhydraulic calculations of accident scenarios of Nuclear Power Plants devoted to scaling issue progress
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| Current Research Projects |
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- Fuel reformer for the generation of hydrogen.
CIDEM ref. VALTEC08-2-0021 (2009-2010).
Jordi Llorca
A portable fuel reformer able to convert a liquid alcohol-water mixture into a pure hydrogen stream is being constructed. The reformer is equipped with a proprietary catalytic device and a membrane reactor that enables simultaneous fuel reforming and hydrogen separation, thus yielding a hydrogen stream with purity grade for direct low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) feeding.
- Structured reactors and microreactors coated with aerogels and hydrotalcites for hydrogen production.
MICINN ref. CTQ2009-12520 (2010-2012).
Jordi Llorca
New catalytic devices for efficient and fast start-up hydrogen generation are being developed and tested. Stable hydrotalcite-derived materials as well as aerogels with improved mass-transfer properties are characterized with advanced physical-chemical techniques (HRTEM, XPS, FIB, etc.) and tested in catalytic wall reactors and microreactors, which are designed and machined specifically for this purpose. This project is carried out in consortium with CATHETER group (URV) and ICMAB (CSIC).
- Catalyst testing and development.
DIGEMA TECHNOLOGIES (2009-).
Jordi Llorca
New catalyst formulations are being developed to fulfill the requirements of industrial partners. Activity and selectivity issues as well as long-term stability and recyclability are addressed.
- Modeling and control of fuel reformers and fuel cells interfaces.
(2008-).
Jordi Llorca
In collaboration with the Automatic Control group (IRI) we are working towards the modeling of devices producing hydrogen in mobile applications and the control of interface structures governing the coupling of fuel reformers and PEM fuel cells.
- Catalytic purification of hydrogen streams with advanced nanoparticles.
(2008-).
Jordi Llorca
Tuning the geometric and electronic properties of catalysts is possible with a rational design of pre-formed nanoparticles. In collaboration with the Dendrimers and Molecular Polygons group (UB) we are testing novel materials for catalytic purification of hydrogen streams, like the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in the presence of excess hydrogen (CO-PrOx).
- Integration of microreactors with microfuel cells.
(2008-).
Jordi Llorca
Electronic devices constitute an attractive market for fuel cell implementation. However, major challenges that need to be solved are fuel feeding (hydrogen), miniaturization and reliability. In collaboration with the Micro & Nano Technologies research group (UPC) we are developing a new microreaction concept based on silicon micromonoliths. Also, as a part of a consortium between UPC, CIN2, IREC and IMB-CNM, we are working towards the development of an integrated microreactor-microfuel cell unit.
- nAUTO2
(2010-).
Ignasi Casanova
Following the encouraging preliminary results of nAUTO, this project aims at extending the knowledge on the behavior of polymeric materials with nanoparticle additions , with a special emphasis on the electrical and mechanical properties, as well as hydrophobic response of textiles and dieability of polymers. The project is lead by the R+D Department of SEAT.
- Code Assessment and Maintenance Program.
(2006-).
Francesc Reventós
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is leading the project that has aim of improving and maintaining thermalhydraulic system codes like RELAP5 and TRACE. The Spanish Safety Authority coordinates the Spanish participants. Assessment and application calculation are performed by UPC as a contribution to the initiative. Every year two specialist meeting take place with the purpose of exchanging experience. Reports on performed calculations are the final deliverable.
- OECD PKL 2 Project
(2008-).
Francesc Reventós
Coordinated by OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA) the project refers to a set of experiments that are currently performed in PKL facility in Erlangen (Germany). The operating agent and the owner of the facility is Areva. Pre and Post test calculations are performed by UPC team as a contribution to the project. UPC team is also involved in contributing to the design of new tests. CSN coordinates the Spanish participation.
- OECD ROSA 2 Project
(2009-).
Francesc Reventós
Coordinated also by OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA) the project refers to a set of experiments that are currently performed in LSTF facility in Tokai-Mura (Japan). The operating agent and the owner of the facility is the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Pre and Post test calculations are performed by UPC team as a contribution to the project. UPC team is also involved in contributing to the design of new tests. CSN coordinates the Spanish participation.
- Mejora y mantenimiento de códigos termohidráulicos de sistema en base a resultados de los experimentos OCDE-PKL2 y OCDE-ROSA2
(2009-).
Francesc Reventós
Spanish project coordinated by CSN devoted to improve thermalhydraulic system codes following lessons learned from OECD projects PKL2 and ROSA2. UPC acts as the coordinator.
