Institutional Presentation
Policy Briefs
Policy Brief August 2025
This policy briefs includes recommendation from the EU funded project iWays– Innovative WAter recoverY Solutions through recycling of heat, materials and water across multiple sectors for the implementation of the water-efficiency first principle1 embedded in the Water Resilience Strategy2, as well as for the circular economy act that the European Union will issue in 2026. In addition, the project also encourages the Joint Research Centre to consider the conclusions of iWays in the process of revision of the relevant BREFs under the Industrial Emissions Directive3 as well as to protect the provision related to water circularity in the European legislation. The project has been working on innovative solutions to recover water and heat and in some cases materials from exhaust streams. The consortium also developed digital solutions to facilitate the deployment of these solutions in other industrial sectors. The project provides solutions to build a water-smart industrial symbiosis.
Policy Brief March 2023
This policy briefs aims to stress the activities and expected outcomes of the EU funded project iWAYS– Innovative WAter recoverY Solutions through recycling of heat, materials and water across multiple sectors – in the context of the recast of the industrial emissions directive. The project is working on innovative solutions to recover water and heat and in some cases materials from exhaust streams. The consortium is also developing digital solutions to deploy these solutions in other industrial sectors. In the contact of the European Institutions’ agenda, this project provides good example and recommendation to ensure a better consideration of water-related challenges in a modern Industrial Emissions Directive.
Scientific Publications
Durable bi-functional superhydrophobic and anti-corrosion coating on stainless steel 304 developed by a soot-assisted sol-gel method
Low-temperature waste heat is a valuable energy source for industry; however, its recovery is hindered by stringent material-related challenges arising from sub-dew point temperatures and the corrosive nature of flue-gas. To overcome these challenges, developing durable bi-functional coatings is critical. This work reports on the fabrication and evaluation of bifunctional coatings exhibiting high durability, superhydrophobicity, and corrosion protection of AISI 304 stainless steel. These coatings exhibit a microscale topography introduced by soot deposition as a sacrificial scaffold and result in limited affinity with corrosive aqueous media, confirmed by high contact angles (157.8o ± 1.1o) and low roll-off angles (2.6o ± 0.6o). Coated specimens are capable of condensing humidity in a dropwise manner, while retaining their integrity after 120 h of continuous operation. These coatings also demonstrate thermal shock resistance, high wear resistance, and provide 91.4% corrosion protection efficiency. (Not open access yet)
Investigating the impact of surfactant-salt feed solution on PTFE membrane performance under varying feed and permeate temperatures in membrane distillation
Membrane distillation (MD) is a temperature-driven technology suitable for treating industrial wastewater, especially when utilizing low-grade heat sources like waste heat or renewable energy. Despite its potential, large-scale application of MD faces challenges due to high energy demands and operational instability caused by membrane fouling and wetting, particularly when surfactants are present. This study evaluated the thermal performance of a lab-pilot MD system using two commercial PTFE membranes. Initial experiments used saline feed solutions at varying feed and permeate temperatures. Subsequent tests introduced a non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100), with and without NaCl, to investigate membrane fouling and wetting behavior. Results showed that higher feed temperatures increased permeate flux across all conditions, but also accelerated fouling and wetting, thereby shortening operational time. Notably, in the absence of NaCl, membrane degradation occurred more slowly, resulting in more stable performance. The novelty of this study lies in revealing the combined effect of salinity and non-ionic surfactants on the fouling and wetting performance of commercially available PTFE membranes in membrane distillation. Using a comprehensive two-stage experimental approach, the work systematically correlates MD system performance with membrane degradation mechanisms under feed conditions representative of real industrial wastewater. This dual focus not only uncovers the interplay between surfactants and salts but also provides practically relevant insights into the reliability and applicability of PTFE membranes in industrial MD operations.
