Projects

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Overview:

The overall objective of PlungOne is to modify the cooling design of the narrowneck punch, used in the glass industry, taking into account the implementation of additive manufacturing technologies (for metals) in the production chain of the new punch and the development of new materials/coatings in its manufacture. The main challenges associated with this component are related to the adequate definition of design, design and manufacturing strategies, so that, in an industrial environment, the cooling of the punch is as efficient as possible without compromising its mechanical integrity. Currently, the solution consists of introducing cooling pipettes inside the punch that are cooled by compressed air, however, the fragility of these metal tubes often fails the molding component in service. In addition to technical issues, material waste and high production times/costs are undesirable consequences for manufacturers of this component. The proposed strategy includes conceptual, mechanical and thermal aspects, to produce an integral punch and eliminate the need for pipettes, based on numerical models that accurately simulate the thermal behavior of punches under real operating conditions. This approach aims to improve the service life and efficiency of the punch-in service and reduce the amount of raw material and time required for its manufacture. At the end of the project, the results achieved are expected to result in a reduction in energy consumption and the ecological footprint in the various stages of the narrowneck punch life cycle, in line with the principles of Industry 4.0.

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Overview:

The H2NG project, submitted in the context of the Call for Applications (AAC) MPr-2023-7, is led by PRF - GÁS, TECNOLOGIA E CONSTRUÇÃO, S.A., in collaboration with STREAM Consulting LDA, the University of Coimbra (ENESII ) and the Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (ADAI). This consortium promotes the design, development, construction and testing of prototypes of Complete Green Hydrogen Mixing and Injection Stations in gas transportation and distribution networks, aiming to increase sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of energy distribution.

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Overview:

The AirSecur project aims to develop innovative air purification systems that respond to the need for protection against respiratory infections in occupied spaces, aligning with Ambiosfera's strategy to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and promote technologically advanced solutions for the public health sector and business productivity.
The main objective of the AirSecur project is to develop two types of air purifiers, with different dimensions and technology validated in a real environment, capable of removing viruses, bacteria and fungi. The objective is to reduce the spread of respiratory infections in spaces occupied by humans, positively impacting public health and productivity. The models will have versions for areas of up to 100m² and 100-300m², with real-time monitoring and the use of Machine Learning and artificial intelligence techniques to adjust operation according to the occupancy density of the spaces. Specific objectives include: i) developing purifiers with real-time monitoring and automatic adjustment based on space needs; ii) apply Coanda effect technology to improve air distribution and ensure effective disinfection of occupied areas; iii) ensure that prototypes are efficient, sustainable, easy to maintain and energy efficient.

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Overview:

We are currently experiencing a drastic energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This transition is due, on the one hand, to the progressive decrease in fossil-based energy resources and, on the other hand, to the environmental consequences of their use, namely high greenhouse gas emissions. In this transition, there are some problems for which it is urgent to find efficient solutions, such as intermittency and the variable availability throughout the year, which often do not match the thermal energy needs [l], particularly for space heating and domestic hot water in buildings.

Regarding solar thermal energy, the solution to solve the intrinsic intermittency and the mismatch between availability and need is to develop long-term storage solutions that, although they have been studied in several aspects, still present problems that greatly limit the storage and use of solar thermal energy [2]. Thus, it is urgent to find solutions that solve these limitations, namely through (i) the maximization of the storage density, (ii) the minimization of thermal losses during storage, and (iii) the development of configurations that allow more efficient charging and discharging processes [3].

The AdsorSeason project aims to contribute to solving this need for long-term storage with the following significant contributions. Based on the know-how of the research team [4,5] a new configuration of a long-term solar thermal energy storage system with high energy density and reduced thermal losses will be studied, defined, and optimized, combining an adsorption module with a conventional hot water storage system. In this sense, based on previous studies of the research team [5-9], a new numerical model will be specified and developed to evaluate and optimize the operation of the proposed system, in different applications. Following that, a laboratory prototype will be built and instrumented, to be evaluated in experimental tests with different scenarios and operation modes.

Taking the experimental results as a reference, the numerical model will be validated and extensively used to define and study new development paths: different configurations and operation schemes of the adsorption module's heat exchangers, looking for the most efficient solutions; different working pairs for the adsorption cycle, identifying the advantages and disadvantages and the most suitable and efficient solutions; configurations with the integration of phase change materials to evaluate the effect on increasing the efficiency and energy storage density of the system.

Finally, the new numerical model will be used to evaluate the performance in different climatic conditions, and dimensional scales and profiles of thermal energy use (space heating and domestic hot water) in buildings of various typologies. The evaluation of the system performance in terms of climate variability will also be assessed in a future perspective, based on the experience of the research team [10,11], since it is essential to understand how these systems will behave in the future in face of the enormity of problems imposed by climate change.

The project is a co-promotion partnership between the research units ADAI (leader) and TEMA, the industrial company TANKPOR, and the technology centre CTCV. The team covers the critical areas of scientific and technical knowledge of thE project, in the development and in the experimental and numerical study of energy production and storage systems (ADA and TEMA), in the design and manufacture of energy storage equipment (TANKPOR), and in carrying out characterization tests for certification of thermal systems (CTCV). The proposed research combines the experience of different researchers and also of engineers with great expertise and knowledge, allowing us to find the most appropriate guidelines for the development of better long-term thermal energy storage systems. In the project team, besides new elements in the research teams (ADAI and TEMA), Ph.D. researchers will also be integrated to increase the R&D capacity of the industrial company (TANKPOR).

