R&D Project List

BIOBASED ECONOMY

2012/01/01 -2012/12/31.

Regional Research Project funded by the Basque Government through the EMAITEK Programme and developed by TECNALIA R&I to provide information over the use, conservation and processing routes of biological resources (including related knowledge, science, technology, and innovation) to all economic sectors in the region (stakeholders) with the aim of moving towards a sustainable economy. The main evaluated values chains were based on biogas, building blocks for bio-based plastics processed from vegetable oils, and microalgaes.

DEMCAMER 

2011/07/01 - 2015/06/30.

This project (Design and Manufacturing of Catalytic Membrane Reactors) was a Collaborative Research Project of the Seventh Research Framework Programme (G.A. No. NMP3- LA-2011262840),coordinated by TECNALIA R&I. This proposed an answer to the paradigm met by the European Chemical Industry: increase the production rate while keeping the same products quality and reducing both production costs and environmental impacts. Through the implementation of a novel process intensification approach consisting on the combination of reaction and separation in a “Catalytic Membrane Reactor” single unit.

The aim of DEMCAMER project was to develop innovative multifunctional Catalytic Membrane Reactors (CMR) based on new nano-architectured catalysts and selective membranes materials to improve their performance, cost effectiveness (i.e.; reducing the number of steps) and sustainability (lower environmental impact and use of new raw materials) over four selected chemical processes ((Autothermal Reforming (ATR), Fischer-Tropsch (FTS), Water Gas Shift (WGS), and Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM)) for pure hydrogen, liquid hydrocarbons and ethylene production.

AZIMUT ("Offshore Wind Energy 2020")

 2010/01/01 -2013/12/31.

National Research Project funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) within the framework of the sixth round of research and development grants and the CENIT Programme (National Strategic Consortium in Technical Research). Within this project, the technological services of TECNALIA R&I were hired by Tecnicas Reunidas (official partner of this project) to contribute to objectives 1 and 2 described below.

Project Description. To generate knowledge to develop a large-capacity offshore wind generator (15 MW) in 2020 and overcome the challenges that are currently keeping offshore wind ener- gy from taking off, such as efficiency, availability and energy and investment costs. To re- search for systems to harness offshore wind energy and convert it into electric energy; struc- tures, construction, operations and maintenance, and integration into the electrical system.

Objectives of the Project:

1. Zinc-air redox flow batteries. To research on the potential of zinc-air redox flow batteries for large-scale energy storage and for integrating offshore wind energy into the grid. This new technology is characterised by its low cost, safety and respect for the environment.

2. To develop new electrodes, membranes and electrolytes. To investigate on the process of zinc electrodeposition in alkaline mediums, to develop new catalysts and electrodes for the reduction and evolution of oxygen and ion transport membranes, to model and to simulate electrochemical and hydrodynamic processes.

3. To fine- tune a test bench for redox flow batteries. To design and to construct a test facility for the validation of the new components and integrated system versus real operation profiles.

MICROCHANNEL 2 

2010/01/01 - 2010/12/31.

Regional Research Project funded by the Basque Government through the EMAITEK Programme and developed by TECNALIA R&I to design and manufacture Microchannel Catalytic Reactors for applications in the Biogas Reforming to produce H2/syngas via the 3D printing technology.

VALCAPEF 

2009/01/01 - 2011/02/28.

Regional Research Project funded by the Basque Government through the EMAITEK Programme and developed by TECNALIA R&I to research and develop technologies for the increase of energy efficiency, capture and valorization of CO2. The project was focused on different biogas reforming technologies (e.g., Dry Reforming and Bi-reforming) for CO2 valorization, and technologies such as adsorption, and membrane gas separation for CO2 capture., 

SPHERA 

2007/01/01 -2010/12/31.

Research Project funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) within the framework of the sixth round of research and development grants and the CENIT Programme (National Strategic Consortium in Technical Research) with the aim of carrying out industrial research on different technologies for the production, storage, distribution and use of hydrogen. Within this project, TECNALIA R&I participated in collaboration with the companies involved in the development of hydrogen production technologies through electrolysis. Particularly in the development of new polymer electrolyte membranes for electrolyzers. 

MICROCHANNEL 

2009/01/01 - 2009/12/31.

Regional Research Project funded by the Basque Government through the EMAITEK Programme and developed by TECNALIA R&I to design and manufacture Microchannel Catalytic Reactors by 3D printing technologies for applications in the synthetic biofuels production (Biodiesel) via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis.

