Utilisation of Synthetic Fuels for “Difficult-to-Decarbonise” Propulsion (EP/X019551/1)

Decarbonising the transport sector is a top priority worldwide. The difficult-to-decarbonise transport applications (including mainly shipping, road freight and aviation) emit more than 50% CO2 of the entire transport sector. Among efforts on developing low-emission fuels, liquid synthetic fuels that can massively reduce pollutant emissions are drawing increasing attention, as they can be integrated into the current transportation system using existing infrastructure and combusted in existing engines (such as diesel engines for optimal fuel economy) with minor adjustments as drop-in fuels. Liquid synthetic fuels such as oxymethylene ethers (OMEx, which possess liquid properties similar to diesel when x=3-5) can be produced from a range of waste feedstocks and biomass, thereby avoiding new fossil carbon from entering the supply chain. OMEx can also be produced as an electrofuel (or e-fuel), thereby used as a sustainable energy carrier. However, due to the lack of complete knowledge of the physicochemical properties associated with the fuel composition variability, i.e. variation in the oligomer length (the x value of OMEx) and the composition variation of OMEx-diesel blends in real engine environment, there are challenges in utilising OMEx in practical engines, mainly in engine and its operation adjustments for optimal performance and minimal pollutant emissions. To address the technical issues of OMEx utilisation, accurate information on physicochemical properties and pollutant emissions of the synthetic fuels over the engine operational ranges is mandatory, but this is not readily available. This project is intended to obtain a thorough understanding on liquid synthetic fuel utilisation. The project will address the fundamental challenges in utilising renewable synthetic fuels, in particular OMEx and the associated OMEx-diesel fuel blends. The study will follow a combined modelling / simulation - experimentation approach, predicting the physicochemical properties including emission characteristics of the alternative fuels using molecular dynamics simulations, tailor-made experimentation for first-hand information on fuel utilisation, and establishing a database / mapping to guide the synthetic fuel utilisation in real engines over a wide range of conditions using machine learning.

New generation of gasification components based on triboelectric plasma for hydrogen production

The project is devoted to assessing the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of using a novel triboplasma reforming technology. The technology is planned to be used for the commercial scale removal of tars and other contaminants from the syngas produced in the gasification reactor. The project uses a combination of the computational modelling and small-scale experiments to develop a fully costed design and delivery programme for a pilot reformer reactor that will be installed in an existing gasification plant.

Oil and Gas techniques to assess PPE effectiveness in stopping the spread of COVID-19

Utilisation of Synthetic Fuels for “Difficult-to-Decarbonise” Propulsion (EP/X019551/1)

Decarbonising the transport sector is a top priority worldwide. The difficult-to-decarbonise transport applications (including mainly shipping, road freight and aviation) emit more than 50% CO2 of the entire transport sector. Among efforts on developing low-emission fuels, liquid synthetic fuels that can massively reduce pollutant emissions are drawing increasing attention, as they can be integrated into the current transportation system using existing infrastructure and combusted in existing engines (such as diesel engines for optimal fuel economy) with minor adjustments as drop-in fuels. Liquid synthetic fuels such as oxymethylene ethers (OMEx, which possess liquid properties similar to diesel when x=3-5) can be produced from a range of waste feedstocks and biomass, thereby avoiding new fossil carbon from entering the supply chain. OMEx can also be produced as an electrofuel (or e-fuel), thereby used as a sustainable energy carrier. However, due to the lack of complete knowledge of the physicochemical properties associated with the fuel composition variability, i.e. variation in the oligomer length (the x value of OMEx) and the composition variation of OMEx-diesel blends in real engine environment, there are challenges in utilising OMEx in practical engines, mainly in engine and its operation adjustments for optimal performance and minimal pollutant emissions. To address the technical issues of OMEx utilisation, accurate information on physicochemical properties and pollutant emissions of the synthetic fuels over the engine operational ranges is mandatory, but this is not readily available. This project is intended to obtain a thorough understanding on liquid synthetic fuel utilisation. The project will address the fundamental challenges in utilising renewable synthetic fuels, in particular OMEx and the associated OMEx-diesel fuel blends. The study will follow a combined modelling / simulation - experimentation approach, predicting the physicochemical properties including emission characteristics of the alternative fuels using molecular dynamics simulations, tailor-made experimentation for first-hand information on fuel utilisation, and establishing a database / mapping to guide the synthetic fuel utilisation in real engines over a wide range of conditions using machine learning.

Technical and economic evaluation of an integrated bioenergy system in sub-Saharan African countries, Global Challenge Research Fund, Scottish Funding Council, SFC/AN/12/2017, £34,968, 2017-2018.

A feasibility study on biomass energy in Africa

Risk Evaluation Fast Intelligent Tool (RELIANT) for COVID 19, EP/V036777/1, 2020-2022, £204k.

Development of computational tools for prediction of the spread of COVID19 in large indoor environments.

Mathematical Modelling of Downhole Tubing Compaction for Rig-less Well Plug and Abandonment, Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Scottish Funding Council, project number: 301537, £114,633, 2018-2019, £114,633.

An industrial project on decommissioning of oil wells in North sea

Experimental investigation of flame flashback in a premixed swirl burner with central bluff-body, Funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG, KA 3483/1-1) € 215200, 2012-

A fundamental study on the physical mechanisms of flame stabilisation in gas turbines

Development of sustainable clean cooking facilities to boost resilience to climate change in Malawi, £122k, 2019-2021

Development of clean and sustainable cooking energy technology for Malawi

Development Cost Step Change using Two Concentric Flow Stream Wells, Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Scottish Funding Council, 306298 - 18OP_21, £ 45000, 2019.

An industrial project about oil-wells