- Aplicación a plantas españolas de secuencias del proyecto CAMP.
(2010-).
Francesc Reventós
Spanish project funded by the spanish electricity consortium (UNESA) devoted to improve thermalhydraulic models of actual Nuclear Spanish Plants.
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| Associated laboratories |
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| Closed Research Projects |
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- ENE2006-06925. "Producción de hidrógeno a partir de biocombustibles con monolitos cerámicos funcionalizados".
- PCI2006-A7-0539. "Estudio mecanístico de la obtención de hidrógeno a partir de biocombustibles líquidos".
- CIDEM (Generalitat de Catalunya) -Programa d’incentius a projectes empresarials en recerca industrial i desenvolupament experimental. “nAUTO: noves oportunitats funcionals de les nanotecnologies en el sector de l’automoció” (2009-2010)
- OECD-SETH Project. Funded by “Plan Coordinado de Investigación del Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN) y UNESA “ (2003-2005)
- Análisis y simulación de secuencias accidentales en reactores PWR Project. Subvención del Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear “ (2005-2006)
- Análisis y simulación de experimentos pkl/ocde y rosa/ocde. Aplicaciones a plantas españolas. Subvención del Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (2006-2009)
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| Doctoral theses in progress |
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| Thesis title |
Nanocomposites with aerogel for etanol steam reforming. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Montserrat Domínguez Escalante |
| Supervisor |
Jordi Llorca |
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| Thesis title |
Hydrogen from dimethylether |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Cristian Ledesma Rodríguez |
| Supervisor |
Jordi Llorca |
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| Thesis title |
Control of fuel reformers for fuel cell applications. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Vanesa García |
| Supervisor |
Jordi Llorca |
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| Thesis title |
Hydrogen from bioethanol in structured reactors. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Núria Jiménez Divins |
| Supervisor |
Jordi Llorca |
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| Thesis title |
Nanolayers for the generation of hydrogen. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Raúl Espinal |
| Supervisor |
Jordi Llorca |
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| Thesis title |
Kinetics of cement hydration: a nanotechnology approach. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Vanessa Rheinheimer |
| Supervisor |
Ignasi Casanova |
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| Thesis title |
Characterization of microcracks in cement-based materials. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Monika Mac |
| Supervisor |
Patricia Pardo, Ignasi Casanova |
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| Thesis title |
Sustainable experiment for Lunar exploitation using a nanotechnology approach. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Eduard F. Aymerich |
| Supervisor |
Ignasi Casanova |
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| Thesis title |
Technologies for planetary protection and in-situ resource utilization on the Moon and Mars. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Andrea Jaime Albalat |
| Supervisor |
Ignasi Casanova |
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| Thesis title |
Qualification methodology of integral plant models using scaling calculations. Application to ATWS scenarios. |
| Institution |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
| PhD Student |
Victor Martínez Quiroga |
| Supervisor |
Francesc Reventós |
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Doctoral theses read in the five last years
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| Thesis title |
Producció d'hidrogen a partir de la reformació d'etanol amb reactors de parets catalítiques. |
| Place and year of defence |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2010. |
| Author Name |
Casanovas, Albert
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| Supervisor |
Jordi Llorca |
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| Publications |
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| To browse publication follow the researcher link.: |
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- Ortiz, J.L., Aceituno, F.J., Quesada, J.A., Aceituno, J., Fernández, M., Santos, P., Trigo, J.M., Llorca, J., Martín, F.J., Montañés, P., Pallé, E. "Detection of sporadic impact flashes on the Moon: Implications for the luminous efficiency of hypervelocity impacts and derived terrestrial impact rates". Icarus, 2006, 184, 319-326
- Trigo, J.M., Borovicka, J., Spurny, P., Ortiz, J.L., Docobo, J.A., Castro, A., Llorca, J. "The Villalbeto de la Peña meteorite fall: II. Determination of atmospheric trajectory and orbit". Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 2006, 41, 505-517
- Ortega X. "Despedida del reactor nuclear de Barcelona". La Vanguardia (05/10/05)
- Ortega X. "El Plan de la Energía. Política e investigación". La Vanguardia (03/08/05)
- Ortega X. "La seguridad de Vandellós II". La Vanguardia (06/05/05)
- Ortega X. "Plan catalán. Dudas y esperanzas". La Vanguardia (17/06/05)
- Ortega X. "¿Es imprescindible la energía nuclear?". La Vanguardia (06/11/05)
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| All INTE publications are available here |
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