by cidaut | Jan 19, 2018 | Sin categoría
Cidaut has participated in EV2017, CIBIM17, 21CMH and LEVS2017
The last quarter of the year has been very active for Cidaut’s participation in events related to electromobility and automated driving. Going in chronological order, on October 5th and 6th, Cidaut was present at EV2017, Electric Vehicles International Conference & Show in Bucarest Romania. This event, technically co-sponsored by the IEEE, is a hub for electric mobility professionals with the possibility of presenting technical advances and testing the last novelties in sustainable solutions. In this scenario, and under the title “Lightweighting and passive safety for urban electric vehicle”, Cidaut presented a summary of the advanced technical solutions applied to three different solutions of urban electric vehicles structures: one of them based on CFRP, another one on multi-material and the last one on high strength steel solutions.
Between the 23rd and 26th of October, Cidaut participated in CIBIM17, the XIII Congreso Iberoamericano de Ingeniería Mecánica, in Lisbon, Portugal. This event is a meeting with participants from most of the American countries and also from Europe with the aim of sharing the best practices in the Mechanical Engineering field. In this occasion Cidaut made a presentation entitled “Design and manufacturing of an urban, light, affordable and safe electric vehicle”. The most relevant results of the Urban-EV project were presented. Urban-EV is a European Project funded by the EC in the 7th Frame Programme that aims to reduce the weight of an urban electric vehicle using innovative solutions in materials and processes and improving at the same time the crashworthiness of the vehicle.
On the same week, between the 25th and 27th of October, Cidaut presented in San Sebastian, Spain, its vision on the future steps on automated vehicles. In the frame of The Future of Advance Manufacturing Congress, and under the title “Implementation of connected vehicles and autonomous driving in the market. Evolution or revolution”, Cidaut exposed the equilibrium needed between the evolution of the connectivity the ADAS and the infrastructure in order to cover the necessary steps to reached the automated driving in a balanced way.
And finally, by the end of November, 22nd and 23rd, Cidaut participated in LEVS 2017, the Light Electric Vehicle Summit, presenting the paper “Passive safety in different structures of light electric vehicles”. In this occasion Cidaut showed the crass test results under simulation and testing of three different European Projects all of them from the 7th Frame Programme: elight, Plus-Moby and Urban-EV. The main message of this presentation is that it is possible to design and manufacture light urban electric vehicles with high safety standards. In this event Cidaut is also part of the Scientific Committee.
by cidaut | Nov 7, 2017 | Sin categoría
ReFreeDrive is our most recently approved H2020 project. With the title “Rare earth free e-Drives featuring low cost manufacturing”, ReFreeDrive is focused on developing rare earth‐free traction technologies beyond their current state-of‐art, with a strong focus on industrial feasibility for mass production, targeting lower costs with higher specific torque and power density. The project was kicked off last 17th and 18th of October.
ReFreeDrive joins 13 partners, 9 of them industrial partners, from 6 different European Countries. Coordinated by CIDAUT, the Consortium includes an OEM (Jaguar Land Rover), an applied research center focused on materials research (CSM), a Tier1 system integrator (Privé), motor designers for both the electric machines and the power electronics (Motor Design Limited, Univesity of L’Aquila, IFP Energies Nouvelles), manufacturers (Breuckmann, Aurubis, Tecnomatic, Mavel Powertrain, R13 Technology) and an association (European Copper Institute).
The project will study and develop simultaneously two solutions for the power traction system of electrical vehicles. Both solutions are brushless AC electrical machines: induction machine with fabricated and copper die-cast rotor (IM) and synchronous reluctance (SynRel) machine. Through their configurations these machines not only are rare-earth magnet free, but also share common features that can be exploited during the design step, as well in the manufacturing process. These common features lead to a complex synergy between the two technologies, which justify the development of different topologies of electric machines in just one project.
The design of the ReFreeDrive motors will take as a premise the reduction of use of materials, as more than half of the final price is formed by raw materials cost. Also, a minimization of manufacturing costs will be ensured by an early involvement of manufacturers, from the design stage. ReFreeDrive motor topologies have good room for cost reduction by off-setting permanent magnet use.
Beyond the motor design, ReFreeDrive also consider an integrated design of the power train that allows the optimization of the electric connections, the cooling systems and the housing.