Purification of acidic condensate using a reverse osmosis test unit
Many industrial processes generate various types of contaminated liquid streams. Before discharge into the sewage system, they must be treated to remove pollutants that pose risks to human health and the environment, in line with sustainability standards. This study, conducted as part of the EU Horizon 2020 project iWAYS (Innovative WAter recoverY Solutions through recycling of heat, materials, and water across multiple sectors”), focuses on the purification of diluted condensate (up to the pH value of ≈2.2) formed during the condensation of simulated humid industrial gas at temperatures of 200–250 °C. This condensate, containing hydrochloric acid (HCl), was obtained by passing the gas through a condensing economizer made from corrosion-resistant materials, such as alloys 400 and 904L, and stainless steel 304L. The resulting condensate, which contained dissolved HCl as well as corrosion products from the economizer and piping, was collected and treated using a laboratory-scale multi-stage filtration unit equipped with a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. (...) Chapter in RAD 2025 Conference Book of Abstracts
iWAYS racconta uno dei suoi casi studio verso la chiusura dei cicli dell'acqua nei processi industriali
Iways (https://www.iways.eu/), progetto europeo finanziato da
Horizon 2020 che si concluderà a Novembre 2025, è nato per trovare
una soluzione rilevante alle complesse ed attuali sfide ambientali. In
tale contesto si inquadra lo sforzo che il partenariato di progetto,
costituito da università, technology providers, industrie ed altri
soggetti coinvolti, sta portando avanti con un approccio
multidisciplinare. iWAYS vuole validare tecnologie integrate tra loro in
grado di recuperare energia ed acqua dai fumi emessi da vari processi
industriali. Tre casi studio investigati per i quali risulta strategico
definire una nuova soluzione per aumentare il livello di circolarità. In
Helsingborg, Svezia, si trova il primo caso studio che ha avviato la
sperimentazione: Alufluor AB, produttore di fluoruro di alluminio, sta
testando il sistema iWAYS per recuperare energia, acqua e materiali,
dai flussi di rifiuti generati dal proprio stabilimento. (...)
Chapter in the Book of Abstracts of Remtech Expo 2025.
Circularity assessment of industrial heat exchanger and water treatment systems integration
Water recycling and reusing strategies in industries have been promoted to reduce freshwater consumption. In addition, Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger technology has been employed successfully, resulting in the reduction of natural gas consumption and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to assess the true benefits of the application of these Circular Economy strategies. Therefore, this work assesses the integration of a Heat Pipe Condenser Economiser (HPCE) and a water treatment system in a ceramic industry. Additionally, rooftop rainwater harvesting is integrated into the industry. The CE assessment methodologies and selected indicators measure the efficiency of the transition from a linear to a circular economy and identify strategies for optimi- sation. However, the interactions between human and natural systems related to the abstraction of resources and release of outflows are not considered. This is important to understand potential disruptions when implementing circular actions. Therefore, the assessment focuses on circular principles such as resource traceability and value created by implemented actions, and through resource flow and circular action indicators, the intrinsic circu- larity of system integration is quantified. The assessment showed the integration of both systems and the rooftop rainwater harvesting increased the Circular Water Flow and the Water Withdrawal Reduction up to 33.73 % and 22.88 %, respectively. Moreover, it demonstrates that the HPCE integration increased the Recovered Energy Contribution up to 19.98 %. This indicates the system’s integrations increased circular performance over the baseline scenario. Additionally, the assessment enabled a scenario analysis which aided in identifying further strategies to improve the circular actions, such as reducing freshwater withdrawal.
Barkhausen noise emission of naval steel: The impact of seawater corrosion coverage and depth
The study examines the corrosion behavior of shipbuilding steel in an artificial marine environment. The steel samples were submerged in artificial saltwater for varying periods, and the corrosion behavior was examined using traditional methods like open circuit potential tests, metallographic observation and surface roughness assessment. The non-destructive magnetic approach using Barkhausen noise was also used. The corrosion process involves the creation of iron oxides and hydroxides, with the rate of corrosion linked to mass reduction. The surface roughness and corrosion depth increase with longer exposure to the corrosive environment. MBNmax drop gradually over time in artificial seawater, while MBNPP and MBNFWHM are increased, presenting a linear correlation. The behaviour of magnetic parameters resent a similar trend both in RD and TD. Both MBNmax and MBNFWHM measurements offer useful insights into the corrosion process and the role of the corrosion layer in the ferromagnetic matrix.
