Infrastructures in Energy- 10 years experience –how does

this feed into the future?

Nick SyredCardiff University

Cardiff University - EU Infrastructures

• EU Panel - 1990’s - large unique European combustion facilities available for research/ training

• Major accessible combustion Facilities identified.

• Lead to EUROFLAM- Cardiff, IFRF, the Netherlands and ENEL, Italy, 1994.

EUROFLAM -the last 10 years

• Separate applications- common management structure - publicity, assessment, etc.

• Yearly seminar- investigators present work.

• Access up to 9 months• Operated under HCM, then TMR etc• Followed by EUROFLAM 2 and 3

+extension

EUROFLAM, the last 10 years

• Later 6 months study • PICOFLAM for FSU (3)• EUROFLAM Marie Curie

Industrial training site-same management structure-Cardiff 4 fellows -42 months

• Positive Investigator feedback

EUROFLAM -the last 10 years• 3 Institutions -different strengths/

weaknesses.• Institutions - major Industry -

Industrial Research + University - unique complimentarity

• Feedback from assessors very good • Lead ↑ research co-operation• ENEL exceptional-liked young

investigators + ‘tangential’ ideas -mature Investigators

EUROFLAM - the last 10 years

• IFRF, the Netherlands, support by National flame Committees- European, USA, Japan, Australia, Canada etc- Investigators liked global flavour/contacts

• I3 funding sort- EUROFLAM 4- more co-ordinated approach, 3x3 months in 3 Centres. Not funded

Concerted Actions in Energy• Round table/Infrastructure Co-Op.

network - 8 years with:• IFRF, ENEL, Cardiff - EUROFLAM

consortium • +Ciemat PSA, Spain (Solar Energy)• +FAPS/CRNS Orleans,

Combustion/Aerothermal studies• +IMP, CRNS, Font Romeu, France-

large solar mirrors• Most synergy FAPS and EUROFLAM +

Ciemat-PSA

Concerted Actions in Energy

• Euroflam OK - difficult to collaborate with others

• No point unless leads to sustained co-operation - needs financing.

• Too diverse? ie IMP, CRNS• Solar Energy mirrors-materials

research via high temp. furnaces• CIEMAT-PSA-very co-operative

CA’s in Energy- a way forward?

• Focus/bridge between fossil fuel energy & renewables?

• How large/membership?• CA’s in various energy areas -

steering committee?• Need targeted R&D calls to

bind diverse groups. • ie Solar/Combustion,

wind/wave/tidal etc

The future?• Varying national priorities, funding,

privatisation?• Common research for 10 years?• Large scale facilities-regular

upgrading/obsolescence? Long employment staff problematic

• Instrumentation regular maintenance/replacement.

• EUROFLAM-good model-diverse Institutions co-operating, ↑common research

The future?

• Integration beyond certain levels?• Success - small groups of persons -

‘succession’ ?• EUROFLAM-I3 concept 9 month

package, 3 months at 3 Institutions attractive?

• Great diversity of Large Scale Facilities, many benefits of linking diverse but related facilites as EUROFLAM

• Energy Facilities very diverse?

What can be done-illustrate by what we are doing in Wales

• Welsh Assembly Govt. ↑energy research

• CU large rigs laser diagnostics/lab. equipment ↑10 years-upgrading?

• Move- new areas, upgrade existing rigs/diagnostics

• Co-operation other Welsh Universities

• Better site needed

What can be done-illustrate by what we are doing in Wales

• Relocation high pressure, 16 bar, GT combustor rig to Port Talbot.

• Rig-upgrade-full optical access -laser diagnostics- 21st C needs.

• Operational 2006• Run by University- agreements

with donating organisation• Other smaller rigs to follow

SRIF 2 Sustainable

Energy

Gas Turbine Combustion Research Centre

16 bar900 K5 Kg/s

New Optical Rig

4 Optical Acess Windows Suitable for LDA, PIV, PLIF & Laser tomography Burning rate for variety of

fuels (gaseous & Liquids)

Auto ignition Rig

Intrusive Gas Sampling Turbulent Burning Velocities

What can be done-illustrate by what we are doing in Wales

• Gas turbine oscillations, emissions, novel fuel mixes, hydrogen, micro- combustors

• Pulse detonation engines• Equipment side upgrade:• 0.75 M Euros new/upgraded laser

diagnostics• 1.4 M Euros new chem. lab. for environ.

analysis etc

What can be done-illustrate by what we are doing in Wales

• 4/5 large rigs CU to Port Talbot.• Pan Wales re-organisation of Energy

work to Port Talbot • ↑ Synergy in diverse Institutions• Completion 2007• Similar concentrations Sheffield/Leeds

Universities

What can be done-illustrate by what we are doing in Wales

• Materials R&D Swansea ,also to Port Talbot ?

• Quota of D.Eng’s- 4 years. 20 per year bidding proces. Stipend 27K Euros p.a. tax free

• Very cost effective-dynamic centre/node

• Young + mature researchers beneficial

What can be done-illustrate by what we are doing in Wales

• Development via :• Bidding industrial work globally• Government grants• EU R&D progs.• Other Universities access?• EU trans national access

How can we relate this to the development of new Infrastructures?

• UK ↑concentration, Universities science/ tech.↓

• Student nos. same • Technician courses↓• R&D in Eng. Depts in UK• Rolls Royce → R&D to

Universities/Cambridge/ Nottingham.• Aided Govnt. funding to Universities• Rolls Royce same Germany/ USA• Can cause problems

How can we relate this to the development of new Infrastructures?

• New infrastructure needs?• Closure of IFRF research

station?• Why?• Relied on International

Contributions• Failed to develop new areas• Dutch costs too high

How can we relate this to the development of new Infrastructures?

• Dynamic areas in combust.?• Gas turbines- oscillations-diverse

fuels, ↑compressors, turbines, materials etc

• High pressure data needed• New cycles CO2 sequestration,

components/fuel cells• Coal utilisation/co-firing,↑ cycles,

novel cycles• Mini/micro- propulsion/power

systems

How can we relate this to the development of new Infrastructures?

• Small biomass power, ↑small steam turbines, gas turbines

• H2 alternatives ? lousy for storage

• Gas engines-CNG ?• IC engine ↑?- • ↑ compression ratios• Combustion fundamentals?