Power electronics development will be mainly focused on the introduction of innovative Wide Bandgap power switch to allow high frequency operation and reduce cost associated with passive components. That advance allow achieving a 50% increase in the power density of motor power electronics and a 50% reduction in losses
ReFreeDrive proposes a scalable design that will be tested for two power range applications (75kW and 200kW). In this case, the market that this project addresses covers all the possible option of fully electric vehicles and hybrids.
by cidaut | Nov 7, 2017 | Sin categoría
Digital twins are an enormous advance in engineering simulation. By using simulation software in conjunction with real-time operational data transmitted from a working product, and integrating this with digital information about the product, businesses can analyse how their products operate in real-world conditions, and make reliable predictions about future operation. Product performance and productivity can be optimised, while risks and costs are reduced.
This technology is a great step forward, with applications in all sectors: telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, transport, digital technology, construction, renewables, the automotive industry…
The good news is that this revolutionary technology is no longer the reserve of large manufacturers. Today, digital twins are accessible to all types of business (including SMEs and start-ups) and have a greater number of uses, for a wider range of products, every day.
ANSYS, one of the leading companies in this field with a wealth of experience in simulation, invites you to discover the fundamentals of digital-twin technology, and how it can transform your business.
Discover it here:
https://goo.gl/moYT1m
by cidaut | Nov 7, 2017 | Sin categoría
Last September in San Sebastian, the Remaghic Project partners held the 24 month meeting general assembly. During the last months many decisions have been taken on the best chain of processes to recycle rare earths and on the design of the currently manufactured facility to recycle Mg and produce the Remaghic magnesium alloy. Currently, casting tests with different alloying elements have been done, corrosion and mechanical testing campaigns are ongoing, and the project faces the last project year where the industrial validation and the LCA will highlight the results achieved.
The meeting took place on the 20th and 21st of September. During the first day, the meeting was focused on the last activities done to recycle rare earths from different residue streams (WP1), on the update of the alloy development (WP3), and on the industrial facility that has been designed and manufactured to enable magnesium foundries recycle in house their own scraps and drosses (WP4). Currently, the Remaghic Cosnortium is looking for partners to test this facility, if you are interested, contact us at remaghic@cidaut.es. The last part of the first day was dedicated to the LCA analysis of the different ongoing processes in the project.
The second project day was fully dedicated to the Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation work package. Now that results are on the table, Remaghic partners are making an effort to contribute with their knowledge on recycling processes to Europe’s scientific and manufacturing community. To mention one example, Cidaut presented the results and next steps for the Remaghic project at the International Magnesium Association European Committee Meeting last 25th of October held at Brunel University (BCAST) London. In November Remaghic project parntes will be also taking part at the23rd SETAC Europe LCA Case Studies Symposium with two posters respectively dedicated to rare earth elements recycling and magnesium recycling methodologies. The Symposium, organized by the International Life Cycle Academy will take place in Barcelona, meet us there!
by cidaut | Nov 7, 2017 | Sin categoría
On September 7th, the CIDAUT Foundation held the session “Generation of Renewable Thermal Energy in the residential and tertiary sector” corresponding to the International Course “Feel the energy … Life is on” organized by the BEST Association of the University of Valladolid. The sesions was organised in CIDAUT´S facilities at the Boecillo Technology Park.
The BEST organization (Board of European Students of Technology) is an international, apolitical and non-profit association formed by technological career students from all over Europe. It is present in 96 universities in 33 European countries.
The Autumn BEST Course 2017, held in Valladolid from September 3 to 12 and, was focused on knowledge about the present and future of the different energy production processes in Spain. It was attended by a total of 22 students from thirteen European nationalities such as Croatia, Macedonia, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Poland…
During the first part of the session, Henar Olmedo and Valentín Castaño, belonging to the Energy Area of CIDAUT, presented their knowledge about renewable thermal energy production systems. In particular, it was focused on those systmes that best adapt to residential and tertiary buildings and about the optimal conditions for its integration. In addition, it was showed the different European R & D projects in which CIDAUT participates in this field.
The second part of the session was devoted to know in a practical way different testing facilities available in CIDAUT for the development of renewable energy systems. The students could see in a tangible way the different testing facilities of CIDAUTas well as some of the main systems developed in CIDAUT. It was shown in a more special and detailed way the CIDERPLUS boilers for the generation of thermal energy from biomass and the thermal solar panels production facilities of CIDERSOL. Finally, in this last facility the students could see in a real way the automated production process of assembly of the CIDERSOL panels, as well as the manufacturing and storage facilities.
