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MEN031 Thermochemical conversion technologies (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Space, Earth and Environment

Contact details

 

Course purpose

The aim is to introduce the student to thermochemical conversion processes in applications important for industrial processes in todays and tomorrows society. The course covers processes like pyrolysis, gasification, cracking and combustion where the conversion aims to produce material, heat, electricity or steam. The understanding of those processes is of great importance today and a key competence in the transformation towards a future resource efficient production, waste handling and recycling.

 

Structure

The course consists of two parts: the first, Conversion science, is related to the conversion process itself while the second, Conversion devices, is related to its applications.

Conversion science represents the main part of the course, since it is fundamental for the general understanding of the design and operation of the various devices existing. In first place, basic knowledge is given on chemistry, physics and the various fuels. This is used thereafter in the teaching of phenomena such as criteria for combustion, combustion of various fuels and generation and destruction of emissions.

Conversion devices acquaint the student with the most common techniques and designs in use today for combustion and give an overview of emerging technologies. The knowledge acquired is applied in alignment with the lectures through the calculation by students of the design of a boiler and the application of the design principles onto an emerging conversion technology.

 

 

Schedule

Vecka Veckodag Startdatum Starttid Sluttid Rum
v 13 Måndag 2025-03-24 13:15 15:00 MC thermodynamics and chemistry Martin
v 13 Måndag 2025-03-24 15:15 17:00 MC Intro + 1 Adam
v 13 Torsdag 2025-03-27 08:00 09:45 MC Physics in thermal conversion  David
v 13 Torsdag 2025-03-27 10:00 11:45 MC ass 1 Adam
v 13 Fredag 2025-03-28 15:15 17:00 MC Chemical Reactors  David
v 14 Måndag 2025-03-31 13:15 15:00 MC Conversion of Solids David
v 14 Måndag 2025-03-31 15:15 17:00 MC intro ass2 ass 1 Adam
v 14 Torsdag 2025-04-03 08:00 09:45 MC Conversion of Gases Martin
v 14 Torsdag 2025-04-03 10:00 11:45 MC Demonstration of conversion phenomena  Martin
v 14 Fredag 2025-04-04 15:15 17:00 MC ass 2 Adam
v 15 Måndag 2025-04-07 13:15 15:00 MC reaction criterias Martin
v 15 Måndag 2025-04-07 15:15 17:00 MC ass 2 Adam
v 15 Torsdag 2025-04-10 08:00 09:45 MC thermochemical conversion Martin
v 15 Torsdag 2025-04-10 10:00 11:45 MC ass 3 Adam
v 15 Fredag 2025-04-11 15:15 17:00 MC ass 3 Adam
v 16 Måndag Easter          
v 16 Måndag Easter          
v 16 Torsdag Easter          
v 16 Torsdag Easter          
v 16 Fredag Easter          
v 17 Måndag Easter          
v 17 Måndag Easter          
v 17 Torsdag 2025-04-24 08:00 09:45 MC gasifiers and pyrolyzers Martin
v 17 Torsdag 2025-04-24 10:00 11:45 MC ass 4 Adam
v 17 Fredag 2025-04-25 15:15 17:00 MC ass 1-3 solution Adam
v 18 Måndag 2025-04-28 13:15 15:00 MC Waste incinneration and Emissions Sven Andersson
v 18 Måndag 2025-04-28 15:15 17:00 MC uppscaling and review Ass 1-3 Martin&David
v 18 Torsdag 01-maj          
v 18 Torsdag 01-maj          
v 19 Måndag 2025-05-05 13:15 15:00 MC Conversion of Liquids David
v 19 Måndag 2025-05-05 15:15 17:00 MC ass 4 Adam
v 19 Torsdag 2025-05-08 08:00 09:45 MC Thermochemcial conversion in Petrochemistry Martin
v 19 Torsdag 2025-05-08 10:00 11:45 MC ass 5 Adam
v 19 Fredag 2025-05-09 15:15 17:00 MC  ass 5 intro ass 6 Adam
v 20 Måndag 2025-05-12 13:15 15:00 MC Gas turbines Jenny Larfeldt
v 20 Måndag 2025-05-12 15:15 17:00 MC ass 6  Martin&David
v 20 Torsdag 2025-05-15 08:00 09:45 MC Plasma combustion Adrian
v 20 Torsdag 2025-05-15 10:00 11:45 MC ass 6 Martin&David
v 20 Fredag 2025-05-16 15:15 17:00 MC ass6 Martin&David
v 21 Måndag 2025-05-19 13:15 15:00 MC research and new developments David
v 21 Måndag 2025-05-19 15:15 17:00 MC ass 6 Martin&David
v 21 Torsdag 2025-05-22 08:00 09:45 MC ass 6 + study visit Martin&David
v 21 Torsdag 2025-05-22 10:00 11:45 MC ass 6 + study visit Martin&David
v 21 Fredag 2025-05-23 15:15 17:00 MC Wrap-up  Martin&David
v 22 Måndag 2025-05-26 13:15 15:00 MC Presentation Ass6 compulsory Claes B
v 22 Måndag 2025-05-26 15:15 17:00 MC Presentation Ass6 compulsory Claes B
v 23 Tisdag 2025-06-03 08:30 13:00   exam
v 35 Tisdag 2025-08-26 08:30 13:00   re-exam

the schedule is subject to change which will be announced on the course page

Course literature

Course compendium is supplied

Course design

1.Lectures on conversion science

2.(Demonstration of phenomena, study visit,) lectures on applications, R&D

3.A build-up case study divided into 5 assignments. Sessions are scheduled for introduction, support and solution to the assignments. Short written individual reports are handed in for each assignment (compulsory). Reports must be handed in at latest one week after the last corresponding session and will be corrected once!

4.Group project (assignment 6) on a thermo(chemical) system, compulsory presentation of the work on 23/5  

5.A concluding written examination 28th of May,    retake-exam 27th  of Aug

 

Changes made since the last occasion

The course is continuously updated to take up trends and developments in the field of thermo-chemical conversion, this affects mostly the parts related to applications.

Learning objectives

  • Account for the most important fuels, their characteristics and different factors that decide their use.
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of the chemistry associated with thermochemical conversion, which includes stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, kinetic or diffusion controlled processes and adiabatic temperature.
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of the physics associated with thermochemical conversion, which includes the conservation equations of total mass, specific species and energy, dimensionless numbers and the influence of turbulence and ways to handle it.
  • Establish and solve a scheme of basic chemical reactors for a given combustion situation.
  • Understand the criteria for ignition and extinction.
  • Understand relevant analytical concepts for basic estimations of relevant properties, and have the capability to use these for analyzing issues related to the conversion of various types of different fuels.
  • Account for the major emissions associated with combustion, their generation and destruction paths and measures to minimize pollutant emissions in different combustion devices.
  • Account for the design of different combustion devices, such as gas turbines, internal combustion engines, boilers and furnaces.
  • account for the principle design of different thermochemical conversion processes, such as gasification, pyrolysis and cracking
  • Be able to take forward a design prospect for the optimal design of a large-scale furnace given a fuel type, thermal power, design temperature and allowed emission levels.

Examination form

To get approved you need:

Approved assignments

Approved written examination

The compendium will be allowed to use in the written examination.

Roughly 1/3 of the written examination is allocated to calculation tasks

40 % to get approved on the written examination

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due
Thu, 3 Apr 2025 Assignment Assignment 1 – Heat Balance due by 23:59