The Energy Lab
The products obtained will also differ depending on the method used. Combustion produces electricity/heat, various kinds of ashes and flue gases. Gasification produces ash and a product gas (mostly CO, H2, and CH4) that can be burned or converted to environmental fuels or chemicals. Pyrolysis produces coal (ash and coal), oil in some cases, and a product gas that contains more substances compared to the product gas from gasification. All these processes are examined in the Energy Lab, where the usability of different materials as fuel, the various processes, and the products that are obtained are all examined in order to change what is today called waste into new raw materials. All our research aims at promoting a sustainable society with a circular economy.
The lab is divided into two parts. First is the wet chemical part where there is a sink and fume hoods. Here you will find various kinds of equipment for leaching, weighing, sieving, pH measurement, and more. Much of the preparation of fuels and samples to be analysed is also done here.
The second part is for thermal investigations, where there are different research reactors for thermal processes, furnaces, and analysis instruments. The equipment available is a fixed bed reactor, where a pyrolysis boiler is simulated, a rotating pyrolysis reactor, analysis instruments such as gas chromatograph with three detectors, mass spectrometer, FID and TCD, three different Thermogravimetric Analyzers (TGA), where one can be pressurised to 30 bar, as well as two high temperature ovens, including one that has a nitrogen atmosphere, and a drying oven.
Research projects
Research projects currently underway are linked to different doctoral projects in the field of Resource Recovery. Many research projects are also linked to degree projects within the Energy Engineering programme or the Master’s Programme in Resource Recovery - Sustainable Energy Processes. We receive several study visits from secondary students each year. The purpose of these visits is to raise interest in continuing studies with us by learning about our laboratory resources and our ongoing research.
Works underway in the lab
Doctoral projects
- Investigation on pyrolysis of biomass and influence of different pathways on the product.
Scheduled to conclude in 2022 - Investigation of fast pyrolysis on gas products, primary reactions under different temperatures, residence time and organic material as biomaterials and polymers.
Scheduled to conclude in 2022 - Experimental and modelled investigation of pyrolysis of sewage sludge. The fate of phosphorus and heavy metals.
Scheduled to conclude August 2024. - Investigation on the phosphorus compounds after combustion or pyrolysis of different sewage sludge.
Began: 2022-09 - Algae-membrane bioreactors as a method to utilize CO2 and other compounds from CO2-rich gas streams and produce valuable algal biomass. Scheduled to conclude in 2026
- Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge with other wastes to promote metal release.
Began: 2022-09
Master's level degree projects
- Pyrolysis of microalgae - maximizing the yield of bio-oil.
Scheduled to conclude June 2022 - Pyrolysis of dried sewage sludge from Borås at different temperatures to investigate the fate of phosphorus and heavy metals.
Scheduled to conclude June 2022