Parametric investigation on a serpentine condensing heat exchanger
The utilization of waste heat in industrial settings plays a crucial role in maximizing production efficiency and adheres to the principles of the circular economy. Repurposing waste heat enhances resource efficiency and mitigates environmental impact. The European Union actively advocates for the transition to efficient technologies to minimize waste heat generation, thereby reducing energy costs and maintaining competitiveness in the market. Improved energy efficiency not only decreases pollution but also aligns with environmental imperatives. Lithuania's energy strategy places significant emphasis on objectives pertaining to electricity, heating, and energy efficiency, with a specific focus on promoting energy generation from waste sources. These endeavors contribute to both economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. EU Horizon 2020 projects such as The Innovative WAter recoverY Solutions through recycling of heat, materials, and water across multiple sectors (iWAYS) further enhance waste heat recovery processes in industrial applications.
Modelling of flow and convective heat transfer in serpentine heat exchanger (Abstract)
Condensing heat exchangers play a key role in the waste heat recovery process, which can be of various designs depending on the primary heat source, its pollution level, the place where the heat exchanger needs to be installed, etc. In order to be able to evaluate various influencing parameters, it is most appropriate to use numerical simulation, which can be used to quickly evaluate the efficiency of a heat exchanger of a specific design in the case of different flow regimes. It is the most difficult to model the condensation process, because in this case two phases appear, the interaction of which requires a lot of theoretical and practical knowledge. In order to be able to analyze the interaction of two-phase flows, it is necessary to approach this task step by step, starting from the analysis of single- phase flow to understand the physical processes taking place in the heat exchanger, which usually contains variously arranged tube bundles of different shapes. Therefore, in this paper, numerical studies of hydrodynamics and convective heat transfer were performed to better understand the fluid behavior in a serpentine type condensing heat exchanger.
Modelling of flow and convective heat transfer in serpentine heat exchanger (Poster)
Condensing heat exchangers play a key role in the waste heat recovery process, which can be of various designs depending on the primary heat source, its pollution level, the place where the heat exchanger needs to be installed, etc. In order to be able to evaluate various influencing parameters, it is most appropriate to use numerical simulation, which can be used to quickly evaluate the efficiency of a heat exchanger of a specific design in the case of different flow regimes. It is the most difficult to model the condensation process, because in this case two phases appear, the interaction of which requires a lot of theoretical and practical knowledge. In order to be able to analyze the interaction of two-phase flows, it is necessary to approach this task step by step, starting from the analysis of single-phase flow to understand the physical processes taking place in the heat exchanger, which usually contains variously arranged tube bundles of different shapes. Therefore, in this paper, numerical studies of hydrodynamics and convective heat transfer were performed to better understand the fluid behavior in a serpentine type condensing heat exchanger. This research study is related to the EU Horizon 2020 iWAYS project (Innovative WAter recoverY Solutions through recycling of heat, materials, and water across multiple sectors) activities.
A CFD Study on Different Configurations of Spacer-Filled Membrane Distillation System Using OpenFOAM
Circular economy initiatives like the EC funded iWAYS project (grant agreement: 958274) promote the reuse of waste heat in industrial sites. This presents opportunities and challenges for technological adaptation. Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermally driven process for water treatment that can use waste heat. However, effectively treating complex industrial wastewater requires adapting MD units to achieve reliable and efficient performance. Filament spacers within the MD units play a key role in structural maintenance and flow mixing. CFD simulations can help to characterize filament spacer configuration impacts on the hydrodynamic of feed and permeate channels, which affects both trans-membrane temperature gradient and membrane fouling control. Here, we performed a CFD study on a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) sub-unit with the goal of evaluating impact on robustness and performance of a set of designed filament spacer configurations. The modeled membrane distillation system has an overall length of 200 mm, width of 10 mm and height of 4.1 mm, containing two layers of filaments in each of the feed and permeate channels. The diameter of the filaments was 1 mm, and they had a 45◦ degree angle to the flow direction in the channels. Variations of this standard filament configuration were also tested and simulated to optimize their mixing performance. The numerical simulations to approximate in a 3D solution of Navier-stokes equations for steady state conditions were performed using OpenFOAM code. The computational domains were meshed using OpenFOAM snappyHexMesh utility, and finite-volume based simulation relying on the chtMultiRegionFoam solver was executed in parallel over 40 CPU cores. Comparing the CFD analysis of different filaments´ configurations lead to an assessment of an improved spacer structure. The selected configuration is to be 3D printed for laboratory-scale experimental confirmation of the validity of the CFD model and the optimal configuration finding. Preprint
Experimental investigation of humidified air condensation in different rows of serpantine heat exchanger – Cooling water flow rate effect
Condensing economizers are used in the industry as they enable the acquisition of additional heat during vapor condensation. In condensing heat exchangers, water is the usual cooling agent due to its high specific heat capacity and thus efficient heat removal. Therefore, experiments of hot humid air condensation in a serpentine economizer being cooled by water were performed to reveal the effect the cooling water flow rate has on humidified air condensation in separate rows of the serpentine type economizer (with vertical tubes). The results have shown that the cooling ratio (mass flow ratio between the coolant and the humid air) had a minor effect on the distribution of the humidified air temperature along test section for inlet Reynolds number of 3000–10000. The effects on the condensation flux distribution in different rows were much stronger. The most optimal cooling ratio was determined to be 3. The results have shown that the biggest condensation efficiency is up to 35 %. It was revealed that in some cases the convection was prevailing in the first rows of the economizer and this resulted in a decreased efficiency/performance of the exchanger. The obtained results from the practical point of view will provide an extended basis for the optimisation of the design of economizers for waste heat recovery in the cases of different cooling water flow rates. It could also be applied to validate computational models developed for condensation heat transfer and condensate flux numerical modelling along economizer.
