Ongoing projects
HEPOR
Experimental and numerical study of heat transfer and storage processes in porous solid materials
Principal Investigator: mgr inż. Jakub Ochmann
Source: Narodowe Centrum Nauki
Funding: 118 340 PLN
Timeframe: 2024-2026
Number: 2023/49/N/ST8/01575
The project focuses on the experimental and numerical study of heat transfer and accumulation processes within a rock deposit. The main objective of the project is to determine universal characteristics of energy and exergy efficiency on the basis of characteristic parameters of heat tanks. The experimental part will include the study of three geometries of the heat accumulator on the in-house laboratory stand, which is located in the resources of the Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery of the Silesian University of Technology. In addition, the processes of heat exchange and accumulation at different granulation of the rock deposit will be studied. Experimental results will help to perform the process of statistical evaluation of the author’s numerical model, which will include the processes of heat transfer and dissipation not only within the rock deposit, but also in the wall and insulation of the heat storage tank. The comprehensive numerical model will enable multivariate numerical analysis to determine novel broad characteristics of heat storage tanks.
HESS
Hybrid energy storage system using post-mining infrastructure
Principal Investigators: prof. dr hab. inż. Marcin Lutyński, dr hab. inż. Łukasz Bartela, prof. PŚ
Source: Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS)
Funding: 2 226 740.20 EUR
Timeframe: 2023-2026
Partners: Instytut Technologii Paliw i Energii (lider), Instytut Techniki Górniczej KOMAG, Premogovnik Velenje DOO (Słowenia), VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (Czechy)
The aim of the project is to analyse a hybrid energy storage system using post-mining infrastructure. Both underground excavations and mine shafts in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia will be analysed. The project will explore the possibility of parallel energy storage in pumped hydro storage technology (PHS), compressed air (CAES) or compressed carbon dioxide. Energy storage technology in underground thermal energy storage (TES) tanks will be analysed with regard to the energy integration of the individual system components. The assumed total capacity of the hybrid energy storage will be a minimum of 30 MWh. The project will include a number of experimental studies in the field of heat and compressed carbon dioxide storage techniques, as well as the impact of specific operating conditions on the durability of the mine infrastructure. The project will result in comprehensive documentation identifying the potential for energy use of the existing mining infrastructure.
Hy-Chess
Hydrogen and synthetic natural gas production system with functionality for generating and storing electricity
Principal Investigator: prof. dr hab. inż. Anna Skorek-Osikowska
Source: Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju, NTE I
Funding: 34 300 000 PLN
Timeframe: 2022-2029
Partners: PGNiG (lider), Instytut Technologii Paliw i Energii
As part of the project, a prototype will be designed and made to confirm the functionality (TRL6) and scaled up to the demonstration size (TRL8), an innovative hybrid water electrolysis system for the production of hydrogen, using energy from renewable sources (wind or photovoltaics) with hydrogen storage and its further conversion to synthetic natural gas (SNG), produced in the methanation process with the use of carbon dioxide (from industrial capture) and its introduction into the natural gas network. The proposed technological system will be made largely based on national inventions. In addition, the system will be characterized by high product flexibility in the production of green hydrogen and SNG, as well as additional functionality consisting in high- efficiency storage of electricity from renewable sources. This functionality will be provided by the use of a loop of carbon dioxide which will be subjected to the processes of compression, expansion and storage in an innovative, hybrid system of isobaric tanks (in the case of a demonstrator). The project fully complies with the assumptions of hydrogen economy, planned in the European Hydrogen Strategy, and also with the assumptions of the pan-European Green Deal strategy. The main distinguishing features of the proposed technology in relation to the solutions known from the literature are relatively high energy efficiency and significant product flexibility, which lead to an increase in the future market competitiveness of this type of installations.
