CIT UPC - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

ENERGY

Production

PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY

Photovoltaic recunfigurable systems for energy
Modular power conversion architectures
Grid-connected photovoltaic systems
Modelling and control of PV inverters and converters
Refrigeration and thermal management of PVpanels
Hybridization of PV power facilities with other energy sources

WIND ENERGY

Transmission systems for offshore wind power plants
Analysis and design of advanced controllers for wind turbines
Analysis of harmonics flow in wind power plants and design of mitigation measures
Analysis of the performance of wind power plants
Design of mini-wind generators
Wind turbine blade virtual wind tunnel

HYDROPOWER

Vibration analysis and diagnostics in machinery
Predictive maintenance
Advanced monitoring and damage detection
Structural dynamics, effects of fluid on structural response
Experimental and numerical investigation of cavitating flows
Numerical simulation in turbulent flows
Hydropower plant performance
Production analysis of mini hydropower plants

BIOENERGY & BIOFUELS

Microbial fuel cells in constructed wetlands
Biofuel production from algal biomass
Low-cost anaerobic digester
Hydrogen production from biomass

SOLAR TERMAL ENERGY

Integration of solar ponds: energy storage and energy production
Solar collectors using transparent insulation materials (TIM)
Receivers in concentrating solar power plants
Thermal storage in concentrating solar power plants
Grid integration of solar power

OCEAN ENERGY

Wave energy resource assessment
Wave energy balance in wave models
Testing of wave energy capture devices
Optimization of buoy geometry design
Fluid–structure interaction for buoys and waves
Overtopping devices

GEOTERMAL ENERGY

Very low enthalpy geothermal energy (up to 30ºC)
Low enthalpy geothermal energy (from 30ºC to 90ºC)
Medium enthalpy geothermal energy (from 90ºC to 150ºC)

NUCLEAR ENERGY & SAFETY

Nuclear safety. Probabilistic risk assessment
Nuclear instrumentation
Nuclear power plants
Nuclear fusion reactors
Nuclear waste characterization

Distribution & Consumption

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN INDUSTRY

Saving energy through design
Integration and intensification of processes
Integration and circular economy in chemical processes
Energy storage systems (heat storage tanks and accumulators, thermochemical storage)
Heat recovery and alternative heating
Heat exchangers

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Intelligent management of EV
Modelling EV battery aging for second life business models
Cooling of batteries
Electric traction and mechatronics for EV
Energy efficiency, industrial electronics and high voltage systems for EV
Design of charging stations

CONSUMERS IN THE ENERGY SYSTEM - SMARTS GRIDS

Smart grid architecture and big data
Power systems design
Power electronics and mechatronics
Electrical power conversion and AC/DC grids
Integration of new power sources: renewable power
Study of demand response management schemes
Advanced control of electrical systems

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDINGS

Bioclimatic architecture
Energy-efficient illumination systems
Building envelope, building insulation technologies
Building energy management solutions

REFRIGERATION HVAC SYSTEMS

Compressors
Valves and capillary tubes
Refrigeration cycle analysis
Virtual household refrigerator
Domestic and industrial air-conditioning
Vapor compression heat pump as alternative heating
Sprays/evaporative cooling design
Fan performance analysis (virtual and tunnel)

FUEL CELLS & HYDROGEN

Modelling and control of systems based on proton exchange membrane fuel cell-based systems
Fuel cell control laboratory, modelling and experimental characterization
Fuel cell efficiency and durability analysis
Ethanol reformers for hydrogen production
Fuel cell systems controller design
Fuel cell integration into vehicles
Catalytic and photocatalytic production of hydrogen as a fuel for fuel cells

ENVIRONMENT

Recycling, Upcycling, Treatment

GAS EMITIONS AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

Gas sensors and contaminant detection
Modelling odor episodes and atmospheric quality
Industrial emission assessment tools, systems and models
Modelling, diagnosis and control of sources of air pollution
Characterization and treatment of gaseous emissions
Removal, filtration and/or valuation of air pollutants and gases (NH3, H2S, CO2, CO, VOCs and cinder, amongs others)

CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

Ecotechnologies and nature-based solutions
Models and proposals for climate change mitigation
Multilateral governance
Global carbon budget and climate justice
Advice on the Paris Agreement
Life cycle assessment
Green and circular economy

PLASTICS

Recycling and recovery of plastic materials
Plastic recycling by means of hyperspectral techniques
Conversion of plastic waste (monomers) into new plastics
Development in bioplastics and biocomposites

ORGANIC

Characterization and composting of organic waste for agricultural recovery
Valorization of incineration waste
Recovery of bio-active components from food and agrowaste
Sustainable management of cork waste generated in the cork industry
Development of bio or synthetic organic waste to obtain new materials, for use in the construction industry, transport and packaging
(Bio) processes of transformation of waste and organic by-products

ELECTRONICS

Circular economy of digital devices
eReuse: reuse of electronics to ensure final recycling
Bioleaching of low-rank ores and e-waste for valuable metals recovery
Research on the traceability of digital devices across their lifespan

OTHERS

Co-gasification and pyrolysis of residual material(including municipal solid waste and forest waste)
Construction and demolition waste management and recovery
Mining, urban and industrial waste recovery
Management, compaction and recovery of the waste process

Ecosystem Preservation

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Real-time control of sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants
Natural low-cost bioprocesses for wastewater and sludge treatment
Design of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment
Numerical simulation of bioprocesses to remove contaminants from wastewater
Life cycle assessment and economic evaluation of products and technologies for wastewater treatment, sludge management and biogas production
Use of cork to clean wastewater and produce electricity
Urban and industrial wastewater treatments and related technologies

TERRESTRAL ECOSYSTEMS

Application technique of phytosanitary products to reduce the risk of environmental pollution
Application technique for organic fertilizers to reduce environmental impact
Efficiency in composting systems and optimization of agricultural productivity. Sustainable agriculture
Studies to evaluate risk to human health and ecosystems
Landslide risk management
Ecosystem services and sustainable resource management

URBAN ECOSYSTEM

Urban contaminants and the environment
Green building architecture and materials
Noise pollution

DRINKING WATER

Real-time monitoring and operational control of drinking water systems
Improvement in the efficiency of water use, energy consumption, water loss minimization and water quality
Modelling and simulation of drinking water networks
Optimization of water transport and distribution networks

MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS

Engineering and physical oceanography
Port and coastal structures. Coastal zone management
Morphodynamics and coastal processes
Maritime research and experimentation wave flume
Data acquisition system design and automation of marine system measurements
Development of multifunctional sensors for in-situ monitoring of the marine environment
Development of mobile and fixed ocean observing platforms

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND TECHNOLOGICAL RISK