SEPHYCO 

2008/09/01 - 2011/03/31. 

National Project funded by the Research Program of the Ministry of Science and Innovation [MICINN-08-CIT-120000-2008-4) to develop new nanostructured membranes and their integration on reactors for hydrogen production and CO2 capture. Within this project, TECNALIA R&I has contributed to the development of composite membranes formed by thin layers of palladium (or its alloys) on porous supports. The proposed membrane configurations consisted of basic structures of porous steel, impregnated with ceramic materials, on which the palladium was deposited either by physical methods (vapor phase deposition), chemical methods (impregnating with palladium salts and chemically reducing), or electrochemical. 

MEMBRANE REACTORS FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION AND CO2 CAPTURE

Strategic Research Project

2009/01/01 - 2009/06/02.

Strategic Research Project, developed by TECNALIA R&I to evaluate the performance of innovative membranes for catalytic reactors designed for H2 separation or production and CO2 capture. The first ones were based on metal based membranes (e.g., Pd-multi alloys and non-Pd alloys), and the second ones on zeolite membranes [e.g., defect free NaA stabilised sodalite (SOD) and FAU membranes with entrapped catalytic nano-sized particles].

DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS FOR ADVANCED ALKALINE ELECTROLYSERS

 2007/04/16 - 2010/12/31.

Private Research Project developed by TECNALIA R&I aimed at developing new materials and components for applications in advanced alkaline electrolizers. This project was focused on manufacturing new electrodes by using advanced coating technologies based on vapor-phase deposition technologies such as atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and PVD-Magnetron Sputtering (PVD-MS). The developed electrodes were made of nickel, nickel-plated steel, or titanium coated with a nickel-based alloy.

INNOVATIVE SYSTEMS FOR DECENTRALIZED HYDROGEN PRODUCTION / PET1

2009/01/01 - 2009/12/30.

Regional Research Project funded by the Basque Government and developed by TECNALIA R&I to identify from the state-of-the-art potential applications of own technologies enabling to develop innovative systems for decentralized hydrogen production based on catalytic, fixed or fluidized bed integrated membrane reactors for the carriers conversion of high efficiency energy (e.g., ammonia cracking, methanol, DME, formic acid, etc.).

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR COMPREHENSIVE UTILIZATION OF BIOMASS ENERGY

2008/01/01 - 2008/12/31.

Regional Research Project funded by the Basque Government and developed by TECNALIA R&I to evaluate from the state-of-the-art advanced technologies for comprehensive use of Biomass Energy based mainly on pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic digestion.

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION AND THEIR ASSOCIATED RECONVERSION

2007/05/28 - 2008/12/30.

Private Research Project developed by TECNALIA R&I to evaluate from the state-of-the-art alternatives solutions for the hydrogen production and their associated reconversion based on the biomass gasification and Thermocatalytic Decomposition (TCD) of CH4.

CATALYTIC MICROREACTORS FOR NATURAL GAS AND FISCHER-TROPSCH SYNTHESIS 

International Research Project funded by PETROBRAS S. A.

2006/03/01 - 2009/08/31.

Research Project funded by PETROBRAS S. A. (The Brazilian Oil Company) and coordinated by the University of the Basque Country to develop new catalysts and Catalytic Microreactors for applications in Natural Gas Reforming and Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis. The manufacturing process of these devices was carried out via multi-step approach which ranged from the etching of metal plates, the stacking and welding of such plates to the connection of reactor components to the final assembly of the microreactor and the subsequent deposition of the catalyst onto the internal walls of the microreactor by washcoating.

Objectives of the project.

• Selection and evaluation of metal alloys with enhanced thermal, mechanical, chemical properties.

• Evaluation of different etching and joining technologies for fabricating microchannels in metal plates and the subsequent assembly of microreactors (e.g., Etching technologies: μ-EDM: micro electro discharge machining, micromilling, and microdrilling; Joining technologies: Spark Plasma, Diffusion

bonding, Vacuum brazing and screwing and sealing).

• Design & configuration of microreactor according to the reaction conditions. • Catalyst-reactor integration by coating technologies.

• Performance test of microreactor.

DESIGN OF CATALYTIC SYSTEMS FOR THE VALORIZATION OF GAS STREAMS

2000/01/02 - 2003/12/31.

 International Research Project funded by the CONICIT-CONIPET Programme and developed at the Universidad Central de Venezuela to develop new catalysts and reaction systems for natural gas conversion into hydrogen/syngas via methane reforming technologies and the syngas conversion into synthetic fuels via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis.