We’re thrilled to announce that the second newsletter from the DESOLINATION project is now available! Over the past six months, our collaborative team has made significant strides towards our goal of decarbonizing the desalination process in arid regions.
The global community acknowledges water demand and accessibility as major challenges impacting human well-being. Forward Osmosis (FO) desalination coupled with concentrate solar power might represent a promising solution to combine water production with renewable sources. This work assesses the performance of a liquid-liquid separator (coalescer), an important component of the FO process, when using a polymeric thermo-responsive draw agent (PAGB2000). Experimental characterization of the coalescer is carried out for different regeneration temperatures (from 50 to 80 °C), residence time, draw concentration (from 0.30 to 0.60) and metal meshes. The separation efficiency of the coalescer can be as high as 95% for high residence time and regeneration temperatures (> 70 °C). Eventually, an analytical expression of the coalescer efficiency as function of the main operating parameters is proposed both to support desalination plant design and to enable understanding its applicability beyond its original context.
Authors:
Igor Matteo Carraretto, Davide Scapinello, Riccardo Bellini, Riccardo Simonetti, Luca Molinaroli, Luigi Pietro Maria Colombo, Giampaolo Manzolini – Dipartimento di Energia, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini 4, Milano 20156, Italy
Together, our project partners, TEMISTH, POLIMI et LUT ont eu le plaisir d'assister à la prestigieuse conférence de l'Union européenne. Turbo Expo (Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition) in London, England, United Kingdom, from June 24-28, 2024.
TEMISTH and POLIMI ont présenté leurs derniers travaux sur Caractérisation préliminaire de l'usine de démonstration du projet de désolation : conception et opérabilité hors conception.
Marco Astolfi, from Politecnico di Milano (our project coordinator) was invited to present the project and participate in discussions to share ideas and gather suggestions from the supercritical CO2 community.
Le LUT a joué un rôle actif dans plusieurs tables rondes, axées sur les enseignements tirés des projets expérimentaux sCO2 passés et en cours.
La conférence a offert de précieuses possibilités de mise en réseau et d'échange d'idées avec des collègues du monde entier.
Les participants ont également eu l'occasion d'assister à une série de présentations scientifiques de grande qualité. L'événement s'est avéré être une source d'inspiration, fournissant à l'équipe du LUT de nouvelles idées pour les projets actuels et futurs.
L'événement de cette année s'est concentré sur les étapes critiques nécessaires pour atteindre un avenir net-zéro en matière de propulsion et d'énergie. Les participants ont exploré les technologies de rupture qui vont au-delà des solutions traditionnelles de turbines à gaz, y compris les avancées dans le domaine de l'hydrogène. Le programme a également mis en lumière l'écosystème plus large qui soutient les produits durables, tels que l'énergie verte pour les carburants synthétiques à faible teneur en carbone, ainsi que des domaines clés tels que la certification, les réglementations et les économies d'échelle. Les participants ont contribué à l'élaboration d'une feuille de route collective vers un avenir plus innovant et plus durable.
Carbon dioxide binarFIGy mixtures are increasingly considered as working fluids in transcritical power cycles, due to the capability to perform liquid-phase compression even at high environmental temperatures. However, a robust thermodynamic model is essential for optimal and reliable design conditions. It is widely recognized that fine-tuning the equation of state with experimental vapor-liquid equilibrium data of the mixture significantly enhances its reliability.
In this work, a new apparatus dedicated to vapour-liquid equilibrium measurements of mixtures is presented. The proposed method consists of a constant-volume system, where bubble points are identified from the divergence of slope of the isochoric lines between the two-phase and liquid regions, in the temperature-pressure plane. The temperature and pressure limits of the apparatus are 503 K and 25 MPa. Bubble points of CO2 binary mixtures with hexafluorobenzene (C6F6) and n-pentane (C5H12) have been measured and compared with previous literature data for validation purposes. Then, the CO2 mixture with octafluorocyclobutane (c-C4F8) is experimentally studied, addressing a literature gap in bubble point data.
The data are used to calibrate the thermodynamic model, leading to affordable design conditions of the power cycle compared to the non-optimized thermodynamics scenario, in a concentrated solar power tower plant.
Authors:
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries encompass the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Kuwait, State of Qatar, Sultanate of Oman, and United Arab Emirates.
the webinar was designed to offer a comprehensive overview of the Horizon Europe Programme, focusing particularly on the avenues open to GCC nations. It emphasized the collaboration framework under Pillar II “Excellence Science,” highlighting ongoing joint projects and sharing best practices for engagement in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. Furthermore, the event addressed opportunities within Mission Innovation, a global initiative, and underscored potential pathways within the European Innovation Council.
The primary goal of the webinar was to promote enhanced collaboration among GCC countries within the Horizon Europe framework, especially in sectors of mutual interest. By facilitating knowledge sharing and fostering strategic partnerships, the webinar aimed to bolster research and innovation capacities across the region. This initiative ultimately seeks to empower GCC nations to collectively tackle shared challenges and capitalize on opportunities in science, technology, and innovation.
Find answers to common questions about Horizon Europe funding, co-investment opportunities, and the program’s impact on clean energy and academic cooperation.
To access Horizon Europe funds, you need to submit a proposal through the official Horizon Europe portal. Ensure your project aligns with the program’s objectives and meets the eligibility criteria.
The European Innovation Council offers co-investment opportunities for high-risk, high-reward projects. These include grants, equity investments, and blended finance options to support innovative ventures.
Horizon Europe funds projects that aim to develop and implement clean energy solutions. This includes research and innovation in renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable energy systems.
Yes, academic institutions are encouraged to participate in Horizon Europe. The program supports collaborative research projects, fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and other stakeholders.
Horizon Europe enhances regional academic cooperation by funding joint research projects, facilitating knowledge exchange, and building networks between institutions across Europe and beyond.
To stay updated on Horizon Europe opportunities, subscribe to the official newsletter, follow relevant social media channels, and regularly check the Horizon Europe portal for the latest calls and announcements.
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