Innovative Photocatalytic Reactor for Sustainable Industrial Water Decontamination: Utilizing 3D-Printed Components and Silica-Titania Trilayer Coatings
Industrial activities generate enormous quantities of polluted effluents, necessitating advanced methods of wastewater treatment to prevent potential environmental threats. Thus, the design of a novel photocatalytic reactor for industrial water decontamination, purification, and reuse is proposed as an efficient advanced oxidation technology. In this work, the development of the active reactor components is described, utilizing a two-step sol–gel technique to prepare a silica-titania trilayer coating on 3D-printed polymeric filters. The initial dip-coated SiO2 insulator further protects and enhances the stability of the polymer matrix, and the subsequent TiO2 layers endow the composite architecture with photocatalytic functionality. The structural and morphological characteristics of the modified photocatalytic filters are extensively investigated, and their performance is assessed by studying the photocatalytic degradation of the Triton X-100, a common and standard chemical surfactant, presented in the contaminated wastewater of the steel metal industry. The promising outcomes of the innovative versatile reactor pave the way for developing scalable, cost-effective reactors for efficient water treatment technologies.
Screening Rainwater Harvesting Potentialities in the EU Industrial Sector: A Framework for Site-Specific Assessment
The industrial sector’s water consumption is projected to increase by 400% by 2050, placing significant stress on freshwater reserves. To address this challenge, innovative solutions for water management are crucial. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) in industrial settings, offering a methodology to assess the potential for RWH implementation across EU industrial sites. The framework integrates internal and publicly available datasets, including EU climate change monthly average rainfall data from the Copernicus Climate Data Store, to create current and prospective scenarios for RWH. The methodology evaluates critical parameters co-created with industrial stakeholders, such as catchment area, water quality, and industrial water requirements. This approach allows for site-specific assessments, enabling industries to reduce freshwater consumption and support sustainability goals within the Horizon 2050 framework. Our findings indicate that implementing RWH systems can significantly contribute to a sustainable and circular economy by reducing annual freshwater consumption, promoting resource reuse, and lowering industrial water costs. This framework provides industries with a tool to assess RWH feasibility, supporting their efforts to prepare for increased water demands and contribute to environmental conservation.
IWAYS - Recycling of Heat, Water and Material across Multiple Sectors: Ceramic, Chemical and Steel Industry
In the framework of the iWAYS project, a synergy between energy and water reclamation and exploitation is addressed by means of the development and the installation of a wide array of technologies in three different industrial sectors: ceramic tile manufacturing, aluminium fluoride production and steel tubes manufacturer. The aim of the project is the creation of customized and integrated systems to achieve a substantial reduction in the thermal waste and in the freshwater consumption; this is the principal challenge the iWAYS project is solving by developing a set of technologies capable of recovering water and energy from challenging exhaust streams for productive use in the industrial processes. iWAYS systems will then treat steam condensate to meet the water quality requirements of each industrial process, while the recovered heat will be used to reduce primary energy consumption. iWAYS will recover additional materials from flue gas such as valuable acids or particulates, improving the production’s raw material efficiency and reducing detrimental emissions to the environment. The iWAYS technology will provide a reduction in the freshwater consumption greater that the 30% in each industrial case; with regards to the energy recovery, iWAYS will recover 6 GWh/y in the ceramic sector, more than 5 GWh/y in the chemical scenario and approximately 1 GWh/y in the steel sector. The iWAYS solution will have a payback lower than 5 years.
