CNR - Institute for Research on Combustion
Partner name CNR - Institute for Research on Combustion
Web site http://www.irc.cnr.it/progetti/megaris
Address Tel: +390815704105
Via Diocleziano 328 - 80124 Napoli, ITALIA
Main contact Ing. Francesco Saverio Marra
Email: marra@irc.cnr.it
Profile The Combustion Research Institute was founded in 1968 with the aim of establishing a public research body dedicated to the study of combustion processes, either relevant to energy conversion, or to the prevention and control of fires, explosions, accidental releases. In addition to the contribution to scientific advancement in these fields, the Institute has greatly contributed over decades to the progress of other disciplines falling in the chemical engineering and neighbouring areas: chemical reactor engineering, analytical methods, multiphase flow, heat and mass transfer, to cite a few. The Institute counts today 53 permanent staff, half of whom hold a university (master/doctoral) degree. The current research activities are developed along the following lines:
  • development of efficient and environmentally compatible combustion and gasification technologies
  • utilization of alternative fuels (e.g. biomass, wastes and refuse-derived fuels)
  • development of innovative intrusive and non intrusive combustion diagnostics
  • detailed modelling of reacting systems
  • assessment of safety with the use of inflammable materials
  • investigation of oxidation mechanisms and complex kinetics
  • control and removal of pollutants in flue gases
  • catalytic combustion/gasification and catalytic abatement of pollutants
The Institute has established over the years a rich network of cooperative activities with universities, public and private research centres and companies, in Italy and worldwide. It is involved in several national and international cooperative research projects in the field of combustion.
Role in the project The Institute undertakes the development of the new fluidized bed combustor, fuelled by biomass and hosting the Stirling hot heat exchanger immersed in the bed or heated by CSP. This target is pursued by coupling extensive numerical simulations with experimental assessment of the developed solutions. In cooperation with the partners are determined the key energy parameters for the coupling with the Stirling engine and the solar concentrator.

Previous experience relating to their role: The institute has a long term internationally recognized expertize in the field of fluidized bed combustion. It has the capabilities to realize and exercise from small to medium scale fluidized combustors and to perform full diagnostic of the physical and chemical quantities. Numerical simulations capabilities, ranging from simplified models to large scale, parallel high performance computations, have been adopted to model premixed gas combustion, up to the reproduction of combustion instabilities, diffusion flames and multiphase, particle loaded, flows of interest in coal gasification technologies. It is partner in several national and international projects for the development of energy systems with low environmental impact.

Profile of Staff undertaking the job: The research team involved in the project includes a Director of Research, a First Researcher and 3 Senior Researchers, as well as several young researcher and technicians. The main project researcher, Francesco Saverio Marra, has been leader or involved in several projects regarding the efficient and clean utilization of fossil and renewable energy sources. Numerical simulation of combustion phenomena with a computational fluid dynamics approach is his main field of expertise together with the study of unsteady and stability aspects of combustion.