Simulation of thermal systems

Lieve Helsen

Maarten Sourbron

 Clara Verhelst

Jan Hoogmartens

Anouk Bosmans

Roel De Coninck

Stefan Antonov

Dieter Patteeuw

Joachim Verhelst

Simon Binnemans

Brecht Baeten

Shivanand Wasan

RESEARCH TOPICS

Welcome to the Simulation of Thermal Systems research group of the department of mechanical engineering.  Here you can find detailed information on current research topics within the fields:

• Wast-to-Energy
• Thermal systems in buildings

 At the end of this page you can find a lab facilities description and job vacancies

GALLERY

      Research pictures

CONTACT

WASTE-TO-ENERGY

 Energetic valorization of waste poses challenges with respect to increasing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Within the context of sustainable materials management Waste-to-Energy (WtE) processes often combine recovery of both materials and energy. The topics treated in the WtE field focus mainly on the thermochemical reactor part and are listed here:

   1.    Low temperature pyrolysis of chromate copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood waste, where the main concern is controlling the release of volatile arsenic release, thereby concentrating (but not encapsulating) the metals in the charcoal product, from which they can be separated in a dry mechanical way. Energetic valorisation can be realised through the combustion of pyrolysis vapours and carbon, while materials can be recovered from the solid products (carbon and metals). This topic is studied through lab-scale experiments with real CCA wood samples and model compounds, and through dynamic reactor modelling.

   2.    Plasma gasification of refuse derived fuel (originating from landfill mining waste), where the main concern is the efficient production of a clean synthesis gas to be burnt in a combined heat and power plant on the one hand, and the concentration of minerals and metals in a valuable vitrified product on the other hand. The two-stage gasification-plasma converter system is modelled to predict the influence of input and process parameters on the global system performance and product quality. Furthermore, particular processes and influences are modelled in more detail to gain insights in the physical and thermochemical processes and their interactions. Besides modelling, pilot plant tests are carried out.
 

Current research topics

• Plasma gasification of waste

• Low temperature pyrolysis of CCA treated wood waste
  Contact: Frederic Cuypers - Lieve Helsen

Projects

The research group is involved in the following projects:

• IWT-O&O-ELFM project: Closing the Circle & Enhanced Landfill Mining as part of the Transition to Sustainable Materials Management. Our task is to study the feasibility of plasma gasification for the energetic valorization of pre-treated landfill mining waste, through both modelling and pilot plant tests.
  Co-Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/02/2011 - 31/01/2014
• EFRO-ELFM-Closing-the-Circle: Closing the Circle, a demonstration of Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM)
  Co-Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/04/2010 - 30/09/2011

Finished projects

• KUL-OT project: Low temperature pyrolysis of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) impregnated wood waste. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the thermochemical conversion of CCA wood are studied through experiments and numerical modelling. This project focuses on processes at elevated pressure.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/10/2006 - 30/09/2010
• Bilateral project with Thermya: Carbonisation of CCA impregnated wood waste
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 16/01/2007 - 15/01/2010
• VMM study: Biological waste.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 03/08/2007 - 01/04/2011
• Bilateral project with Arch Timber Protection: Feasibility study of pyrolysis as a possible disposal method for impregnated wood waste.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/09/2002 - 31/08/2004

Publications

A list of recent publications is accessible via this link. If you would like to obtain a copy of a publication, please send an email to one of the authors.

PhD dissertations

THERMAL SYSTEMS IN BUILDINGS

Energy savings by optimal design and optimal operation of thermal systems in buildings still represent a big challenge. In the field of thermal systems in buildings research focus is on the system level, with special emphasis on the interaction between components in the global system, optimal configurations, design and sizing, inclusion of renewable energy sources, the dynamic behaviour of systems in order to develop optimal control strategies. Both theoretical work (by developing dynamic models and control strategies) and experimental work (from component level to global system level) is performed to gain more insights in the dynamic behaviour of thermal systems and the role of heat and cold storage. Based on the knowledge of the dynamic behaviour, different control strategies are evaluated. The interaction with the building is accounted for through close collaboration with the Building Physics Division of the Department of Civil Engineering, while the integration in the smart grid context is handled in collaboration with the Department of Electrical Engineering.
 

