Lines of Research

Energy Conversion of fuels and wastes
 
The scientific goal of this research area is the development and implementation of systems for thermochemical conversion of coal, biomass and waste to foster their clean and sustainable use and to meet the current and future technological and environmental requirements. Advanced combustion and gasification systems are investigated as well as technologies for the treatment of the effluent streams, with special emphasis on the gaseous one. Conversion systems developed are applied to coal, biomass and waste (agricultural, forestry, urban and industrial residues). Technologies for CO2 capture and utilization and hydrogen production In connection with thermochemical processes are also investigated.    
Within this research field CIEMAT is working in the following topics: 
 
1. Combustion and gasification 
2. Cleaning and treatment of effluents from thermochemical conversion processes
 

1. Combustion and gasification

CIEMAT focuses on the development and implementation of advanced combustion and gasification systems, mostly based on fluidized bed technology, in order to promote the energy use of coal, biomass and waste in a clean, efficient and sustainable manner.
Within this topic, CIEMAT is working in the following sub-topics: 
 
1.1. Combustion
This research sub-line deals with the study and development of processes for combustion, co-combustion and oxy-combustion of coal, biomass and waste-domestic, urban, agricultural and industrial residues- in order to assess their techno-environmental performance for providing heart and power.  Gaseous pollutants (SO2, NOx, N2O, etc.), trace elements (Hg, Se, As, Cd, etc.) and ash are determined. Activities range from kinetic studies at laboratory scale to bench scale studies using the existing fluidized bed combustion facilities.
 
1.2 Gasification
The scientific target of this subline is the technical and environmental assessment of using biomass and waste in gasification processes in order to produce syngas suitable for gas boilers, for internal combustion engines, or for production of added value chemicals or energy carriers (hydrogen, SNG, hydrocarbons, biofuels, etc.). The study of release of gaseous pollutants (H2S, HCl, NH3), tar, ash, and their diagnostics, sampling, measurement and analysis are also carried out. 
Gasification studies are conducted from laboratory scale to semi-demo scale, in the latter case in conjunction with the Thermal Conversion Unit located at CEDER-CIEMAT.

2. Cleaning and treatment of effluents from thermochemical conversion processes

This research line addresses the development and assessment of advanced technologies - physical, chemical and catalytic- for the treatment of effluent streams from thermochemical conversion of coal, biomass and wastes. Thus, gases need to be subjected to clean-up stages due to environmental requirements or equipment tolerance and to conditioning, upgrading and composition adjustment when using syngas as raw material for production of chemicals and biofuels. CIEMAT focuses on the development of advanced systems to meet those needs.
Activities in this research line encompass experimental studies at laboratory and pilot scale.
Within this research line, CIEMAT is working on the following sub-lines: 

2.1 Clean-up and processing
This scientific sub-line is dealing with the study and development of materials, systems and processes for removal of pollutants and harmful  compounds generated in thermochemical processes (SOx, NOx,  tar, H2S, NH3, HCl, etc.) as well as for upgrading and composition adjustment to meet the requirements imposed by subsequent process units (e.g. fuel cells, biofuels production, chemical synthesis, etc.).
Examples of activities included in this sub-line are:

  • Pollutants removal and abatement (e.g. H2S, Tar, SOx, NOx, etc.),
  • Gasification gas conditioning and upgrading (e.g. cracking, reforming, water-gas-shift, etc.), 
  • Upgrading of products quality from thermochemical conversion of coal, biomass and waste, e.g. fractions from liquefaction and pyrolysis

Activities in this research sub-line encompass experimental studies at laboratory and pilot scale.

2.2 Hydrogen production
It is geared towards the selective separation of hydrogen from H2-containing streams, such as gasification, reforming, pyrolysis, for its use as fuel (fuel cells, turbines) or as feedstock for chemical processes. 
The research and development activities focus on warm-high temperature systems based on membranes (palladium and binary, ternary alloys) and integrated hybrid reactor systems comprising membrane + catalyst, sorbent + catalyst, bifunctional materials, sorbent + membrane, sorbent + catalyst + membrane in processes related to the thermochemical field such as reforming, water-gas-shift, sorption-enhanced, etc. The integrated system concept coupled with selective separation of hydrogen is also applicable to other fields of chemical engineering.
Activities in this research sub-line encompass experimental studies at laboratory and pilot scale.

2.3 Capture and Valorisation of CO2
It is addressed to the search and developments of technologies for utilization of CO2 to allow the sustainable use of coal for power generation as well as to minimize the release of CO2 form thermochemical conversion of biomass and waste and from other industrial sources.
CO2 capture activities include the study and development of sorption materials, systems and processes, both in pre-and post-combustion, as well as by means of systems based on electrochemical promotion of catalysis. 
As for the use of CO2 as raw material the aim is its conversion into fuels (e.g. methane) and/or chemical products (e.g. alcohols, hydrocarbons). Activities include both the study and development of materials, systems and processes based on conventional sorption and heterogeneous catalysis and catalytic technologies assisted by electrochemical promotion and membrane reactor integrated systems.
Activities in this research sub-line encompass experimental studies at laboratory and pilot scale.