66679 - Chemical Technologies for Energy Production

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Industrial Chemistry (cod. 8513)

Learning outcomes

The course is aimed at providing competencies concerning the production of fuels by means of conventional and innovative technologies, the characteristics of fuels, also in terms of environmental impact, and the main processes of modern refinery. The various processes aimed at the transformation of fossil-derived raw materials are compared.

Course contents

Pre-requisites

Knowledge of fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics.

Knowledge of fundamentals of catalysis.

Knowledge of fundamentals of Industrial Chemistry.

Contents

Introduction: the refinery industry. Geopolitical and economical importance of oil. Energetic resources. Oil: history. Characteristics and classification of oil. Oil production: field development, localization and identification of fields.

Natural gas: characteristics of gas fields, natural gas components.

Schemes of integrated refineries. Topping and utilization of oil cuts. Main refinery processes: catalytic cracking, reforming, hydrodesulphurization, hydricracking, alkylation, isomerization of paraffins.

Residue treating: coking, visbreaking. Gasification and integrated cycles of gasification with energy production.

Fuels and combustibles: gasoline and gasoil production. Environmental impact of gasoline and gasoil. Evolution of gasoline formulation, regulations and laws concerning the environment protection: Europe and USA. Properties of gasoline and gasoil. New fuels, fuels from renewable raw materials. New-generation catalytic muffles. High-octane and high-cetane components for fuels: characteristics and production. Technical evolution of engines.

Fuel cells: conceptual design and types. On-board generation of hydrogen.

Fuels from biomasses and renewable raw materials.

 

Readings/Bibliography

No textbook is needed

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons with power point presentation

Assessment methods

The exam is done through a final test aimed at ascertaining the expected acquisition of knowledge and skills. The final exam consists of an oral test.

Teaching tools

Power-point presentation, available to students through internet access

Students with DSA or disabilities can contact Servizio Studenti con Disabilità e DSA dell’Università di Bologna (http://www.studentidisabili.unibo.it/, Italian only), the Department contact person (Prof. Giorgio Bencivenni, giorgio.bencivenni2@unibo.it [mailto:giorgio.bencivenni2@unibo.it] ) or directly the teacher to address the most convenient approach for accessing teaching materials and supports, and to gain access to all the convenient services and areas of the Departments (i.e. room for frontal lectures).

Office hours

See the website of Patricia Benito Martin

SDGs

Affordable and clean energy Climate Action

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.