A post graduate researcher from Abo Akademi University in Finland has just completed a two week collaboration with IFRF investigators running experiments on the Isothermal Plug Flow Reactor (IPFR).

Oskar Karlstrom was the first researcher to visit IFRF as a beneficiary of BRISK (Biofuels Research Infrastructure for Sharing Knowledge).  BRISK is a new research infrastructure and is funded by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme (Capacities).  Its main activity is to fund researchers from any EU country to carry out thermochemical biomass conversion research at any of the 26 partners’ facilities.  The project will pay for the costs associated with accessing and supporting the facilities, along with a grant to contribute to travel, accommodation and subsistence.

During his research visit, Oskar had the opportunity to work with the IFRF team on pelletised straw samples received from DTU (Denmark), one of the partners of the BRISK Project.  The scope of the experiments was to investigate the kinetics of thermal conversion of 2nd generation biomasses and chars in the IPFR and develop procedures to determine the kinetic parameters needed for single particle models which can be used as sub-models in CFD-codes.

CFD-modelling has become a crucial tool in the development of new thermal conversion and reactor concepts.  The present models, however, need to be significantly modified to be utilized also for concepts involving 2nd generation biomasses.  It is known that the properties of biomasses vary dramatically depending on the origin and the pre-treatment and this project aims at improved characterization of some selected 2nd generation biomasses.

For a detailed description of the IPFR, IFRF Members may peruse the research report published in 2010 and entitled G 03/y/03 – Description of the Isothermal Plug Flow Reactor and the experimental procedures for combustion studies on solid fuels. 

Follow these links for more information about the BRISK opportunities available to researchers in your organisation.  Click here  to browse the list of the BRISK partners and here  to view the available facilities.  Details on how to apply for funding are provided here.

General questions regarding eligibility, financing and other issues should be addressed to the BRISK Project Coordinator, Andrew Martin at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.