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Process Simulation, Mathematical Modelling, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Activities are the four main tools of DRACONS group

We are involved in several national and international research projects, mainly focused on process cycle decarbonisation, optimization by thermoeconomic (exergoeconomic) and environmental analysis of industrial processes, waste valorization, process control architecture development, process intensification, nanoparticles synthesis for the production of nanoabsorbents and for the nano-coating of innovative sorbents for CO2 capture and/or mineralisation.

Our research group is always ready to start new collaborations with other groups, companies and individual scholars.

Students that are interested in developing a Master Thesis on one of our topics can contact Giorgio Vilardi by email (giorgio.vilardi@uniroma1.it).

Our Research Topics

Decarbonisation

Development of sustainable/alternative process cycle to reduce the environmental impact of industrial processes (Hard-To-Abate sectors).

Main tools adopted: process simulators and exergoeconomic/CO2 cycle analysis.

DRACONS members involved: Claudia Bassano, Antonio Trinca, Leonardo Colelli and Andrea Liberale Rispoli.

Recent publications:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115577; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114577

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114590; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14217267; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139051;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139081; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2023.03.005.

Substitution of fossil fuels with waste materials, e-fuels production and combustion chamber performance analysis

Main tools adopted: CFD, MathModels and process simulators.

DRACONS members involved: Leonardo Colelli, Antonio Trinca, Gholamreza Masoudi Rad and Daniele Patrizi.

Recent Publications: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115577; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117165.

Waste thermochemical valorization

Solid waste (MSW, RDF, Plasmix, Sludge, Waste Biomass) valorization by oxycombustion, gasification and pyrolysis processes: reactor modelling and design, control system development and tuning, integration in existing cycle for CO2 net emissions reduction

Main tools adopted: process simulators, MathModels, CFD and exergoeconomic/CO2 cycle analysis.

DRACONS members involved: Valentina Segneri, Daniele Patrizi and Andrea Liberale Rispoli.

Recent publications: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.122147; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2021.106922.

Process intensification approach

Main tools adopted: CFD, MathModels and exergoeconomic/CO2 cycle analysis.

DRACONS members involved: Valentina Segneri and Gholamreza Masoudi Rad.

Recent publications: work in progress.

Process intensification and CO2 nanoabsorbents development

Process intensification equipment for the production of nanoparticles, nanofluids and CO2 sequestration

Main tools adopted: laboratory facilities, CFD, MathModels.

DRACONS members involved: Mattia Micciancio and Gholamreza Masoudi Rad.

Recent publications: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.137864; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2019.12.005;

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126237; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2019.107683; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2023.118317; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.137864 .

Nanoabsorbents for CO2 recovery development and regeneration analysis (energy efficiency enhancement)

Main tools adopted: laboratory facilities, MathModels.

DRACONS members involved: Mattia Micciancio.

Recent publications: work in progress.

Waste conversion to CO2 sorbent materials and nano-functionalization

Production of sorbent materials from waste and nano-coating

Main tools adopted: laboratory facilities, MathModels.

DRACONS members involved: Valentina Segneri and Mattia Micciancio.

Recent publications: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128749; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2019.12.020;

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.04.151 ; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjche.2017.06.026 .

Nano-coated waste sorbents for CO2 recovery/mineralisation and regeneration analysis

Main tools adopted: laboratory facilities, MathModels, process simulators.

DRACONS members involved: Valentina Segneri and Mattia Micciancio.

Recent publications: DOI: 10.3303/CET23101022; DOI: 10.3303/CET23101023.

Master Thesis Topics and Students from 2020 (Supervisor Giorgio Vilardi)

1. Start-up, shutdown and variable load analysis of methanol production heterogeneous reactors from CO2 hydrogenation (S. Bucci).

2. Exergoeconomic analysis of Formic Acid process from captured CO2 hydrogenation coupled with oxy-combustion/incineration of non-recyclable plastic waste (J. Bruni).

3. Dynamic analysis of Ni-Ru catalysed Sabatier process by Aspen Dynamics and 2D dynamic reactor model development in gPROMS environment (C. Corsi).

4. Kinetic analysis and bioreactor design for the hydrolysis of sucrose in Cargill production plant (Cargill collaboration) (A. Festa).

5. Exergoeconomic analysis of Direct Carbon Fuel Cell for the energy recovery from mixed waste for the green production of H2: a dynamic study (A. C. Galli).

6. Biogas upgrading to syngas and green hydrogen from biomass by multiple-reforming and biomass anaerobic digestion-dark fermentation (G. Polce).