Previous results from the research team have shown 16% energy savings for a conventional solar thermal system when the adsorption storage module is attached [5], which is why the project will certainly identify promising solutions and new paths for the development of long-term thermal energy storage systems. Finally, the project is in line with two Sustainable Development Goals in the UN 2030 Agenda (SDGs 7 and 11).

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Overview:

Cities will be substantially warmer in the future due to rising global temperatures, leading to poor indoor air quality in buildings and consequently adverse impacts on human health. In the case of temperate climates, buildings are at serious risk of overheating, as their design guidelines will become irrelevant or extremely ineffective, as they are designed primarily for passive heating of the building. The increase in global temperature will therefore force a redefinition of the type of energy systems to be used, since there will be a decrease in heating needs, on the one hand, and an increase in energy consumption for cooling, on the other. With cooling needs being heavily dependent on electricity-powered air conditioning systems, their use could lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions in countries with an energy grid based on fossil fuels.

Considering the long lifetime of buildings and the fact that new buildings are still dominant in global construction, there is an urgent need to (i) demonstrate that many current design guidelines are not suitable for the future climate, (ii) determine the right design recommendations for each climate change scenario, and (iii) prepare professionals for the negative aspects of expected climate change.

The CLING project aims to fill this void with four significant contributions. The project begins by selecting future climate scenarios and time horizons from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The wider resolution of the climate model predictions is reduced to a finer spatial and temporal resolution needed in the thermal simulation of buildings using a new 'morphing' technique to be developed that will match past meteorological data to estimated climate variables.

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Overview:

The main objectives of this work are to identify, evaluate, support and disseminate the use of sustainable energy systems to improve dwellings’ indoor air quality and reduce the risk of exposure to energy poverty. Therefore, it is essential to define the target population and to develop specific and adequate strategies to each type of neighborhood, socioeconomic background, and fuel sources. The project seeks to: (1) characterize and classify the diverse housing and population circumstances; (2) develop and evaluate strategic measures according to the classification; (3) promote and diffuse the operationalization of improving measures; (4) strengthen the research capabilities of local academic institutions and foster their role as agents of progress in society (contributing to the creation of a local research laboratory of energy and sustainability); and (5) reinforce inter-institutional and civil society relations. Specific neighborhoods, according to the subject to be studied, in the city of Pemba, Cabo Delgado province, which is a region deeply affected by poverty, will be used as case studies, aiming at its replicability in other Mozambican or other African regions.

In order to improve the quality of life in Africa in the long term, the project grounds its development on the newly established research cooperation between the University of Coimbra (Portugal) and the University of Lúrio (Mozambique); in other words, the project seeks to endow knowledge to Mozambican researchers so that these can independently act in the future within local population/actions.

Overview:

The AdsorTech project stems from the purpose of the company TANKPOR, specialized in the construction of tanks for production and storage of hot water, to present innovative and more efficient products. In this sense, the company TANKPOR (project leader) and three entities of the National Scientific and Technological System - the University of Coimbra (UC), the Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (ADAI) and the Technological Center of Ceramics and Glass (CTCV) - joined in consortium for the development of a fully innovative product compared to the state of the art, based on exploratory research results developed by teams from UC/ADAI. Specifically, it is intended to carry out applied research work for the development - design, sizing and specification; construction, testing and improvement - of equipment that, based on the adsorption cycle principle, allow the increase of energy storage capacity in conventional solar thermal systems with hot water accumulation.
This type of solution allows the simplicity of these systems to be maintained, and their performance is improved through the integration of an adsorption module, which, operating with an adsorbent/adsorbate pair (in this case, silica gel/water), has the capacity to store the excess energy of a solar thermal system - which would otherwise be dissipated - returning it later, when needed, as adsorption heat.

Overview:

In the MASK4MC project (POCI-01-02B7-FEDER-050511) a PPE was developed, based on the principle of aerodynamic sealing of its entire contour, whose protective effect significantly reduces the risk of inhalation of aerosols and droplets. This project now aims at the numerical refinement and experimental validation of new prototypes, to improve protection indices by exploring new designs and materials that allow, among other aspects, better aerodynamic sealing and comfort during use, focusing on providing safe and effective protection to health professionals.

Overview | The pandemic crisis of COVID-19, which currently affects the world, has led to the widespread implementation of drastic measures in the transport sector that have implied, for example, a substantial reduction in the capacity of public transport vehicles. In this sector, there is a risk of contamination by pathogenic agents, both from professionals who carry out their professional activity and from passengers who use these transports.

Thus, this project aims to develop a range of air purification equipment for use in road passenger transport vehicles. The need for this type of equipment will be particularly felt in public transport with high capacity, where the ventilation requirements determined in pre-pandemic scenarios mainly took into account criteria related with concentrations of physical or chemical pollutants. This result in low passenger flow rates to ensure a level of dilution required to provide the desired level of safety from pathogens

Descrição | Given the high risk of contamination of health professionals by pathogens, when providing care, and the scarcity of effective and comfortable personal protective equipment (PPE) for respiratory protection, the project “MASK4MC - Personal protection device for care doctors” aims to develop and validate a new PPE that fills this gap in the supply available on the market. It is intended to obtain and validate a PPE that will greatly reduce the risk of inhalation in the breathable zone of droplets and aerosols with potentially high viral load. To this end, innovative solutions for ventilation and aerodynamic protection of the PPE will be explored. In parallel, thermal, visual and acoustic aspects will also be optimized to obtain an effective protection solution in the context of an epidemic such as the current COVID-19.