KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Martin Schiemann | Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany

Dr. Schiemann started his career at Ruhr-University Bochum in the department of physics. After having achieved his diploma, he moved to the faculty of mechanical engineering to join the Department of Energy Plant Technology, where he finished his PhD on spray roasting processes. Since 2012, his work group investigates different thermal processes with a focus on reacting particles. The reduction of carbon emissions is one of the leading aspects in his research. Experiments from the laboratory scale up to semi-industrial devices are the methods of choice, accompanied by computational fluid dynamics simulations of laboratory and full-scale industrial plants. Pulverized biomass combustion in conventional and oxy-fuel atmospheres is one of the core topics of his work, but alternative fuels like different waste materials and metal fuels are also part of the portfolio. Spray roasting of metal chlorides, a class of waste materials from processes like steel pickling or battery recovery, is not just a disposition process, but recovers valuable metal oxides with different functionalities. Radiative heat transfer plays a decisive role in many processes involving reacting particles. Experimental investigations and numerical consideration of micrometric to macroscopic particle systems provides information on and tools for radiative heat transfer consideration in high-temperature systems. Prof. Schiemann teaches different subjects related to carbon capture and utilization, supply streams and disposal of materials from energy plants and material conversion in high-temperature processes.

Speech title "Metal Fuels for Decarbonization and Carbon Utilization"

The challenging transition to a carbon-free society causes increasing interest in alternative fuels. One option, which is under discussion is the utilization of metal fuels. Pure metals can be produced on the basis of renewable energy from metal oxides or metal ores. They become an energy storage material, with combustion being the discharge process.
Metals may be used in processes directly related to heat and power production, but some metals may also act as reactants in production processes of valuable chemicals. In particular, this becomes very interesting, as metals can burn in oxygen or air, water vapour and carbon dioxide, some even react exothermically with nitrogen. This leads to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but may influence the economic balance of the process positively as well, as many chemical production processes could benefit from the replacement of fossils by metals.
The current presentation provides an overview over metal combustion principles, advantages and challenges. Examples from current research are given to illustrate specific ideas about metal fuel based energy and chemistry cycles.

Dimitrios Karamanis | University of Patras, Greece

Professor of Alternative Energy Sources at the Department of Environmental Engineering of the University of Patras. He studied Physics at the University of Ioannina (1986-1990) where he submitted his doctoral thesis (1990-1997). With Postdoctoral Fellowships at CEN Bordeaux (Marie Curie 1999-2001) and at the University of Ioannina (Marie Curie 2001-2002 and until 2008), Prof. Karamanis has thirty years of research experience in the fields of alternative energy sources with special emphasis on wind and solar energy utilization technologies in the last decade. Participating in competitive National and International research programs as scientific coordinator and researcher, he has published over 110 scientific papers in scientific journals, patents and chapters in books with >3000 citations and h-index 35 (Scopus). Prof. Karamanis teaches courses on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and RES applications in Departments of the Universities of Ioannina and Patras since 2006.

Hongwei Wu | University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Prof. Hongwei Wu is a full Professor of Thermofluids and Head of the Energy and Sustainable Manufacturing Research Group in the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, and Leader of the Research Group in Monitoring Climate and its Impact (MCI) – C3R at University of Hertfordshire (UH). Prof. Wu is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), Energy Institute (FEI), and The Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He is a member of the UK Turbulence Consortium. He received his PhD degree (Joint PhD Programme with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) in Thermofluids from Beihang University in 2004.
Prof. Wu's research mainly focuses on Advanced Cooling Technology, Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies, Renewable Energy and Energy System, Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS), Two Phase and Multiphase Flow, Fluid-Solid Conjugate Heat Transfer, Modelling/Simulation methods (CFD)-DNS, LES, MDS, Optimisation and Process Control, AI-Machine Learning (ML)-Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). He leads various UK/EU based research projects funded by the Horizon Europe, EPSRC, British Council, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Innovate UK and industry.
Prof. Wu has published more than 180 papers with over 140 peer-reviewed journal publications including top journals such as Applied Energy, Applied Thermal Engineering, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Power Sources, etc. He has been a regular reviewer of many leading journals and serves as Editor/Editorial Board Members of many International Journals. He also serves as general Chair/co-Chair and session Chairs/co-Chairs, OCM and TPC members at many International Conferences. He is an EPSRC Engineering Prioritisation Panel Member, EPSRC New Horizons Panel Member, UKRI Talent Panel College Member and EPSRC Peer Review Full College Member.