TVM0005, Fuel conversion during thermochemical conversion technologies

COURSE SYLLABUS, third-cycle courses

Course name: Fuel conversion during thermochemical conversion technologies /Bränsleomvandling inom termokemisk omvandlingsteknik

ECTS/HP: 7.5

Course code: TVM0005

Educational level: third-cycle course

Entry requirements: No strict requirement. Basic knowledge of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, transport phenomena and Matlab will be helpful.

Course content: The course aims to introduce the research methods used in thermochemical conversion technologies of solid fuels (e.g. pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion). It focuses especially on the aspects related to fuel conversion. Details of methods related to the aspect of optical diagnostics, fundamental aspects of measurement methods, ash and ash-forming elements, and fluid mechanics are out of focus in this course although they are briefly touched on during the course (e.g. the basic numerical methods used in CFD simulation). The course contents include the following topics.

1. Overview of thermochemical conversion technologies
2. Fuel characterization
3. Bench scale experiments
4. Product sampling and analyses
5. Measurement uncertainty and analyses of the experimental data
6. Thermochemical equilibrium modelling
7. Heterogeneous reactions and estimation of intrinsic kinetics parameters
8. Modelling fuel conversion of large particles
9. Homogeneous reactions and catalytic conversion

Learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding

After completing the course, you shall:

• have a broad basic knowledge of the methods commonly applied in the experimental investigations of thermochemical conversion technologies,
• have a broad basic understanding of the theories applied in the modelling of thermochemical conversion processes, and
• understand the types and the origin of errors in modelling and experiments.

Competence and skills

After completing the course, you can:

• carry out various analyses used for fuel characterization,
• carry out thermochemical equilibrium modelling,
• conduct intrinsic kinetic analyses of devolatilisation, char gasification, and catalytic and non-catalytic gas-phase reactions
• design thermochemical reactors for various research activities,
• carry out simulation of fuel particle conversion including transport phenomena and reactions, and
• evaluate the measurement and modelling errors.

Judgement and approach

After completing the course, you have an insight of:

• how to select appropriate research methods used for the thermochemical conversion of solid fuels, and
• the capability, limitation, and origins of errors in thermochemical conversion research.

Course methods: A series of lectures will be given, covering the contents of the course. After the lectures, one or a few assignments will be given for each topic, which includes laboratory work, data analyses, design exercises, modelling, and simulation. The results will be presented orally with short written reports later.

Below you can find the preliminary schedule.

Lx: lectures, Ex, exercises

Introduction: Course information, presentations of research topics by participants

Lecture 1: Overview of thermochemical conversion technologies

Lecture 2: Fuel characterisation

Lecture 3: Measurement uncertainty and analyses of the experimental data

Lecture 4: Bench-scale experiments and scale-up/down laws

Lecture 5: Product sampling and analysis

Lecture 6: Heterogeneous reactions and estimation of intrinsic kinetic parameters

Lecture 7: Modelling fuel conversion of large particles

Lecture 8: Homogeneous reactions and catalytic conversion

Lecture 9: Thermochemical equilibrium modelling

Exercise 1: Fuel characterization (laboratory exercise)

Exercise 2: Statistical treatment of data

Exercise 3: Reactor design calculations

Exercise 4: Product analysis (laboratory exercise)

Exercise 5: Kinetics experiments and data treatment

Exercise 6: Particle simulation

Presentation: Dates to be determined (Jan-Feb 2025)

Examination form: Assignments

Grading scale: Pass/Fail

Course literature: A short compendium, lecture slides, and additional literature will be given during the course. For further studies, the following textbooks are recommended.

• A. Skoog, F. J Holler, S. R. Crouch, Principles of Instrumental Analysis.
• B. Bird, W.E. Stewart, E.N. Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena.
• A. Nikrityuk and B. Meyer, Gasification Processes.
• Singh, M. Camps-Arbestain, J. Lehmann, Biochar – A guide to analytical methods.
• James N. Miller and Jane C. Miller, Statistics and Chemometrics for Analytical Chemistry.
• K. Versteeg, W. Malalasekera, An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics – The Finite Volume Methods.

Education cycle: 2024 HT (week 47)

Course is given periodically: Yes (every 3-4 years)

Send application to: Kentaro Umeki, kentaro.umeki@ltu.se
Doctoral students enter name, civic registration number, e-mail, Division and Department in the application

Deadline for application: 2024-09-30

Course open for application by doctoral students admitted to other universities than LTU: Yes

Limited number of students: maximum 20 students

Tuition: The course is free of charge for doctoral students admitted at LTU and TUM. Tuition fee may apply for doctoral students admitted to other universities and other participants.

Contact person: Kentaro Umeki, kentaro.umeki@ltu.se, 0920 49 2484

Examiner: Professor Kentaro Umeki

Course syllabus decided by: Lars-Göran Westerberg

Date of decision: 20240906