The Laboratory of Research in Fluid Dynamics and Combustion Technologies (LIFTEC by its Spanish acronym) is a joint center between the Spanish Scientific Research Council (CSIC) and University of Zaragoza.
The research activities at LIFTEC are dedicated to the study of various phenomena related to Fluid Dynamics, with special attention to environmental problems, including experimental, computational and theoretical techniques.
The main lines of research are:
Es una línea estable y bien consolidada, en la que se ha trabajado desde la creación del LIFTEC, puesto que fue la que impulsó la creación del Laboratorio.
El laboratorio dispone de un completo conjunto de instalaciones experimentales, que permiten realizar una amplia gama de ensayos de combustión, así como de otros aspectos relacionados con la fluidodinámica industrial. Desde el inicio de su construcción, en 1988, se ha dedicado un notable esfuerzo en la ampliación y mejora de las instalaciones, de forma que las capacidades del laboratorio aumentan continuamente.
Existen tres plantas experimentales de combustión, que permiten utilizar combustibles gaseosos, líquidos (incluyendo combustibles pesados) y sólidos pulverizados (carbón, biomasa, residuos), con potencias térmicas de hasta 0.5 MW. Actualmente está en construcción un nuevo sistema para el estudio de la combustión en turbinas de gas. Estas instalaciones se complementan con la instrumentación para la realización de medidas dentro de la llama o en los productos de la combustión.
Los combustores se encuentran dotados con las instalaciones auxiliares necesarias para su operación: alimentación de combustibles, circuitos de aire de combustión, sistema de refrigeración, etc. Gracias a su flexibilidad, estos sistemas auxiliares constituyen, además, instalaciones de propósito general que se utilizan para numerosos estudios relativos a equipos y procesos no relacionados directamente con la combustión.
En los siguientes enlaces puede encontrarse información adicional sobre los principales medios e instalaciones disponibles.
This is one of the founding lines of research in LIFTEC. The experience in it is enormous, and it is well consolidated in the center. As a summary, it can be said that it includes all the studies related to Fluid Mechanics, both computational and experimental that are not specific to any of the other research lines in the Laboratory.
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Increasing concern for the environment coupled with dwindling fossil-fuel reserves (used to generate more than 85% of worldwide electricity consumption), and the subsequent price hike, have galvanised engineers, researchers and political organisations all over the globe into seeking new devices that produce clean energy. One of the most promising alternative methods, especially for portable and mobile applications and for the automotive and cogeneration sectors is proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells.
LIFTEC began studying this technology in 2002 when the CSIC (Spanish Scientific Research Council) created the Fuel Cell and Advanced Battery Network. The research LIFTEC conducts in this area focuses on both scientific and technological aspects by developing PEM fuel cells with a variety of powers that can be installed in several applications.
Development and population growth are increasing the pressure on natural resources, particularly water. In recent, limitations on water quantity and/or quality have led to numerous conflicts world-wide. The limitations on water availability make it necessary to increase the efficiency with which water is used. Irrigated agriculture, industry and residential are the primary destination of the worlds fresh water supply. In semi-arid environments, irrigation alone can account for 80% of the regional water use. Overland flow is present extensively in water conveyance and water use. Indeed, most water conveyance, natural and man-made, is performed in overland flow, such as in rivers and canals.
In the last decades, overland flow modelling has been an active field of research. Developments in numerical methods and computational resources have led to a series of models applicable to different geometries and types of flows. At the present time, overland flow modelling is facing the challenges dictated by new numerical approaches, the simulation of canal and river networks, the need to achieve high irrigation management standards, the conservation of riparian areas, and the control of pollution and eutrophication of surface and ground waters.
Hydraulic Engineering becomes necessary to answer most of these problems and most specifically Computational Hydraulics. This field of research is concerned with the study of the flow dynamics using numerical solutions of the non linear equations that describe the physical processes. The computer becomes the essential tool to perform those calculations. The water movement is assumed governed by fundamental principia that can be expressed in mathematical terms and often adopt the form of partial differential equations. The main focus is in the ability to solve those equations and be able to obtain complete descriptions of the flow field in space and time with the help of computers.
