CIDAUT takes part at the European Aluminium Workshop

Last June 20th European Aluminium held a workshop for its members in which CIDAUT was invited to take part. Around 60 industry and research experts attended European Aluminium’s Innovation Hub workshop, jointly organised with Professor Herman Terryn from SURF group at the VUB university in Brussels. The agenda covered general presentations from SPIRE (sustainable process industry) and “Factories of the Future” public-private partnerships focusing on the current and upcoming European funding Programmes. Later parallel sessions on Circular Economy and Digitalization took place. The workshop aimed at encouraging collaboration with aluminium industry and to initiate project ideas, potentially under the Horizon 2020 framework programme.

CIDAUT presented in the Circular Economy sessions its currently patent pending technology on molten aluminium purification. CIDAUT developed a technology able to remove impurities from molten aluminium, and validated it with iron removal. Starting with samples contaminated with different levels of iron, ranging from 0.8% to 3.5%, reductions up to 0.5% were achieved at the lab for all the different samples and contamination values. This technology was upscaled to a pre industrial device in which a 40% of Fe removal has been measured.

This technology is framed in one of the pillars driving CIDAUT’s innovation, the Circular Economy. In this field, not only aluminium is recycled, as presented in this event. CIDAUT also coordinates the Remaghic project in which magnesium and rare earths are recovered from different streams to create new alloys. The efforts also reach the plastics field, in which many different projects have covered the treatment of unused plastic fractions to find new market applications and promote the development of new sustainable materials.

Visit European Aluminium to know more about the Innovation Hub, here.

CIDAUT presents VULKANO in ECOS2018

ECOS 2018 is the 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems which has been taken place in Guimarães between the 18th and the 21st of June.

Main topics discussed during the conference have been exergy as a process optimization, ORC, thermal recovery, fuel cells, energy storage, renewable energy, combustion, etc.

Under VULKANO Project CIDAUT’s paper entitled “Application of the CFD simulation to the evaluation of natural gas replacement by syngas in burners of the ceramic sector” has been presented.This paper gathers a wide evaluation of the alternatives in the reduction of fossil fuel consumption, such as natural gas, promoting its substitution by an alternative fuel (Co-firing). A revision of the types of syngas with potential for use has been carried out, as well as the evaluation of the physical properties of the mixtures from the combustion operation point of view. The feasibility study has taken into consideration parameters such as the low heat value, the Woobe index, adiabatic flame temperature, air preheating temperature, total flue flow and laminar flame velocity. The modifications for SG co-firing have been evaluated using CFD simulations to establish the proper design of the mix zone to ensure the mixture between the air, syngas and natural gas. Moreover, despite the initial objective was to replace 40% of natural gas energy by syngas in an industrial ceramic furnace, new dedicated burners for 100% of syngas substitution have been designed and simulated.

The Institute of Power Engineering (IEn), as partner of CIDAUT in VULKANO, also presented a paper entitled “CFD analysis of natural gas substitution by syngas in industrial furnaces” which evaluated the integration of new burners in the whole furnace system and simulating the real heating process in steel sector.

Furthermore, the VALORCOMP project partners have also been involved attending to different technical presentations in topics related with biomass, energy use and combustion, gasification, reaction engineering and CO2 mitigation.

More info about the conference in: http://www.ecos2018.org/

More info about VULKANO project: http://www.vulkano-h2020.eu/

Keywords: VULKANO, ECOS2018, CFD, Burner, VALORCOMP

ALMAGIC project continues with their Second Review Meeting

The ALMAGIC Project led by CIDAUT and granted by the Clean Sky 2 programme (Contract No. 755515), held its second review meeting on 15-16th May 2018 at HENKEL´s premises in Düsseldorf (Germany).

The progress of the project in the study of the substitution of hexavalent chromium in the aerospace materials by developing alternative conversion coatings for aluminium and magnesium was shown. Each partner exposed the results obtained and the next actions.

Finally, a review of the transversal activities such as management and dissemination activities was conducted. And the meeting was completed with a workshop about on paintings presented by Peter Visser of AkzoNobel.

For more information on ALMAGIC, please visit http://www.cidaut.es/almagic-project/

Valorcomp consortium meets in Braganza for results review

This time, the headquarters of the follow-up meeting of Valorcomp project was the Polytechnic Institute of Braganza, institution that hosted the meeting on June 12. Representatives of all the partners attended the meeting with the presence of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB, Principal Beneficiary), CIDAUT Foundation, University of Valladolid (UVa), Resíduos do Nordeste and Nertatec.

