Groups

CERTEC is a research group specialized in the study of risk and safety associated with the use of dangerous materials. The group investigates in the field of accident modeling in the chemical and petrochemical industry (fires, explosions and releases of toxic substances), both experimentally and more recently in CFD modeling. They also perform research in the field of risk quantification methodologies associated with industrial processes. The PROSAFE project (Smart Integration of Process Systems Engineering & Machine Learning for Improved Process Safety in Process Industries, from the MARIE CURIE DOCTORAL NETWORKS program, 2024-2027) has recently started, in which hydrogen is incorporated as a case study.

The group has researchers with complementary expertise in the fields of fabrication, deformation, fatigue, fracture and characterization of ceramic materials, metal alloys and inorganic compounds. This acquired knowledge, along with research combining advanced experimental techniques and different characterization approaches, allow us to obtain information on the fundamental mechanisms that govern the interactions of hydrogen with materials, particularly with regard to mechanical properties and engineering applications such as hydrogen storage and transport. In particular, in the field of hydrogen hydride storage, the group has worked on severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques for ECAP of magnesium alloys. In the field of hydrogen production and use technologies, the group has expertise in the manufacture of components and electrochemical and mechanical characterization of fuel cells and high-temperature electrolyzers (SOFCs and SOECs). Currently, the group works on the additive manufacturing of ceramic monoliths for the reforming of alcohols, and the determination of the microstructural characteristics, and electrochemical and micromechanical properties of SOFCs and SOECs. These activities are carried out in the group's laboratories and at the Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering (Diagonal-Besòs Campus of the UPC).

CITCEA-UPC is a research and technology transfer center, part of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), specialized in power electronics and its applications. Since 2001, CITCEA-UPC has been part of the TECNIO network, a stamp awarded by ACCIÓ (Generalitat de Catalunya) to identify the most innovative research and technology centers. In 2009, CITCEA-UPC was officially recognized by AGAUR (Agency for Management of University and Research of Catalunya) as a consolidated research group.

CITCEA develops research and technology transfer in electrical engineering, power electronics, mechatronics, renewable generation and modern electrical systems.

CITCEA-UPC is currently developing projects in the following areas:

CREMIT is a research group linked to the Thermal Engines Laboratory at the ETSEIB. It is a laboratory strongly linked to the world of internal combustion engines. Since 2018, they have been carrying out experimental activities for the use of hydrogen in conventional engines, as a complement or substitute for ordinary fuels, mainly aimed at reducing emissions and CO2.

The main objectives of the CTTC are teaching, researching and tranfering technology in the field of heat and mass transfer. Studies are carried out either from a basic research perspective, in which mathematical formulation, numerical solutions and experimental validation are considered, or from the perspective of applied research, in which the know-how acquired in the basic research line is applied to thermal and fluid dynamic design and the optimisation of thermal systems and equipment. 

The basic research line includes:

In the applied research line, particular attention is paid to projects in the fields of refrigeration, HVAC, active and passive solar energy systems, heat exchangers, heat storage using liquids and phase change

Recently created group dedicated to basic research in the field of fluid mechanics in general, to practical applications derived in engineering, as well as in the development and design of equipment, systems and machines of industrial interest.

The ENMA group belongs to different departments at the UPC and is one of the research groups of the INTEXTER. The institute is recognized as a TECNIO development center by the Agency for Business Competitiveness of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

The main lines of research focus on:

1.       Project management.

2.       Industrial water management.

3.       Waste management.

4.       Industrial and residential energy management.

5.       Detection, analysis, and treatment of emerging contaminants.

All of these lines are driven by the principles of the circular economy. Environmental and social life cycle assessment (eLCA and sLCA), as well as economic life cycle assessment (LCC), are used as tools for decision-making among different technological solutions or alternatives, and to evaluate the sustainability of projects.

The connection with CER-H2 lies in the integration of points 2, 3, and 5. These three lines combine the treatment of industrial waters in the textile sector through electrochemical processes that generate hydrogen as a byproduct (previously considered a waste released into the atmosphere). This hydrogen can be recovered to improve the energy management of the plant.

The NEMEN group focuses its activity on the preparation, characterization and evaluation of catalysts to operate in a heterogeneous phase in reactions of fundamental and industrial interest in the energy field.

Model catalysts are designed, usually nanoparticles supported on inorganic oxides, in order to find out the nature of their active centers with the help of "operating" techniques of spectroscopy and microscopy that are carried out in the group's laboratories, in the Center of Research in Multiscale Science and Engineering in Barcelona (Diagonal-Besòs Campus of the UPC) and in the ALBA synchrotron. The industrial application is oriented to the tailor-made preparation of catalytic devices and to the engineering of the reaction. It works with catalytic wall reactors, microreactors, membrane reactors and 3D printing techniques. 

The group works on the catalytic and photocatalytic production of hydrogen and synthetic fuels, on the elimination of air pollutants (CO, VOC and soot) and on the recovery of CO2.

R2EM group is developing research activity on development of sustainable urban and industrial waste management cycles based on resource recovery approaches promoting circular solutions of waste to product and waste to energy. Research also involves efforts on developing environmental remediation solutions for soils and ground water, process and environmental monitoring and environmental risk assessment on ports. 

The RIIS Research Group focuses its activity on the sustainable use of resources from a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective. It aims to respond to the challenge of optimal use of natural and mineral resources and urban, industrial and mining waste. This comprehensive solution requires different fields of action. The search and treatment of resources is investigated taking into account that they are limited and, therefore, their use must be maximized, while producing a minimum of final waste. This is in line with the current trends, promoted by the European Union, of Zero Waste and Circular Economy. The development of monitoring and control systems, which entails the so-called smart industry, is essential to achieve this objective.

In the last years, several members of the research group have been developing techniques for recovering industrial gaseous emissions through biological systems that use hydrogen as an electron donor. These technologies can represent another stimulus for the production and valorization of green hydrogen, through their use for the production of biomethane from residual CO2, elemental sulfur from SO2 (or sulfate), production of ammonia as fuel from NOx emissions, etc.

The group aim is to carry out applied research in modelling, identification and simulation of continuous and discontinuous industrial processes:

The aim is to devise software applications that increase the reliability and performance of processes and systems on the basis of this research.