Experimental investigation, CFD and theoretical modeling of two-phase heat transfer in a three-leg multi-channel heat pipe
Muti-channel flat heat pipe is an innovative technology recently used at the rear of photovoltaic cells to absorb and reuse the wasted heat. To better understand the fundamentals of two-phase heat transfer (boiling and condensation) taking place inside multi-channel heat pipes, a unique three-leg heat pipe has been built. This one-of-a-kind heat pipe was used to develop both computational fluid dynamic (CFD) and theoretical models of a multi-channel heat pipe. To simulate the heat pipe operation with ANSYS Fluent, the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach and Lee model were investigated. Different types of Lee models using user defined function (UDF) were compared and the influence of the condenser's boundary condition, saturation temperature, and mass transfer coefficient on the simulations was studied. For the first time, major limits of the Lee model for the simulation of heat pipes are identified. It is concluded that the available Lee model cannot predict the heat pipe temperature as it shows low physical meaning and can easily be manipulated to adjust the simulation's results. Based on the three-leg heat pipe experimental data, a new multi-channel theoretical model was developed that uses the thermal-electrical resistance analogy to predict the three-leg heat pipe thermal resistance. By selecting the optimum correlations for pool boiling and filmwise condensation, the developed iterative theoretical model was able to predict the three-leg heat pipe thermal resistance with an error of 8.2%.
Development and Evaluation of Corrosion Resistance and Hydrophobic Properties of Thermal Sprayed Coatings over Carbon Steel
IVarious industrial parts and equipment made of steel need to withstand demanding conditions. In order to increase performance and lifetime, surface processing and functional coatings can be applied. In this study we report on the evaluation of coated carbon steel with commercial corrosion-resistant powders Diamalloy 4276 and Woka 7502 by Oerlikon Metco, using thermal spraying. Further functionalization is performed by rendering thermal sprayed surfaces syperhydrophobic via gas phase deposition of trichloro-1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl silane, (PFOTS). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, contact angle and water condensation studies reveal the protective properties of coatings prepared by both materials as well as the superiority of Diamalloy 4276 based coatings. Corrosion was evaluated under a harsh 20% w/w H 2 SO 4 environment. Rendering the coating superhydrophobic improves water condensation under the tested conditions of high (80%) relative humidity.
Construction, Evaluation, and Performance of a Water Condensation Test Unit
The study of water condensation phenomena is important in order to evaluate the performance of materials and coatings employed in the fabrication of waste heat recovery units including heat exchangers, heat pipes, condensing economizers and related functional surfaces. Fast evaluation of lab-scale samples is important during research and development of coatings for wetting phenomena under controlled, reproducible, and stable humidity and temperature conditions of both sample and environment. To study these effects, we report on the construction of a lab-scale condensation chamber, along with its evaluation and benchmarking with superhydrophobic coatings on stainless steel using perfluorooctyl silane (PFOTS). A working unit has been successfully fabricated and applied in a highly responsive device capable of recording the condensation performance of flat specimens under controlled conditions. Sample temperature was maintained with 0.10 °C deviation. The humidity response time of the chamber is 17.2 s per degree of RH% while the maximum relative humidity variation is +/- 3.2%RH. The unit successfully delivered valuable data over hydrophillic, hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces. Data useful for studying open research issues such the relationship of contact angle and condensation phenomena.
High-temperature heat pumps: Fundamentals, modelling approaches and applications
In March 2023, the European Parliament and Council reached a consensus to increase the binding renewable energy target (RES) to a minimum of 42.5 % by 2030, effectively doubling the proportion of RES from the 2020 baseline. This significant development aligns the EU more closely with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU initiative. High-temperature heat pumps (HTHP), due to their appropriateness for industrial-scale applications, integrate perfectly within this progressive trajectory. They enable waste heat generated by various production processes to be recovered (temperatures typically ranges from around 50 °C–100 °C) and subsequent use at temperatures above 100 °C, thus reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. The high operating temperatures and pressures of HTHPs are challenging. They require an in-depth analysis of the system processes involved, taking into account refrigerants, efficient heat pump cycles and key components. One possibility for a preliminary analysis of vapour compression HTHP system performance without incurring the costs associated with manufacturing and testing the device is modelling. However, there is no comprehensive review of research work on possible software. Commonly, the researchers report on one chosen methodology and the tools used. This paper provides a comprehensive review of modelling approaches. It also discusses aspects related to the principles of operation, refrigerants and system components. Additionally, the paper presents an overview of vapour compression heat pump applications in various sectors. The literature review conducted indicates the need for further research and development of HTHP covering not only technological aspects but also software development.