7. Economic analysis of two different process layouts for a new slurry line in the BASF site of Rome (BASF collaboration) (F. Carinci).

8. Simulation and economic analysis of the alkaline washing process of a syngas from MSW gasification (S. Mataloni).

9. Valorization of Organic Fraction of Municipal solid Waste by bio-oil production through hydrothermal liquefaction process: process design and environ-exergoeconomic analysis (V. Segneri).

10. Simultaneous production of bio-fuel and piridine from municipal solid waste and food waste: simulation and environ-exergoeconomic analysis (C. Tizzano).

11. Dynamic modelling of a PEM electrolyzer and tecno-economic comparison of hydrogen production from methane reforming and water electrolysis (APS collaboration) (D. Paladino).

12. Simulation and upgrading to green route of a tunable continuous plant for the production of two pharmaceutical compounds (L. Morfuni).

13. Technical-Economic analysis of the steel production sector decarbonisation by hydrogen use (A. Trinca).

14. Exergo-economic analysis of super-critical CO2 re-utilization for the coupled production of acetylsalicylic acid and ethanol from fermentation by-products extracted bio-phenols (A. De Lucia).

15. Syngas cleaning and upgrading process analysis and optimization for the production of bio-hydrogen and carbon monoxide as reducing gases in Taranto industrial site (A. Conte).

16. Computational Fluid Mixing of bentonite drilling fluid production in stirred tanks: experimental and modelling in Ansys Fluent environment (C. Franceschini).

17. Upgrading of two production line of pharma products in Sanofi site (Sanofi collaboration) (G. Ceccarelli).

18. Dynamic modelling of exothermic heterogeneous reactors for the upgrading of biogas to C2 by Oxidative Coupling reaction (F. Danese).

19. Thermal integration and upgrading of bio-oil hydrotreating unit (KT collaboration) (F. Mattozzi).

20. Development and techno-economic analysis of industrial processes for the recovery of red mud (M. Stefanoni).

21. Thermal integration and service fluids recovery in Cargill site: cooling tower control and management (Cargill collaboration) (M. Graviano).

22. Mathematical modelling of CO2 absorption by MEA and MDEA solvents in Aspen Plus environment (A. Galgani).

23. CO2 capture processes from gasifiers and incinerators: tecno-economic comparisons (MyRechemicall collaboration) (D. Barbieri).

24. Optimization of a syngas cleaning process from biomass gasification (KT collaboration) (V. Vattiata).

25. Thermo-economic analysis of flue gas treatment plant in the productive site of BASF in Rome (BASF collaboration) (V. Del Rosso).

26. Bio-fuels production by thermal-hydro-cavitation process: CFD modelling (C. Buonarrivo).

27. Simulation of an RDF melting-gasifier in Aspen Plus environment: pollutants generation and tar cracking analysis (NextChem collaboration) (S. Fiacconi).

28. Dynamic simulation of an RDF melting-gasifier in Hysys environment (NextChem collaboration) (C. Cordero Di Montezemolo).

29. CFD modelling of an RDF melting-gasifier: validation and numerical optimization (NextChem collaboration) (M. Speziale).

30. Dioxin and Cl-pollutants generation and thermal-destruction in a novel RDF melting-gasifier plant (NextChem collaboration) (N. Bertinelli).

31. CFD modelling of rotary kiln burners charged with alternative fuels and e-NH3 (F. Pomponio).

32. E-fuels: technical-economic analysis of kerosene production process (L. Colelli).

33. Bio-Oxycombustion-cement production plant development: techno-economic evaluation and S.S. simulation (A. Marcello).

34. Plasmix and RDF pyrolysis coupling with super-adiabatic combustion: techno-economic evaluation and S.S. simulation (E. Cardenà).

35. Glass production cycle decarbonization: CFD model of glass production furnace fed with alternative fuels (T. Mannucci Benincasa).

36. Liquid fuel production from steel plant waste streams coupled with CO2 mineralization (NextChem collaboration-EU project INITIATE) (E. Mariani).

37. Pharmaceutical equipment cleaning protocol and CFD analysis (Sanofi collaboration) (M. D. Muratori).

38. Valorization of coffee waste by HTL: simulation in Aspen Plus environment (L. Eufrate).

39. Minimisation of water consumption in ionic exchange resins at Cargill plant site (Cargill collaboration) (G. Sambuchi).

40. Flameless gasification of liquid waste streams in porous burners: CFD analysis (A. Paniccia).