The Chemical Reaction Engineering and Chemical Kinetics Lab has a consolidated experience in the the development of detailed and semi-detailed kinetic mechanisms of the pyrolysis, oxidation and combustion of gas, liquid and solids. The group is led by Prof. Tiziano Faravelli and includes 2 full professors, 2 associate professors, 2 assistant professors, 1 post doctoral researcher and 4 PhD students.
Detailed kinetic mechanisms
Detailed kinetic models constitute a very useful tool for the proper understanding of combustion processes and the characterization of typical phenomena like ignition delays and induction times, flame structure and pollutant formation. Design, simulation, optimization and control of industrial burners, gas turbines, boilers, incinerators and gasifier are typical application, as well as the design of internal combustion engines and the formulation of new fuels. The CRECK Lab has a consolidated experience of the the development of detailed and semi-detailed kinetic mechanisms of the pyrolysis, oxidation and combustion of gas, liquid and solids.
CFD of flames with detailed chemistry
Combustion devices (domestic and industrial burners, furnaces, internal combustion engines, combustors for aeromobiles, etc.) have to respect always more stringent limitations concerning the emissions of pollutant species, like CO, NOx, PAHs, soot, etc. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), coupled with detailed kinetic mechanisms, represents a fundamental tool to study such devices and to characterize them in terms of formation of pollutants. This paves the route towards a more rational design, based on predictive numerical models.
Solid fuels
The environmental concerns towards the combustion of fossil fuels drive the interest in gasification processes of biomasses, plastics, wastes and refuse derived fuels (RDF). Gasification of solid fuels is nowadays a promising alternative to direct combustion, both electric and thermal energy are viable products, together with chemicals. The low costs and the availability of raw materials, combined with its renewability in the biomass scenario, justify the interest in this technology. Nevertheless, the complexity of this process makes difficult its mathematical description.