Wastewater Reuse in the EU and Southern European Countries: Policies, Barriers and Good Practices
Ensuring sustainable consumption of water, which is essential for human development, is not sufficient, therefore, there is an urgent need to improve reuse of treated wastewater. This paper reviews the newest EU legislation related to reclaimed water reuse, which is the main driver for change. While there are some positive developments in the EU, the paper argues that the current EU legislation does not sufficiently encourage circular solutions, especially on how to deal with any bottleneck effects, which prevent to fully utilise wastewater. This reflection is noted based on the national and regional developments in Italy with some comparison with other Southern countries, such as Greece and Spain in attempt to identify good practices as well as any barriers for the reclaimed water to be reused.
Experimental investigation of water vapor condensation from flue gas in different rows of a heat exchanger model
Condensing heat exchangers (HE) are used in many applications because of their usability with different fluids and a wide operating range in terms of pressure, temperature and power. Despite that, the thermal design of condensing heat exchangers is still not optimized, due to the complexity of the condensation process and lack of related research. This paper presents results of experimental investigations of biofuel flue gas water vapor condensation on vertical tubes in different rows of a tube bundle in a crossflow. The effects of water vapor mass fraction, inlet flue gas temperature and the Reynolds number on heat transfer when the inlet cooling water temperature and flow rate are constant were analyzed. The results obtained showed that the main parameters which had the most influence on the condensation process were the water vapor mass fraction in the flue gas and its temperature at the inlet to the test section. In the range of inlet flue gas Reynolds numbers investigated, the Re effect on heat transfer was not as significant as the effect of the parameters indicated above. However, the Re number had some influence on the heat transfer variation along the inline tube bundle. A comparison of the average Nu number in the case of dry air with the experimentally determined average Nu number, even with low condensable gas mass fraction (6 %), showed that it increased considerably. A correlation was proposed, which helps to determine the average Nu number for the heat exchanger in the range of experiments performed.
Carbon Dot-Titanium Dioxide (CD/TiO2) Nanocomposites: Reusable Photocatalyst for Sustainable H2 Production via Photoreforming of Green Organic Compounds
The present work focuses on TiO2 modification with carbon dots (CDs) using a hydrothermal process, which results in the synthesis of CD/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalysts characterized by exceptional optoelectronic properties. The structural and physicochemical properties of the obtained nanocomposites, which contained varying amounts of CDs, were precisely assessed. HR-TEM analysis showed that the prepared nanocomposites consisted of rod-shaped TiO2 nanoparticles and CDs well-dispersed on their surface. The optical properties of the nanocomposites were studied using UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. All CD/TiO2 samples presented decreased energy gap values compared with bare TiO2 samples; the band gap was further decreased as the CD concentration rose. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the presence of CDs improved the photocurrent response of the TiO2, presumably due to enhanced charge separation and decreased recombination. The synthesized nanomaterials were used as photocatalysts to produce hydrogen via the photoreforming of ethanol and glycerol green organic compounds, under 1-sun illumination. The photocatalytic experiments confirmed that the optimum loading of CDs corresponded to a percentage of 3% (w/w). Ethanol photoreforming led to a H2 production rate of 1.7 μmol∙min−1, while in the case of the glycerol sacrificial agent, the corresponding rate was determined to be 1.1 μmol∙min−1. The recyclability study revealed that the photocatalyst exhibited consistent stability during its reuse for hydrogen production in the presence of both ethanol and glycerol.