TrANsMIT
Techno-economic analysis of carbon mitigation technologies – CA21127
Principal Investigator: prof. dr hab. inż. Anna Skorek-Osikowska
Source: COST Action (Under Horizon Europe)
Funding: 600 000 EUR
Timeframe: 2022-2026
TrANsMIT proposes a COST Action on the techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the overall, integrated CO2 Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) value chain. It aims to bring together academia, research institutes and industry into a cutting-edge, pan-European knowledge network. The Action advances the research frontier of CCUS TEA from partially unharmonized and disciplinary research to harmonized, holistic pan-European, coordinated research on the full CCUS system, facilitating development of the most technologically, economically and commercially feasible CCUS technologies and systems. It will be achieved by harmonizing and coordinating the methods and tools used for CCUS TEA in Europe, leveraging the knowledge created by our partners in national or international research projects. The project focuses most on holistic assessment of the CCUS chain, and on those areas where most development is needed (e.g. CO2 capture from air, CO2 utilization). The created science will be an essential means to steer CCUS R&D and deployment in a direction that allows reaching climate targets on-time and in a cost-effective manner, while harnessing the competitiveness of European industry. TrANsMIT will have a strong focus on knowledge sharing and career development, tackling existing disparities in knowledge distribution and career opportunities. It will foster strong collaboration between the more and the less research intensive countries in Europe, improving the access of the latter to State-of-the-Art science and new research projects. It will put into leadership roles early-career researchers and minorities, helping to fast-track their career development. TrANsMIT will lead to top-tier techno-economic analysis of CCUS systems across European countries.
DEsire
Domestic power industry decarbonization plan by means of modernization with use of generation III/III+ and IV nuclear reactors
Principal Investigator: dr hab. inż. Łukasz Bartela, prof. PŚ
Source: Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju, Gospostrateg
Funding: 5 864 228,35 PLN
Timeframe: 2022-2025
Number: GOSPOSTRATEG-VI/0032/2021
Partners: Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska, Energoprojekt-Katowice SA, Instytut Chemii i Techniki Jądrowej, Instytut Sobieskiego
Webpage: www.projektdesire.pl
Main aim of the project is complex preparation of domestic power industry decarbonization plan by means of modernization with use of generation III/III+ and IV nuclear reactors. The progressive change in the Polish power system structure increases the need to develop a coherent structure ensuring system stability and security. The decarbonisation plan is developed through the implementation of seven research tasks. The plan is intended to become a roadmap for future Coal-to-Nuclear investment processes. As part of the project, it is planned to launch the national Power Transformation Cluster, which will constitute organizational support for many activities in the national power plants and combined heat and power plants transformation process. The project is implemented by a consortium established by five entities: the Silesian University of Technology, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Energoprojekt-Katowice SA, the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology and the Sobieski Institute. Funding of the project was obtained under 6th competition of the National Centre of Research and Development „GOSPOSTRATEG”
Production of fuels and energy in the systems with negative CO2 emissions using high-temperature electrolysis and with oxygen management
Principal Investigator: prof. dr hab. inż. Anna Skorek-Osikowska
Source: Narodowe Centrum Nauki, OPUS
Funding: 996 760 PLN
Timefame: 2022 – 2025
The main purpose of the proposed project is numerical and experimental research on the potential of the use of biomass in anaerobic digestion and oxy-gasification processes combined with high-temperature electrolysis and CO2 separation for the production of liquid and gaseous fuels (via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, methanation and/or methanol synthesis). An important objective of the project is to propose and optimize the usage routes of oxygen from electrolysis within the proposed system.
AluBIO
The influence of aluminosilicate additives on high-temperature corrosion and ash properties of animal-origin biomass
Principal Investigator: dr inż. Izabella Maj
Source: Narodowe Centrum Nauki, SONATA
Funding: 619 616 PLN
Timeframe: 2022 – 2024
Number: 2021/43/D/ST8/02609
Animal-origin biomass is gaining interest as a renewable energy source. However, it differs significantly from plant-origin biomass and may cause severe problems during thermal conversion. The AluBIO project aims to determine the influence of aluminosilicate additives on the corrosive potential and ash properties of animal-origin biomass. Problems such as high-temperature corrosion, ash behavior, slagging tendencies, particle size distribution, metals and metalloids concentrations and heavy metals leachability are investigated. Two most prospective biomass types are under examination: poultry litter and cattle dung.