The main objective was the technical review of the progress in those ongoing activities, as well as communication and project coordination activities.

The review started with CIDAUT´s presentation of the densified compost results. The different tests carried out and satisfactory final results were shown. The use of a mould specially designed for the densification process of refining and rejection of stabilized biowaste samples was highlighted. IPB continued with the progress in the synthesis of adsorbent materials and the need to modify the experimental installation to achieve a better performance. Subsequently, IPB presented the advances in obtaining catalyst materials and the clear problem of excessive loss of material. IPB was also in charge of exposing the results in obtaining ecological bricks, the problems associated with the odor of compost in the bricks and the results of fire resistance tests. Finally, the UVa showed the results of extraction of nutrients for the agronomic use of the compost by means of extraction techniques using water, KOH and HNO3 and evaluating the organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus recovered. Within this task, IPB concluded with the presentation of the work done in the use of leached water and the need to reduce heterogeneity, alkalinity and certain metals such as Cr and Cd.

Once the technical review of the tasks was completed, a review of the most relevant issues of project coordination and the launch of the COOPERA 2020 coordination platform was made. The last part of the meeting was about dissemination activities of the results. It is important to note the presence of VALORCOMP in the 4th International Congress on Water, Waste and Energy Management (EWWM) to be held in Madrid from 18-20 July 2018 and the 15th European Workshop on Lignocellulosics and Pulp (EWLP 2018) which will take place in Aveiro from June 26 to 29, 2018.

To conclude, all the partners were summoned to an upcoming meeting in September at the facilities of Resíduos do Nordeste, and on behalf of IPB, a visit was made to their laboratories and facilities, which allowed the Spanish partners to learn more about their capabilities.

This project is co-financed by the programme of cooperation INTERREG V-A Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 and will run until September 2019. Project VALORCOMP aims to contribute cooperatively to solve cross-border problems in the valorisation of waste generated in the treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste.

Tags: VALORCOMP, compost, residues, POCTEP

CIDAUT has become associated partner of CARTRE

CARTRE is a Coordination and Support Action to accelerate development and deployment of automated road transport by increasing market and policy certainties. To achieve this, CARTRE supports the development of clearer and more consistent policies for EU Member States in collaboration with industry players, ensuring that automated road transport systems and services are compatible at EU level and are deployed in a coherent way.

cartre_1The Project objectives are:

  • Establish European leadership through public-private collaboration for development and deployment of ART
  • Support international cooperation activities in the area of road automation at global level, in particular with the US and Japan
  • Support Strategic alignment of national action plans for automated driving
  • Ensure that stakeholders are well informed of past, current and future ART activities through a comprehensive knowledge base on project results
  • Actively support ART pilots and test beds
  • Report on progress of ART projects on enablers and thematic areas
  • Facilitate exchange of data, experience and knowledge for comparing and deploying results from pilots
  • Foster a common evaluation framework across ART projects
  • Describe possible deployment alternatives and evaluate their impacts
  • Reach out to stakeholders, decision makers and wider public
  • Establish annual international conferences, and workshops in Europe

Other objectives include: the creation of a solid knowledgebase of all European activities, to support current activities and structure research outcomes by enablers and thematic areas; to setup a platform for sharing and re-using data and experiences from different automated road transport systems; to actively support Field Operational Tests (FOTs) and pilots carried out at National and European levels; and to work on future visions, potential impacts and research gaps in the deployment of automated road transport.

CARTRE is coordinated by ERTICO and integrates the efforts of 36 partners from 9 different countries.

CIDAUT at TRA

Together with its partners Cidaut has presented the results of URBAN-EV

From 16th to 19 April, Wien has become the focus of mobility solutions thanks to the celebration of TRA 2018. TRA 2018 is an arena for researchers, companies and public authorities active in the field of transport. It welcomes policy makers and stakeholders framing research and transport policy. Together they have shared and discussed new ideas, research results, technological solutions and new business models. Together they have experienced and shaped the future of transport and mobility for people and goods.

tra_1

Key focus areas have been:

  • How digitalisation is transforming transport & mobility systems
  • Decarbonisation & future growth – how to change our mobility system & remain competitive
  • Shaping the new mobility landscape – a vision for transport & mobility for Europe

In this scenario, Cidaut presented one of the three prototypes of the URBAN-EV project. The target of the project is to apply innovative manufacturing technologies and materials to produce prototypes of a two seats urban electric vehicle with enhanced range and similar occupant safety level than a standard passenger car.

