Systems modeling and simulation

[ Simulation for the mastery of physical phenomena ] Compared with conventional stirred reactors, microfluidic systems are of great interest for process intensification, combining low reagent requirements with better performance in terms of mass and heat transfer. In this type of micro-reactor, segmented flows in micro-tubes (also known as Taylor flows) have, for example, been successfully tested at IFPEN to intensify the ethylene oligomerization reaction.

To maximize the contribution of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) to the decarbonization of the transport sector, their energy performance is a key factor that needs to be considered from the design phase. For an HEV, optimizing the design in order to reduce consumption involves not only optimizing a sizing aspect but also the EMS. This co-optimization of sizing and energy management is generally tackled either by nesting optimal control algorithms within an optimization algorithm dedicated to sizing, or by using convex optimization to simultaneously optimize the design levels. However, the former approach is known to induce computational constraints (for example relating to calculation time), while the latter can affect modeling fidelity due to the constraints inherent in convex optimization...

According to the NZE (Net Zero Emission) scenario of the IEAa, the deployment of CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage) needs to accelerate and increase from around 40 Mt of CO2 captured globally in 2022 to 1 Gt in 2030. Among the solutions developed, post-combustion capture using solvents is, so far, considered to be one of the most robust, efficient and appropriate. The DMXTM solution, which addresses the need to have access to effective and economical technologies, is one such option. The fruit of more than 10 years research at IFPEN, this technology, now entering the final development phase, had to be demonstrated in a real industrial setting...

Driven by the quest for innovative transport technologies, IFPEN has spent many years developing and helping to market new biofuel production processes (Vegan®, Futurol®, BioTfueL®). Among the various process options studied, the bioethanol production chain based on lignocellulosic resources offers numerous advantages...

Building on knowledge acquired relating to alumina precipitation synthesis for heterogeneous catalyst supports, IFPEN’s teams set about working on pCAM synthesis for Li-ion batteries. These materials are indeed also obtained by precipitation in stirred tank reactors, which shares similarities with alumina synthesis (nucleation, growth and agglomeration phenomena). Nevertheless, they come with their own challenges and, consequently, with new research opportunities...

In chemical conversion processes implementing heterogeneous catalysis, the active phase, which accelerates molecular conversions, is often deposited on a porous support. Most of the time, this support has a large internal surface area, making it possible to host a large number of active sites within a small volume. Very often, the porous support is alumina, which needs to have adequate mechanical and thermal resistances and enhance mass and heat transfer. These properties are highly dependent on the texture of the support, which itself stems from its production process...

The thermal management of electric motors is an essential element in competitive low-carbon mobility, since more efficient cooling not only increases motor performance density (power or torque by mass), but also improves operational reliability by preventing deterioration phenomena (such as demagnetization)...