The research efficiency of the Laboratory during the last decade has resulted into the development of innovative methods and technologies in the area of fuel usage, energy saving and reduction of atmospheric pollution. For reasons that are being explained separately in each case, the application of those technologies appears to have a special interest for our country.

Calculation models

One of the main research activity objectives of the Laboratory is modelling combustion phenomena. The development of a two-dimensional and the use of a three-dimensional calculation code for the simulation of solid and gas-fuel combustion were a result of this effort. These codes are the assemblage of submodels that solve problems of momentum, mass, and heat transfer in turbulent flows and chemical reactions. Each of the above mentioned models constitute in fact a separate research area.
The contribution of the Laboratory to the area of heat transfer and especially the area of thermal radiation is innovative; the same applies to the area of NO_x and SO₂ formation and the procedures of natural desulphurisation of combustion gases.

Fluidised bed

Combustion in a fluidised bed is appropriate for taking advantage of low rank solid fuels or peripheral deposits of solid waste that exist in abundance in Greece. This is accompanied by a reduction of air emissions taking place at the same time. In this way, FB technology allows making the deposits that are rich in sulphur and also exist in excess, economically worthy. Another contemporary application of the fluidised bed technology is the incinerators of waste and sewage sludge with production of thermal power and electricity at the same time. Recently, advanced CFB design is being developed, the strategic importance of which is based on the capability for multi-fuel operation that enables remarkable CO₂ emission decrease compared to current applications.

Biomass & Waste

Biomass as a supplementary fuel in the Greek Thermal Power Plants appears to have the advantages of increased heating value and high volatile content while, at the same time, it is believed to be a fuel that does not affect the greenhouse phenomenon due to its life-cycle. Extensive series of experimental tests have been carried out in the Laboratory regarding the co-combustion of biomass species, which are characteristic of the Mediterranean region, with Greek brown coal. These investigations concerned both tests at the lab-scale installations and theoretical models to predict the combustion behaviour as well as the demonstration of this technique at industrial facilities and large-scale installations. Within the frame of a common project with the Public Power Corporation of Greece, partial replacement of lignite with olive kernel was performed in two units of the Megalopolis Power Station with exceptionally encouraging results.
The Laboratory is also active in the field of thermal gasification of biomass or wastes with brown coal, participating in EU as well as national funded projects focusing on biomass residue air and steam gasification in the lab-scale fluidised bed.

Combined cycles

The demand for continuous increase in the efficiency of Power Station Plants has caused a great movement around combined cycle technologies all over the world. Through its participation in international research programmes, the Laboratory has conducted innovative work in this area such as an integrated calculation code for combined cycles, theoretical and computational research on pulverised coal combustion under pressure and experimental research of the Greek lignite catalytic combustion in a furnace that operates by using turbine exhaust gas as a fluidising and oxidant medium.

Advanced Technologies to Improve Brown Coal Performance

Extensive theoretical and computational work is carried out concerning the investigation of novel pre-drying concepts and the identification of their application potential at the Greek Thermal Stations utilising high moisture brown coal. Moreover, the integrated approach of lignite drying and gasification for power production at high efficiencies and, thus, reduced CO₂ emission values are under investigation.

Co-generation

The Laboratory is active in the field of the promotion of combined heat and power generation concepts. It also participates in the design of a co-generation unit at the NTUA Zografou Campus.

Hydrogen

The Laboratory is active on the field of hydrogen technologies and techno-economic studies on fuel cell application potential. The work focused on the possibility of developing decentralized hydrogen production units. Furthermore, the legislative framework, the infrastructure and policy support measures, necessary codes and standards are also included.

CO₂ aspects

The Laboratory is active on novel technological scheme for CO₂ capture in power generation sector. The work focuses on Oxyfuel, amine scrubbing and IGCC technologies. The laboratory is also active on legislative aspects related to Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Boiler design

A typical example of applying development through research was the design of four series of hot water steel boilers in the range area of 25 up to 400 kW. The design was based on a calculation program of each of the boiler parts. By the measurements on the prototypes of each series, it was concluded that the efficiency of each boiler is high and its classification (according to Directive 92/42) is registered by awarding the two (2) star (¬¬) specific mark for energy efficiency. This is achieved by keeping the construction cost steady in comparison with other boilers on the market. Since then, a team of engineers within the Laboratory has designed series of central heating boilers for two more Greek construction companies.