Catalytic reactors
Two and three-phase reactors are employed in a wide range of industrial applications, such as:
• Hydrogenation of organic compounds (mineral oils, unsaturated fats,..);
• Hydrocracking processes;
• Water and wastewater treatments;
• Fermentation processes
In such processes the catalyst can be fixed, suspended or attached to a membrane. Our research activity includes the kinetic modelling and the experimental validation of a number of different catalytic processes.
Furthermore, as members of the Membrane & Membrane Processes Group (DCCI), whose research activity is dated since 1975, we gained experience in process control and optimization of membrane reactors.
Fuel processing
Our expertise in clean and sustainable energy production is focussed on the modelling and scaling up of fuel processing units for hydrogen production and power generation systems. According to initial fuel composition (such as Natural gas, Biogas, BioEthanol, LPG, naval diesel, etc) and its final utilization, we provide the process requirements for the optimal fuel conversion technology as well as its integration in the power generation system.
REACT is member of the Thermochemical Power Group (TPG) and academic partner of the Rolls Royce Fuel Cells network (UTC). As a result of such collaboration, the Felicitas and Large SOFC EU funded international projects have been successfully accomplished (more info here).
See the Large-SOFC presentation and technical report for some insights.
Process scale-up
Intensive collaboration with Industry covers several aspects of typical chemical engineering problems. According to each case, see for instance the GREG project, the study of the reaction mechanism and the development of a robust predictive model, which takes into account of the process vessel and flow attributes, provides a valuable scale-up tool.
Furthermore, research activity in bioenergy extends from kinetic model validation of biomass conversion by means of lab scale experimental tests, to model verification by data acquired from pilot plant measurements. See the Ecopyrogas project for more details.