Current research topics

• Model based predictive control of ground coupled heat pumps in office buildings
  Contact: Clara Verhelst - Stefan Antonov - Lieve Helsen
• Dynamic behaviour of buildings with thermally activated building systems (TABS)
  Contact: Maarten Sourbron - Lieve Helsen - Martine Baelmans
• Desing and control of thermally activated building systems coupled to geothermal heat pumps
  Contact: Jan Hoogmartens - Maarten Sourbron - Clara Verhelst - Stefan Antonov - Lieve Helsen
• Optimized energy networks for buildings
  Contact: Roel De Coninck - Lieve Helsen
• Thermal energy storage 
  Contact: Roel De Coninck - Clara Verhelst - Maarten Sourbron - Stefan Antonov - Jan Hoogmartens - Lieve Helsen

Projects

The research group is involved in the following projects:

• K.U.Leuven-GOA project: Fundamental study of a greenhouse gas emission-free energy system.
  Co-Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/10/2011 - 30/09/2016 
• IWT-VIS Traject-SMART GEOTHERM: Integration of thermal energy storage and thermal inertia in geothermal concepts for smart heating and cooling of (medium) large buildings.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/09/2011 - 31/08/2015 (-2017)                                                  

• FP7-EraSME-GEOTABS project: Towards optimal design and control of geothermal heat pumps combined with thermally activated building systems in offices.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/02/2011 - 31/01/2013 
• FWO project: Black-box model based predictive control of ground coupled heat-pump systems.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/06/2010 - 31/05/2014 
• K.U.Leuven Energie-instituut project: Optimal energy networks for buildings.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/01/2010 – 31/12/2014 
• IWT-TETRA project: Active buildings.
  Promoter: De Nayer Instituut
  Scientific promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/10/2008 - 30/09/2012
• IWT PhD scholarship: Model based predictive control of ground coupled heat pumps in office buildings.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2011
• FLOF PhD scholarship: Dynamic behaviour of buildings with thermally activated building systems (TABS).
  Promoters: L. Helsen, M. Baelmans
  Period: 16/08/2007 - 15/11/2011

Finished projects

• IWT-CO-WP-DIRECT project: Heat pumps in sustainable, innovative and realistic energy concepts.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/10/2008 - 31/01/2011
• IWT-TETRA project: CO₂ refrigerants.
  Promoter: K.H. Limburg
  Scientific promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/10/2008 - 30/09/2010
• ECBCS-IEA-Annex 48: Heat pumping and reversible air-conditioning.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/09/2006 - 31/12/2009
• IWT-TIS-IDEG: Integration of sustainable energy in buildings
  Promoters: L. Helsen, M. Baelmans
  Period: 01/10/2004 - 30/09/2008
• KUL-OOF project: Virtual lab Rational use of energy
  Promoters: M.Baelmans, L. Helsen
  Period: 01/09/2005 - 30/06/2008
• KUL-VISK7 project: Small scale integrated dry recooling solar absorption cooling units.
  Promoter: L. Helsen
  Period: 01/01/2007 - 31/12/2007
• IWT-TETRA-THERMAC project: Thermally active buildings - Design and realisation of energy efficient installations for 'heat pump driven' heating and 'natural' cooling of the 'activated' building mass.
  Promoter: L. Helsen, M. Baelmans
  Period: 01/10/2005 - 30/09/2007

Publications

A list of recent publications is accessible via this link. If you would like to obtain a copy of a publication, please send an email to one of the authors.

PhD dissertations

Frederic Cuypers: Low Temperature Pyrolysis of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Wood: Influence of Process Conditions on Heavy Metal Volatilization (02.12.2011)

Joan Govaerts

Bass musician Customs (http://www.customstheband.com/)

Currently working at SCK (Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie, Mol, BE)

jgovaert@sckcen.be

Frederic Cuypers

Currently working at Indaver (waste management & treatment, BE)

frederic.cuypers@gmail.com