The OC/EC analyser is a unique instrument used to determine the concentration of selected forms of carbon (organic, elemental, or carbon bound in carbonates) in a solid sample. The equipment can be conveniently utilised as a supporting tool to identify the origin of dust particle pollution.
Rotary kiln (capacity 20 kg/h) with a downstream afterburner with secondary gas burners operating continually. The rotary kiln allows heat treatment of materials at temperatures up to 800 °C while the post-combustion chamber provides heating to a temperature of 1150 °C. The technology enables us to monitor the composition of raw and treated flue gases. The basic flue gas components are analysed continuously (CO2, O2 , CO, NO, NO2 , N2O, SO2 and Cx Hy ), and the complexity of the emission analysis is furthermore ensured by discontinuous sampling kits (solid pollutants, heavy metals and other components including PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs). In addition to combustion process research, the rotary kiln can be used to study flue gas cleaning and calcination processes of inorganic materials.
The scanning electron microscope is used to characterize the structure of conductive and non-conductive material specimens, including chemical analysis using an energy dispersive spectrometer while applying the desired detection (secondary electrons, backscattered electrons or scanning transmission electron microscopy). By combining scanning transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy using a unique imaging technique called "Correlative Probe and Electron Microscopy", the system facilitates simultaneous characterization of the surfaces of the samples under investigation to obtain information about their topography.
Synthesis unit for conversion of syngas to liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The unit uses catalytic synthesis on the surface of metal-based catalysts to convert H2- and CO-rich gas to hydrocarbon chains. The unit thus produces an alternative liquid fuel of a high calorific value.
Drones can be equipped with a variety of sensors and analytical technology. For example, the Fidas Frog allows the measurement of dust particle concentrations. The device is able to simultaneously measure PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, TSP as well as the number of particles and their size distribution in the size range of 0.18 - 100 µm. The drone can also be equipped with the Scentroid flying laboratory DR1000 which enables the use of up to 5 sensors for simultaneous monitoring. The device is equipped with sensors for the detection of VOC, NH3 , NO2 and SO2 and sensors for the measurement of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 . Drones provided with this sensor technology can be suitably used for horizontal and vertical air quality monitoring. The i-AIR Region project investigated the possibility of applying drone technology for local heating pollution monitoring.
The device is used for low-temperature pyrolysis of biomass (up to 320 °C). It facilitates a reduction of the oxygen concentration in the mass and an increase in the carbon content while increasing the hydrophobic properties. The unit consists of a feedstock hopper, a torrefaction reactor with a screw conveyor, a distributor, a hopper and a condenser. A screw conveyor inside the reactor moves the material. It is possible to dose both bulk material and pellets. It can process 0.5-2 kg of biomass per hour depending on the type of biomass. The pyrolysis gas and condensate are analysed chromatographically.
The device is used for extraction of mainly non-polar substances from various matrices using CO2 in a supercritical state at temperatures up to 240°C, pressure up to 690 bar with CO2 flow rates up to 400 ml/min. The process can be carried out in 4 independently controlled reactors with a volume of 5 ml to 1 L. The device facilitates extraction of substances from environmental samples, food, and pharmaceutical products, and is also used for a number of other applications, in particular for particle size reduction of biologically active substances (pharmaceuticals), or polymer preparation, modification, impregnation, and preparation of polymer foams.
Equipment designed for the analysis of experimental factors affecting explosion parameters. It is also used for modelling tool research applied in the field of explosions of fuel-air mixtures, experimental verification of flammability and explosive limits, and creation of explosion parameters safety database. The equipment meets the requirements of European standards for determining the explosion parametres of dust dispersions, gases, and vapours of liquids.
The ELPI+ is a very sophisticated instrument designed to collect a real dust particle sample in the size range of 17 nm to 10 µm and record the measurement parametres electronically. The instrument can be applied to study the distribution of dust particles both outdoors and indoors. It has also been utilised to study dust particles generated by brake pad wear or by special nano-coatings inside buildings.
The flow-through catalyst test units are designed to study the activity, selectivity, and stability of catalysts for heterogeneous gas-phase reactions. They are used for basic research and industrial catalyst testing, research on catalyst kinetics and deactivation. They are equipped with data analysers which examine the input and output reaction mixture (FTIR spectrometer, IR analyser for N2O, NO and NH3, GC/MS, GC/FID, GC/TCD). The units facilitate the study of catalytic decomposition of N2O, NO, catalytic oxidation of VOC, CO, NH3 and selective catalytic reduction of NOx. Furthermore, depiction of fresh and spent catalysts by temperature-programmable methods is possible.
A polymer mixer, also known as an extruder, facilitates the preparation of polymers and polymer composites, and nanocomposites. It operates in a temperature range of up to 350 °C and pressure up to 200 bar, the volume of the extruder for polymer processing is 7 ml. The composites can be further extruded into thin films using a hydraulic press at temperatures up to 350 °C. It is also possible to use the equipment for thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, X-ray diffraction analysis, etc., to obtain the specification of prepared polymers and polymer nanocomposites.
