Newcomers seminar
Next May 30th at 12 we will hold a new session of the seminar for newcomers in the auditorium.
The speaker will be Dr. Tesfaldet Gebreegziabher, from the System Analysis Unit, with the talk entitled “In-Situ H₂ Generation via Propane Reforming for Carbon-Neutral Aviation Fuel”.
Abstract
The production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) via the Hydro processed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway faces sustainability limitations due to its dependence on fossil-derived hydrogen, which reduces its carbon neutrality potential. This study introduces an integrated system combining used cooking oil (UCO) feedstock with propane steam reforming to enable on-site hydrogen production. The process minimizes external hydrogen consumption while generating pure CO₂ by-product for carbon capture and utilization. Inputs including UCO electricity, and thermal energy are converted into SAF-compliant jet fuel, diesel, and naphtha, with surplus hydrogen available for reuse. An optimum blending ratio of the produced paraffinic hydrocarbons (normal/iso alkanes) is proposed with conventional aviation fuel and aromatic components from conventional refining processes for achieving Jet Fuel A1 specifications.
Short Bio
Dr. Tesfaldet Gebreegziabher is a PhD graduate from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and currently serves as a postdoctoral researcher at IMDEA Energy, where he is involved in the systems analysis unit for the Madrid Vuela Sostenible project. Previously, he held the position of Associate Principal Researcher and Technology Sector Director at the Tigray Institute of Policy Studies (TIPS) in Tigray, Ethiopia. He also completed a role as a Research Associate on a project titled “Regional- and Distributed-Scale Power-to-Gas (P2G) Deployments” within the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE. His primary research interests encompass system analysis, including modelling, simulation, optimization, pinch analysis, and heat integration of processes, with a strong emphasis on energy and environmental sustainability.