More information about BEST Association: http://bestvalladolid.org/
Keywords: Energy, BEST, Autum course2017
by cidaut | Nov 7, 2017 | Sin categoría
Expobiomasa 2017, the show organised by AVEBIOM (the Spanish Association for the Energy Recycling of Biomass), was held in Valladolid from 26 to 29 September 2017. The exhibition was set to bring together over 600 companies and firms in the biomass sector from 30 countries. This is an increase of 30 percent over the previous edition. Expobiomasa 2017 brought together in four days all the professionals involved in the thriving business of biomass.
The fair is not just an equipment exhibition and also includes different sessions and workshops where CIDAUT was present in an active way both as assistant and speaker.
11 International Conference Bioenergy: “Bioenergy 4.0: challenges and opportunities”
The 11th International Congress of Bioenergy it was planned to connect digital 4.0 technologies with bioenergy companies, an essential sector for the decarbonisation of the economy. The digitalisation of this sector represents both a challenge and an opportunity and it is considered that those who are quick to incorporate digital economy systems into their processes and offer intelligent products and services will have an advantage over competitors.
CIDAUT attended the congress that was set to present the tools available to implement industry 4.0 in SMEs, the development of fourth-generation district heating & cooling, the use of smart meters. Finally, it was show their integration into energy management and look at the available technological solutions and success stories.
MOVBIO project in the technical presentations
Within the scope of the technical presentations, CIDAUT had the opportunity to present its MOVBIO project granted by the INTERREG V A España-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 program. The 28th September, Jose Ignacio Dominguez, the project manager of MOVBIO, presented the project, as well as the main objectives and tasks to be developed both by CIDAUT and the rest of the partners. The session was followed by numerous attendees, as well as by the AEMVA, another partner of the project.
MOVBIO will allow the valorisation of existing biomass that currently neither has a defined utilization circuit nor energy use due to its special characteristics. In particular, MOVBIO will facilitate the energy valorization of pruning biomass of agricultural and urban origin (pruning biomass of parks and gardens) by means of the evaluation of the technical and economic feasibility of adaptations on the processes of pretreatment and thermal utilization. It is also intends to help strengthen the business model making it more sustainable through the efficient use of residual biomass and the promotion of business innovation.
CIDERPLUS INNOVATIONS
The same day, Jose Ignacio Dominguez also presented the latest innovations and developments carried out within the CIDERPLUS project developed by CIDAUT. Among these innovations it is worth highlighting the energy generation system EnergyBox (containerized biomass boilers). This system also includes energy hybridization proposals to make them more interesting to certain facilities and the development of computer applications for the control of the biomass recovery chain (Ciderplus 4.0).
Keywords: Expobiomasa2017, MOVBIO, CIDERPLUS
by cidaut | Nov 7, 2017 | Sin categoría
The second Consortium Meeting of NEOHIRE project (NEOdymium-Iron-Boron base materials, fabrication techniques and recycling solutions to HIghly REduce the consumption of Rare Earths in Permanent Magnets for Wind Energy Application) took place in San Sebastián (Spain) on 18th-19th October 2017. Representatives of all the different companies and research centers that make up the NEOHIRE consortium attended the two-day meeting.
During the first day, the meeting was focused on the technical activities done during the first six months of the project. Participants of WP1 (“Development of new NdFeB materials solutions for permanent magnets”) and WP2 (“Permanents magnets manufacturing and characterization at lab scale”) showed their first results. The last part of the first day was dedicated to the WP 5 (“Life-Cycle Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis of the developed solution”) concerning the different ongoing processes in the project.
The second project day was fully dedicated to the Management and Dissemination of NEOHIRE. The main aspects of the project were reviewed: deliverables, future meetings, etc.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 720838
For more information on NEOHIRE, please visit http://neohire.eu/
by cidaut | Sep 12, 2017 | Sin categoría
Safe Strip is the natural continuation of Safe Spot, where CIDAUT also played an important role.
