Research activities
In the field of Sustainable Industrial Processes, the phenomenon of solid-gas / vapor sorption is one of the main R&D theme (thermodynamic and kinetic measurements, modelling at microscopic and macroscopic levels, process modelling, Life Cycle Assessment), technico-economic analyzes, development of experimental devices). Applications are natural gas storage, design of CO2 capture processes, air separation, gas purification and characterization of porous solids.
In the field of Energy, the Thermodynamics and Mathematical Physics Unit is active in the modelling of complex energy systems at city district scale and in the study of specific energy technologies: heat storage, compression and sorption heat pumps (experimental studies, prototyping, development of simulation tools, on-site performance measurements).
Our R&D activities are developed almost exclusively through collaborative projects. Our unit participated in various European Research Projects in the field of CCUS (FP6-MOVECBM, FP7-M4CO2, H2020-GRAMOFON) and is currently coordinator of the European H2020-MOF4AIR project started in 2019 and bringing together 14 partners from 8 countries.
The Unit has also participated in various INTERREG III, IV and V projects (RETRAI, REDUGAZ, DEPOLLUTAIR) dealing with elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from gas streams.
As part of the ECRA Academic Chair at UMONS in collaboration with the European Cement Research Academy (ECRA) and in close collaboration with Chemical and Biochemical Process Engineering Unit , the Thermodynamics and Mathematical Physics Department has worked on CO2 conversion into methanol or synthetic natural gas and carried out technical, economic and environmental studies (LCA) of CO2 capture and conversion processes. It supports CO2-emitting industries in their technological choices in terms of CO2 capture and reuse.
In the field of energy systems, our unit is involved in research projects dealing with seasonal heat storage (ERDF-C3E2D-STOCC and FP7-SOTHERCO projects) or complex energy systems (ERDF-C3E2D-PEPSE, ERDF-WAL-E-CITIES and FP7-ERA CHAIR RESIZED-coordination). The Thermodynamics and Mathematical Physics Unit manages the ERDF-C3E2D project portfolio (Center of Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development) bringing together the main regional R&D players – active in the energy sector- one of the objectives of which is the creation of shared research infrastructures in Charleroi.
Our unit is also associated with the following UMONS research institutes :
