The University of Antwerp is powering the electrification of chemical processes
In addition to the well known research groups such as PLASMANT (Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine - Antwerp), and ELCAT (Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis), the University of Antwerp is now offering an additional engineering expertise to ensure the smooth deployment of energy efficient power-to-heat chemical processes.
At ElectrifHy, we are offering an engineering expertise to ensure the smooth deployment of energy-efficient power-to-heat chemical processes. This unit, related to BlueApp, is dedicated to chemical reactor design (CFD and engineering models, from packed, [electrothermal] fluidized and simulated moving beds), prototyping and experimental characterization of heat & mass transfer of electrified processes (ohmic and induction heating, and the use of electrical field to enhance chemical conversion). It’s mission is to design and test electrified chemical reactors based on the power-to-heat concepts (e.g., induction, ohmic, shock-wave), provide guidelines for their scale-up, improve their energy efficiencies, elaborate temperature control strategies, as well as developing modular approaches to deal with the fluctuating nature of renewable electricity.
In terms of applications, we cover both the production of value-added chemicals and hydrogen (e-cracking of green ammonia, biogas conversion, electrified steam methane reforming, methane pyrolysis, and [non-]oxidative coupling of methane), to its storage in Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC), solids (hydrates), and chemical carriers, focusing on the release of H2 and its purification.