Insights from the Preliminary Design Review workshop in Zaragoza
by CIRCE
The first designs for four main technologies – the RMI system, IFRKs, the microwave rotary kiln, and the plasma reactor – have been created by the project partners ICCS, NTUA, CEINNMAT, EURECAT, and BRUNEL UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
These designs were carefully reviewed by the consortium, together with external experts, during the dedicated Preliminary Design Review workshop that was organized by CIRCE as part of the 1-year General Assembly meeting of the PRIM-ROCK project at the beginning of September.
The session structure covered requirements, design methodology, presentation of preliminary designs, challenges, next steps, and feedback from attendees.
The key outcomes of the workshop are the following:
A literature review for circularity analysis for calcination and roasting has been performed by CIRCE.
A first version of the RMI tool, including correlations, has been developed by ICCS.
NTUA has performed mineralogical analysis of samples for calcination and roasting, as well as calcination tests at lab scale.
NTUA has developed the design of the IFRK.
Modelling and simulation of calcination and roasting processes have been performed by CIRCE, ITA, and BUL, obtaining conclusions related to heat transfer, chemical reactions, and flow dynamics. The simulation of the complete IFRK will be performed in the next months, based on the kiln design presented during the design review.
A concept for the MRK design has been developed and prototyped by CEIN. Lab-scale tests have been performed to assess its performance.
Comprehensive process design including the MRK, MIP reactor, and heat exchanger has been discussed and developed by CEIN, EUT, and BUL.
Optimization of the waveguides for plasma generation has been performed by EUT, via simulation and prototyping.
Acronyms: RMI (Raw Material Intelligence), IFRK (Indirect-Fired Rotary Kiln), MRK (Microwave Rotary Kiln), MIP (Microwave-Induced Plasma)
