EnerMeF gathers researchers working in specific topics, namely:
Optimization of Energy Systems
Research on the energetic potential of textile industry waste as compared to other sources (fuel-oil, wood pellets and wood chips). Annual reduction costs of up to 80 % are expected, based on previous work. Additional research on forest biomass, from forestry operations and summer fires, using the Virtual Power Plant pilot site in Sabugal. Cost/benefit relationships will be devised, to determine the optimal amount of power generation from renewable sources, forecasting error and system reliability. Methods such as the analytical convolution process, Monte Carlo simulation approach, and discrete probability theory will be applied.
Heat Transfer and Thermal Systems
Research on refrigeration systems for the agricultural-food industry with view to optimize the cold chambers, thus allowing a reduction of the load from present values of 50 kWh/m3 by 30 to 70%. This experimental and numerical work will be funded by two PDR2020 projects. As a general objective it will serve to improve the energetic efficiency and thermal performance in systems and their associated refrigeration equipment.
Aerodynamics and Aerospace Propulsion Systems
Research on cycloidal rotors for propulsion and wind energy generation, seeking self-pitch capability and low noise operation at lambda between 0.5-1.5. Improved performance of these turbines requires optimization of blade profile in unsteady turbulent and transitional flows, and modifications of solidity and cycloidal adaptive variable step. Continuation of previous EU Project CROP, through new project EMADES.
Research on light-weight Wankel engines for aero-taxi propulsion in cooperation with Polytechnic of Guarda.
Computational Models in Reology, and Magnetohydrodynamics-Electrohydrodynamics
Research on Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows in microfluidic channels and channel arrays, with view to predict flow instabilities and their mechanisms, and thus reduce pressure losses (paper1). Research on numerical methods for computational rheology, in particular to enhance efficiency in time-dependent flows (paper2).
Modelling of MHD flows with high-resolution methods for applications in Magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters and improve the magnetic-window concept to mitigate communication blackout during stratospheric re-entry. Improve the real gas model, to account for complex plasma physics, such as chemical and thermal non-equilibrium, vibrational and electronic excitation, ionization (paper3). Correlated work on modelling DBD plasma actuators, with inclusion of a EHD phenomenological model. Algorithm acceleration required to circumvent problems of different characteristic time scales.