UNIVAQ: University of L'Aquila - Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials - Italy

The laboratory of Chemical Reaction Engineering and Fluidization Dynamics (CRE&FD) is active in fluidized bed biomass gasification research since about 15 years. Projects at lab and pilot scale have been carried out at International level, funded by the European Union (JOR3-CT95-0037; JOR3-CT97-0196; ENK5-CT2000-00314) and bilateral Organisations. This group is also member of permanent research networks on "biomass for energy" and "sustainable development" (ARCUS, GDRI, ICTP/TRIL; CIRBE; CIRPS); in the UNIQUE project, tasks assigned to UNIVAQ will be performed in collaboration with associated laboratories at the Universities of Rome "La Sapienza" (Mechanical Engineering Department) and Teramo (Food Science Department). Different subject areas relevant to this project have been cultivated and developed actively, at the level of both theoretical and experimental research investigations and professional activities (industrial contracts). In particular the following list presents the main areas of expertise:

• catalytic biomass steam gasification;



• design of chemical, petrochemical, energy and desalination plants;



• fluid-dynamic behaviour of fluidized bed chemical reactors, under high temperature and pressure conditions;



• CFD simulation of fluidized bed equipment and heterogeneous reaction systems.

Two bench-scale fluidized-bed rigs are available, able to operate in a steady-state up to 900°C, which will be utilised for experimental investigations included in the work programme of this project. The CRE&FD laboratory is also well equipped with various measurement and analytical instruments, including on-line gas analysis using IR, FID and TCD detectors. Standard particle characterisation equipment is also available.


UNIVAQ KEY PERSONNEL