In the actual moment three prototypes of the vehicle are being built, one of them for functional testing and the others for lateral and frontal crash tests. The unit shown in Wien was the frontal crash test one and it created high expectation mainly due to the complex design and join technologies used to bring together different advanced material such as magnesium, structural thermoplastic, aluminum and high strength steel.

BRACKETWELD Project: successfully ultrasound welding through thermoplastic films

backetweld_1

Bracketweld project has been running for already two years time (see link). During this period CIDAUT has developed a methodology to adjust the welding parameters, and a methodology to evaluate the performance of the welded brackets. In this process, different surface media have been evaluated selecting the most appropriate one based on different criteria.

backetweld_2

The joint between the bracket and the thermosetting composite laminate (having a suitable surface media) will have two joint interfaces: one thermoplastic/thermoplastic interface, developed during the ultrasonic welding process, and one thermoplastic/thermosetting interface, developed during the co-curing of the thermosetting composite laminate with the thermoplastic surface media. Generally, the joint strength of the global bracket-to-component assembly will be limited by the weakest of the two interfaces:

Weld strength at the thermoplastic-thermoplastic interface developed through the ultrasonic welding which depends on the compatibility of the base materials of the thermoplastic bracket and thermoplastic surface media.

Bond strength at the thermoplastic-thermosetting interface developed through the co-curing process depends on the compatibility between the thermoplastic surface media and the thermosetting prepreg.

During the first part of the project, two different test were defined and set up to evaluate these strengths. Additionally, the evaluation of materials compatibility includes complementary laboratory tests like calorimetry (DSC), rheology (MFI) and microscopy that provide valuable information in order to better understand the results from the mechanical compatibility tests

In terms of surface media, different commercial references have been studied; research activities have included the selection/development of a suitable material formulation and the optimization of surface media parameters like thickness and morphology (porosity).

Regarding thickness, the thickness of thermoplastic films was optimized. Regarding morphology, the advantages of using additive manufactured plates were evaluated.

CIDAUT also developed its own surface media to evaluate material blends different from those available commercially.

backetweld_3

CIDAUT and Valladolid City Council attend the second local workshop of the FCH regions and cities initiative in Santander

The Regions & Cities initiative (http://www.fch.europa.eu/page/about-initiative) is conducting a second round of workshops across Europe. The workshops are aimed to promote knowledge exchange on best practices in FCH project development and to discuss the way followed by European cities and regions to implement FCH projects.

fch_1 Welcome and introduction to the workshop by Roland Berger team and Jorge Muyo from Government of Cantabria

After the successful first round of workshops with many interesting discussions and learnings, a second round has been conducted in various European cities in April 2018. This time, in Spain, it was held in Santander on April 24 at the Science and Technology Park of Cantabria. CIDAUT and Valladolid City Council attended the workshop as stakeholders of the initiative.

The meeting started with the welcome from Jorge Muyo, Director of Innovation, Technological Development and Industrial Entrepreneurship of the Goverment of Cantabria. It continued with the presentation of the main objectives by Roland Berger team, highlighting the exchange of experiences and lessons learnt on key topics in FCH projects under development. As experts in this type of projects, a review of best practices in implementing FCH projects was carried out. It was remark the importance of creating conducive framework conditions with soft measures and policies, scoping local FCH project concepts (key elements and success factors) and engaging local stakeholders with a proper management.

The workshop was attended by Carlos Navas as representative of the FCHJU who conducted a presentation on Hydrogen in Spain. He stressed that in order to achieve the CO2 emission reductions established in the 2040-2050 scenarios, decarbonisation measures necessarily pass through hydrogen technologies, especially in the transport and industry sectors. Taking into account the hydrogen economy: hydrogen allows more renewables in the energy system and enables sector-coupling. He highlighted the 7 roles for hydrogen in the energy transition.

fch_2Carlos Navas FCH JU presentation

fch_3

Then, the University of Cantabria made an exhibition of the most relevant European projects on hydrogen technologies that are ongoing, among which stand out HYLANTIC Project and PEMFC-Sudoe Network Project. The project bound4blue, in collaboration with the Government of Cantabria, was also presented.

