Breaking news from the IFRF research team is that in weeks 45, 46 and 47 at the ENEL experimental area, the final phase of the Oxy coal characterization tests for the EU co-funded RELCOM project will be performed.  IFRF Members and RELCOM partners are welcome to attend. 

For RELCOM (Reliable and Efficient Combustion of Oxygen/Coal/Recycled Flue Gas Mixtures), IFRF is completing the characterization of three coals in oxy combustion environment with the IPFR (Isothermal Plug Flow Reactor).  In the upcoming tests, the full characterization of Pittsburgh no. 8 coal will be undertaken both in conventional and oxy conditions.  In addition, the characterization of South African and Sebuku coal will be completed.  The trials will comprehend devolatilization tests, char production and char combustion tests.

The results will be made available to RELCOM partners and IFRF Members only. The RELCOM report will be publically available after the project ends in 2015.

Anyone who wishes to participate in the campaign should contact Giovanni Coraggio.

RELCOM and BRISK, another co-funded European Commission project in which IFRF has partner status and which also runs until 2015, will between them support IFRF activities in all three of the key areas research areas identified in 2009:

• Validation of CFD combustion modeling
• Solid fuel combustion/gasification characterization
• In-flame measurement and diagnostic techniques (including quantification of uncertainties which will also feed into the CFD Validation activity)

Whilst RELCOM deals with Oxy-coal combustion for carbon capture and storage, the BRISK project is focused on Thermochemical conversion of 2nd generation Biofuels.  For BRISK, different second generation biofuels are to be characterized and specific methodologies developed. 

Through the BRISK Transnational Access programme, researchers have the opportunity to utilize research facilities covering the whole of the Ligno-cellulosic biofuels value chain, from raw materials to final use.  A two week campaign on a pelletized wood residue is planned at IFRF in the frame of Transnational Access, for which 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) – see previous issue of MNM.

BRISK also incorporates R&D activities to further develop the test facilities and to support the exchange of information between research labs and labs and modellers.  For this project, a 200kW downdraft fixed bed gasifier and a tar cracking reactor unit have been added to the list of facilities available to IFRF.  In early December a campaign is planned on the gasification of rice husks. 

Gas Turbine H2 burner development
Within the project “Development of an ultra-low NOx burner for hydrogen”, IFRF is participating in a national program, led by ENEL and GE, aimed at optimising GT burners for pure hydrogen combustion.  The IFRF tasks are to perform measurement campaigns on a full scale cold model burner and on a single burner facility (TAO, Turbogas Accesso Ottico), to develop micro pyrometers for the experimental rigs and to support the modeling activity on H2 combustion kinetics at high pressure.  Tests on TAO, an ENEL facility, are scheduled for December 2012.

Development of new instrumentation and methodologies
IFRF recently began developing new concept measurements, such as in-flame FTIR spectra for minor species evaluation, and special optical probes for getting flame fluctuations and instabilities in semi-industrial tests.  The program for enhancing gas sampling and analysis capabilities by on-line FTIR system is in preparation and specific tests are planned for the beginning of 2013 on FOSPER.  This will allow the evaluation of minor species and pollutant precursors in flames.

For more information on any of the campaigns referrred to in this article, contact Leo Tognotti or Giovanni Coraggio.