iWAYS - Innovative WAter recoverY Solutions through recycling of heat, materials and water across multiple sectors per affrontare le sfide ambientali e definire nuovi modelli in ottica circolare
Il progetto europeo iWAYS, finanziato nell’ambito di Horizon 2020, si propone di creare un nuovo paradigma industriale e tecnologico sviluppando un modello di economia circolare in tre differenti settori industriali. Il progetto, avviato nel Dicembre 2020, sta definendo una serie di tecnologie concentrate sulle sfide ambientali globali in grado di recuperare energia ed acqua dai fumi emessi da vari processi industriali. Con riferimento al recupero della risorsa idrica, il progetto punta ad apportare una riduzione nel consumo di acqua dolce che va dal 30 % al 64 %. Le soluzioni studiate e sviluppate in iWAYS consentiranno anche il recupero di materiali aggiuntivi da gas di combustione quali acidi o particolati preziosi laddove presenti nei fumi trattati, riducendo al contempo le emissioni dannose per l’ambiente. Chapter in the Book of Abstracts of Remtech 2023
Thermodynamic evaluation of shell and tube heat exchanger through advanced exergy analysis
Shell and tube heat exchanger is a pivotal equipment used in industries for heat transfer. Any effort to minimize the irreversibility in the heat exchanger will enhance the performance and leads to energy optimization and cost savings. In the current study, a water to water, segmental baffled shell and tube heat exchanger was considered for an investigation and designed using the Kern method. Exergy analysis and advanced exergy analysis was carried out to understand the performance of the heat exchanger and to determine the possibility of reducing irreversibilities. The results of the exergy analysis showed that the system has 684.6 kW of exergy destruction. Advanced exergy analysis was carried out through endogenous and exogenous modes and subsequently performed for avoidable and unavoidable components. Majority of the exergy destruction in the heat exchanger is avoidable. The results showed that 97.5 % of the total exergy destruction is of endogenous avoidable type. The system can be improved by changing the system configuration, design variables, mass flow rates, materials, and many other parameters. Subsequently, the exergy destruction in the pumps is unavoidable and no further design improvements are required.
Experimental investigation of water vapor condensation from hot humidified air in serpentine heat exchanger
Condensing economizers are used in industry and power plants for waste heat recovery. Despite widespread use, their thermal design is still not optimized due to the complexity of the condensation process especially when non-condensing gasses are prevalent. This paper presents an experimental study of water vapor condensation on the vertical tubes of a serpentine bundle in a humidified air crossflow at water vapor mass fractions of 10% and 20%. The analysis showed a clear dependence of the efficiency of the condensation process on the humidified air inlet temperature and Reynolds number, and the efficiency increases as these parameters decrease. Condensation efficiency also depends highly on flow humidity especially in the region of higher Reynolds numbers. A comparison of the average Nusselt number in the case of dry air with the experimentally determined average Nusselt number is also presented, and showed a uniform increase in the Nusselt number as the inlet temperature of the humidified air decreased.
CFD analysis for membrane distillation optimization for wastewater treatment
In the context of circular economy and of decarbonisation of the society, one of the uprising techniques for industrial wastewater treatment is the use of Membrane distillation (MD) system, because of its capabilities such as low carbon footprint, and being able to be coupled with waste thermal energies. However, the main drawback of these systems is the temperature polarization phenomenon which can lead to performance reduction. To overcome this problem, geometry modifications such as adding spacers in the system is considered. Thus, a simple geometry is built to study the thermal distribution through the system, and then the effects of adding spacers with different configurations is here investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The different spacer configurations are characterised and their effect on MD performance are tested. The optimal configuration will be used, via 3D printing to confirm finding on an experimental setup on upcoming study. To read conference proceedings of ECO STP Conference 2023, p. 208, click on image to the left.
Life cycle assessment of plastic waste and energy recovery
Plastics are essential in our economy and everyday life. However, plastic pollution is a global concern. To address this issue, the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy was adopted in January 2018. Attention has been raised to the entire life cycle of products, with legislation stating that plastic used throughout the design phase to manufacturing and packaging phases needs to be recyclable by 2030. This study evaluates selected plastic material categories and technologies carrying out a review of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis from literature. The literature review was carried out, the indicator units for impact categories among the investigated mid-point methodologies as well as the conversion factors for the metrics harmonization were provided and finally a detailed analysis of the environmental impact of several types of plastics was carried out for two options in the waste hierarchy, which are through disposal by sending waste to landfills and incineration with energy recovery. The disposal, treatment and recycling of 2.2 tonnes of general plastic waste including non-recyclable material delivered to a recycling facility was considered for comparison with these methods. An assessment of the comparative advantages of each practice was conducted. The potential for energy recovery was highlighted.
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