The meeting continued with the review by Roland Berger team of the different approaches for funding of FCH projects. Several potential funding sources for FCH projects were checked such as R&I funding (Horizon 2020 through the FCH JU),  Structural funds (European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and  Cohesion Fund (CF)), Thematic Platforms (CEF), Technical support instruments (ELENA), National/Regional funds and Soft Loans (European Investment Bank (EIB)).

To close the meeting, a discussion on the future needs of the Regions and Cities was established in order to overview the way ahead of the FCH Regions Initiative. Establishing contacts between regions with common interests, organizing meetings and visits to visualize and evaluate success implementation cases, as well as improving the knowledge of technologies by the public administration and general public were the most relevant issues that were put on the table.

Finally, to close the event, the participation of the attendants was appreciated and we were all invited to the last General Assembly of the Initiative that will be held in Brussels on May 18.

fch_3 Mª José Ruiz (Director of the Municipal Energy Agency of Valladolid) and Henar Olmedo (Cidaut Project Manager)

CIDAUT firmly committed to Circular Economy.

On March 27, 2018 took place the fourth meeting on Circular Economy promoted by the Regional Government of Castilla y León through the Ministry of Development and Environment and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

This time the title of the meeting was “Circular Economy and Bioeconomy: Zero waste – Waste to resource” and it focuses on the use of waste as subproducts instead of dispose them in landfills as a way to accomplish with the principles of the Circular Economy.

ec_1 José Magro González, from AENOR, during his speech about certification options.

During the day, legal possibilities in order to obtain an end-of-waste consideration were highlighted. The European Commission has already set down end-of-waste criteria for glass, metal and copper scrap and criteria for various other materials that are under development. This latter aspect, end-of-waste concept, is regarded as a first step toward these materials to be considered as raw materials for other processes more than as a waste that have to be managed.

Certification processes around Circular Economy were also reviewed which are an important tool for enterprises to demonstrate its actual commitment with Circular Economy.

Finally, there was a time for exchanging information about existing positive experiences on waste re-used within Castilla y León, mainly related with the agri-food sector.

CIDAUT brings innovation to the ECO-GATE project

The European Union has approved the allocation of 10 million euro to fund the ECO-GATE project (European COrridors for natural GAs Transport Efficiency) that will involve the construction of more than 20 gas-refueling stations. These are aimed to supply vehicular natural gas in the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors of the road network of Spain, France, Germany and Portugal.

ecogate_1

ECO-GATE is run by a consortium of more than 20 companies from Spain (21), Portugal (3), France/ Germany (1). As natural gas operators: Gas Natural Madrid, Enagas Transporte, Dourogás Natural, Endesa Energia, Agas Siglo XXI, Galp Energia, EDP, Repsol, Gas Natural Europe, Inversora Melofe and Molgas Energía.

The following participants contribute as providers of technologies and services: Cetil Dispensing Technology, Soltel It Solutions, Fundacion Cidaut, Evarm Innovacion, Tras-Os-Montes and Alto Douro University, Imdea Energía Foundation, Audigna, Ghenova Ingeniería or Madisa and as end users: Correos , San José López and EMT Palma.

Also acting as experts in market knowledge and promotion are: Gasnam, Port Authority of Gijón, Port Authority of Huelva, University of Santiago de Compostela and Soulman Insightful Thinking.

ecogate_2

The European ECO-GATE project is one of the most ambitious in the conventional and renewable vehicular natural gas market with the deployment of infrastructures throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean Corridors via new technologies and innovative solutions. The main objective is to study conventional and renewable natural gas vehicle market in the whole Atlantic Corridor, its interconnection with Rhine-Danube Corridor until Heddesheim and the Spanish Mediterranean Corridor through new technologies and innovative solutions. These solutions are focused on supply logistic services, cleaner fuel composition, refueling infrastructure, vehicle and components manufacturers and operational process.

The financing of the European Union responds to the fact that the project contributes enormously to compliance with the European Directive 94/2014 and to the development of the natural gas market for mobility as an alternative fuel.

Fundacion Cidaut, as part of the technology providers, participates by contributing innovations in Adsorbent Natural Gas (ANG) solutions for CNG. This technology allows storing significantly more natural gas at lower pressures.

ecogate_3

“The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the author. The European Union is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.”