Real gas effects identification in two-phase, transonic flows of wet steam
Principal Investigator: dr hab. inż. Mirosław Majkut, prof. PŚ
Source: Narodowe Centrum Nauki, OPUS
Funding: 617 760 PLN
Timeframe: 2020 – 2024
Number: 2020/37/B/ST8/02369
The overall goal of the project is devoted to the problem of identifying non-stationary effects in transonic two-phase flows. Particularly important experimental verification and validation of the numerical codes used, as well as the improvement and development of the capabilities of measuring systems is the main research topic of many scientific centers, including the Department of Power Machines and Devices (KMIUE). In numerical modeling of both homogeneous and heterogeneous condensation, the numerical results must be subjected to accurate “calibration” by means of experimental studies. For this reason, it is also extremely important to improve and correctly calibrate the available experimental research methods.
The project has two parallel research paths. One of them is experimental research on two types of stator and rotor steam turbine blades, as well as to implement advanced experimental research methods to study flow phenomena in the transonic flow of water steam. The second is to supplement these studies with non-stationary flow analysis using advanced numerical codes.
The enhancement of momentum transfer efficiency in the flow between rotating discs
Principal Investigator: dr hab. inż. Włodzimierz Wróblewski, prof. PŚ
Source: Narodowe Centrum Nauki, OPUS
Funding: 853 800 PLN
Timeframe: 2020 – 2023
Number: 2019/35/B/ST8/01871
The aim of the project is an analysis of the phenomena in the mini-channels between two co-rotating discs and the determination of the conditions of the increase of the momentum transfer between the fluid and the discs by means of the selection of the disc wall parameters. This topic is important in many fields of science and industry. The principle of operation of viscous machines is based on the phenomenon of the momentum diffusion due to viscosity and adhesive force. The control over the phenomena between the rotating discs is possible by means of the modification of the disc surface (e.g. directional roughness or shaping of the micro-channels).
SUSHy
SUStainability development and cost-reduction of hybrid renewable energies powered Hydrogen stations by risk-based multidisciplinary approaches
Principal Investigator: prof. dr hab. inż. Andrzej Rusin
Source: Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju, EIG Concert – Japan
Funding: 150 000 EUR
Partners: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), Nagoya Univeristy (Japan), Nigde Omer Halisdemir University (Turkey), Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (Spain)
Number: 08/050/PNN22/0287
The project focuses on the possibilities to use hydrogen in applications beyond industrial plants. The team from the Silesian University of Technology analyzes the structures of hydrogen refueling stations for a commercial use. The research involves an analysis of safety in such stations including different scenarios of potential hazards and risk assessment of dangerous events.
PTC Solar
Research on the absorption phenomenon in the aspect of optimization of
constructional features of absorbers and their configuration in the system of
solar parabolic through collectors
Principal Investigator: dr hab. inż. Łukasz Bartela, prof. PŚ
Source: Narodowe Centrum Nauki, OPUS
Funding: 938 500 PLN
Timeframe: 2019 – 2023
Number: 2018/29/B/ST8/02406
The project aims to analyse the absorption of solar radiation by a parabolic radiation concentrator and to optimise the design features of linear absorbers to maximise efficiency. For this purpose, a research facility was designed and built to carry out comparative tests on the absorbers, where the radiation is simulated via a set of metal halide lamps together with reflectors of optimised shape. Different types of absorbers with variable geometry are tested. The influence of flow turbulising inserts and coatings with different parameters is analysed. Numerical analyses are also being carried out as part of the project to optimise the shape of the elements intensifying the collection of solar radiation.
UPS-Plus
Process optimisation and valorisation of combustion by-products in transition to circular economy
Principal Investigator: dr hab. inż. Sylwester Kalisz, prof. PŚ
Source: Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, TEAM-TECH Core Facility
Funding: 4 259 535 PLN
Timeframe: 2018 – 2022
Number: POIR.04.04.00-00-31B4/17-00
Webpage: www.ccf.polsl.pl
The main objective of the UPS-Plus project is the realisation of Circular Economy (CE) ideas by optimising the combustion process to obtain combustion by-products subsequently subjected to thermal and chemical functionalisation resulting in obtaining useful materials e.g., geomats, insulation or sorption materials. Optimisation of low-quality solid fuels combustion (e.g., biomass or refuse-derived fuel) is based mostly on upgrading fuel properties with aluminosilicate additives. Additionally, the proof of concept consisting in predicting the properties of regranulates based on polyethylene and polypropylene produced from a non-homogeneous stream of post-consumer raw materials modified with by-products of combustion based on previous lab-scale research on a technical scale is done.