Microgeneration source for electricity production from waste heat. Either a single-stage back-pressure turbine based on the concept of rotary reduction or a directly developed expander produced by 3D printing technology are used as an expansion machine. Tests with different refrigerants can be carried out. The purpose is to optimize the heat cycle to reduce the actual energy consumption and improve the energy efficiency of the system at lower waste heat source temperatures.
The TGA/DSC2 instrument devised by Mettler Toledo is used for thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the chemical and physical properties and energy parameters of a material as a function of temperature in a precisely controlled atmosphere. For example, the TGA method has facilitated the study of the catalytic effect of potassium on the thermal degradation of biomass.
A set of packed bed reactors for research on photocatalytic waste gas treatment processes. Designed to study the efficiency of photocatalysts for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 (in liquid and gas phase), photocatalytic decomposition of N2O, photocatalytic water splitting in the presence of methanol, and degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from water. Research on the kinetics of photocatalytic reactions and advanced oxidation processes can also be carried out. Photocatalysts can be tested in the form of powders, thin films, or being deposited on support for both gas and liquid phase reactions. A flow-through unit for testing photocatalytically active materials for gas phase reactions according to ISO 22197 is included. Gaseous samples are analysed by a gas chromatograph with a barrier ionisation detector. A photoelectric spectrometer is available to characterize the photoelectric properties of semiconductor photocatalysts and a Kelvin probe enables the electron output to be determined.
Nanospider is a cutting-edge technological device used to create high-quality nanofibrous material. Nanolayers and nanofibers are prepared by electrostatic wetting of the polymer solution or melt level. A rotating roller, partially immersed in the polymer solution, is utilised to form the fibres. The roller rotates on its axis while a thin layer of polymer solution is formed on its surface. At the top of the rotating cylinder, the point with the shortest distance from the collector, numerous Taylor cone foci are formed due to the maximum electric field strength, which then leads to a softening process at the top of the cylinder. The fibre network, upon impact with the collector or support film, solidifies after the solvents have evaporated to form solid structures.
The equipment is used to determine the operating parameters of local heaters such as fireplaces, storage fireplaces, stoves, taylor-made stoves, various radiators, etc. In particular, the specification of the heat output of the device is investigated. The calorimetric chamber is a thermally insulated space in which the appliance under test is placed. The principle of the measurement consists in bringing cold air into the chamber, while, at the same time, heated air is removed from the chamber and the instantaneous heat output of the appliance is calculated based on the heat balance. The air flow through the chamber is kept constant by a PID controller and a frequency-controlled fan. The inner surface of the calorimetric chamber is covered with a reflective film to minimize the accumulation of thermal energy into the chamber structure.
Pyrolysis unit for material thermal processing with output up to 250 kg.h-1. The material processing temperature rises up to 750°C, the unit also facilitates low-temperature pyrolysis. The technology is equipped with sensors for control, process monitoring, and determination of energy and material balance. The research stand is complemented by continuous analysis of the produced gas CO, CO2 , H2 , CH4 , N2 , O2 , Cx Hy . The solid residue and pyrolysis oil is analysed subsequently in the laboratory.
Bioreactors (fermenters) of different working volumes (1 to 60 l) and different designs are able to operate in aerobic or anaerobic, inlet, or semi-continuous mode. These reactors and associated measuring systems are used to monitor and optimise the biochemical conversion processes of purpose-grown or waste biomass, or bio-waste in order, for example, to increase biogas production or to improve the quality of the liquid or solid product (compost or digestate). Portable electrochemical analysers and a continuous process chromatography (GC/TCD) analyser are used to measure biogas composition.
The optical lithograph facilitates direct writing of the designed structure with a resolution of up to 300 nm and a total size of the written motif of up to 10x10 cm. Then, the photoresist is developed and can be covered with a thin layer (in the order of units or tens of nanometers) in a thin film deposition reactor. This system allows thin metal and dielectric layers to be sputtered. For special applications and materials, thin metal layers can be prepared by thermal evaporation. The advantage is the possibility of depositing up to 4 different materials in one process, even using deposition in reactive atmospheres (oxygen, nitrogen). The deposition apparatus can be equipped with a spectroscopic ellipsometer to monitor and control the growth processes in real time.
Experimental equipment used to determine the thermokinetic properties of powder and various solid alternative fuels. These properties are characterised by the kinetic parameters of activation energy and pre-exponential factor, and by the combustion behaviour of the particles. The experimental apparatus, the so-called drop tube, allows the desired environment to be set by selecting the temperature, oxygen concentration, and flow rate of the reaction gas in the reaction chamber with the particles being trapped in liquid nitrogen.