SAFE STRIP aims to introduce a disruptive technology that will achieve to embed C-ITS applications in existing road infrastructure, including novel I2V and V2I, as well as VMS/VSL functions into low-cost, integrated strips markers on the road; to make roads self-explanatory (with personalised in-vehicle messages) and forgiving (due to advanced cooperative functions) for all road users (trucks, cars and vulnerable road users, such as PTWs riders) and all vehicle generations (non-equipped, C-ITS equipped, autonomous), with reduced maintenance cost, full recyclability and added value services, as well as supporting real-time predictive road maintenance functions
Last June the kick of meeting of Safe Strip was held in Thessaloniki, Greece. The consortium of Safe Strip is formed by 18 partners from 6 different countries. The initial meeting was very fruitful, it included the organization of the fore coming events for this month, to be hold all of the in CERTH installations at Thessaloniki, Greece:
- 25th of September: Safe Strip Technical Workshop
- 26th of September: 2nd Plenary Meeting of the project
- 27th of September: 1st Pan-European Safe Strip Workshop
Safe Strip consortium has released a User Needs Survey to identify stakeholder needs and formulate primary use cases that will define the context and development of the project.
This survey is designed for a broad public comprising road users, transport service providers, policy makers, researchers, OEMs, road infrastructure operators and constructors, public authorities, tier 1 & 2 suppliers, ITS associations and experts.
You are kindly invite to spread the word and feel free to complete the questionnaire here.
Completing the questionnaire should take no more than 15-20 minutes of your time.
The survey will be open until 30 September 2017.
by cidaut | Sep 12, 2017 | Sin categoría
The MOVBIO Project, led by the CIDAUT and granted by the INTERREG V A España-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020 programme, held its kick-off meeting on 19th July 2017 at CIDAUT´s facilities in Boecillo Technological Park (Valladolid, Spain).
During the meeting, all partners of the project: Municipal Energy Agency of Valladolid (AEMVA), the Institute of Agrarian Technology of Castilla y León (ITACYL), the Center for Waste Valorisation (CVR), the Energy Agency of Ave (AEdoAVE) and CIDAUT have worked on launching the first project tasks. MOVBIO will allow the valorization of existing biomass that currently neither has a defined utilization circuit nor energy use due to its special characteristics. In particular, MOVBIO will facilitate the energy valorization of pruning biomass of agricultural and urban origin (pruning biomass of parks and gardens) by means of the evaluation of the technical and economic feasibility of adaptations on the processes of pretreatment and thermal utilization. It is also intends to help strengthen the business model making it more sustainable through the efficient use of residual biomass and the promotion of business innovation.
The MOVBIO project approach focuses on innovation in three areas: the new way of using a biomass with energy value, the adaptation of systems for their collection and the adjustment of energy recovery technologies. In addition, the project will favor the use of ICTs through the creation of a biomass management tool that will allow connecting the value chain between biomass owners and/or agricultural service companies and users of biomass considered within the project.
Keywords: MOVBIO, Biomass, Energy, Pruning
by cidaut | Sep 12, 2017 | Sin categoría
The second General Assembly of VULKANO project took place at the city of Celje (Slovenia) on 5-6th July 2017.The meeting gathered 30 members from the consortium in order to review the general status of the project after the first twelve months of execution.
Along this time, the project has accomplished its objectives according to the working programme, providing consistent results:
- Definition of the technical specifications and conceptual designs of the furnace for the two demos (steel and ceramic)
- Conceptual designs for the energy solutions with high temperatures PCMs
- Report on compositions of the new refractories blend
- Feasibility of the natural gas substitution by the different syngas sources
- Description of user requirements specifications for MC&S in industrial furnaces
- Functional design specification for MC&S in industrial furnaces
- Preliminary market analysis
With all these developments, the tasks to adapt the demo sites to the new solutions have already started. In fact, the meeting enabled the discussion between the demo sites leaders about the integration and implementation of the respective solutions at each demo.
As Task leader on WP5: Designing and validating of Co-firing systems, CIDAUT presented the results obtained in the feasibility assessment of natural gas substitution by alternative fuels (Co-firing) in furnaces. Several syngas streams were considered from biomass gasification and process off-gases from steal sector. The results of the assessment will be the input for CFD burner simulations of syngas/natural gas co-firing in following tasks.
The meeting ended the second day with a visit to Bosio’s factory and to Valji´s production plant, where the partners had the chance to know on site the existent conditions at the demo. In addition, they could also verify the manufacturing process of an industrial furnace for the steel sector.
More info: http://www.vulkano-h2020.eu/
Keywords: VULKANO, co-firing, syngas, furnaces
