Research experience and interests
Energy and environmental management in the transportation sector
- Shipping in the global emissions market: energy challenges, environmental consequences and technical-economic impacts.
- Environmental impact analysis of air pollutant emissions from shipping and aviation.
- Air emissions’ reduction technologies for the maritime sector.
- Policies and techniques to reduce emissions of air pollutants at ports. Energy, environmental analysis and cost-efficiency issues.
- Environmental and social consequences of air pollution in the transportation sector.
- Alternative technologies and renewable energy implementation in the shipping sector.
- Intelligent energy management in ports.
Environmental Systems Analysis: Life Cycle Assessment & Eco-efficiency analysis
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study and Eco-efficiency analysis of electrochromic devices, photovoltaic systems and glazing, for energy saving applications in buildings.
- Use of commercial computer simulation programs (i.e. Sima Pro) for life cycle analysis of Renewable Energy systems.
- Development of a methodology for energy labelling of building elements (i.e. glazing) with a combination of life cycle analysis and ecological performance assessment.
- Combined environmental, energy and economic assessment of energy systems (wind-solar-photovoltaic plants, geothermal installations, etc.)
Management and modelling of Renewable Energy Sources (RES)
- Investigation for the necessary procedures for the integration of RES in remote communities, environmental legislation, public awareness on energy issues: energy savings in buildings, renewable energy for domestic use, environmental issues, large-scale projects.
- Recording and modelling of Renewable Energy Sources potential
- Planning, design and modelling of decentralized energy networks (distributed energy networks - microgrids).
- Development of stochastic models for the management of wind farms and renewable energy systems.
Energy saving devices – "Smart" materials
- Experimental preparation and characterization of "smart" electrochromic glazing, incorporating thin films of metal oxides (WO3, MoO3, V2O5) and conductive electrodes (ZnS / Ag / ZnS, SnO2:F).
- Theoretical design, modelling, preparation and characterization of low emissivity coatings (low-e coatings) for application in energy saving glazing.
- Modelling of the operating processes, design and manufacture of solid electrolytes for fuel cells.
- Preparation and study of thin film electroluminescent devices using polymers.
- Preparation of thin film dielectrics and metals (such as ZnS, TiO2, MgF2, Ag, Al, Cu) with thicknesses ranging from 10 nm to 1 mm, for application in coatings for solar radiation management for energy saving applications in buildings.
Technology of materials for energy applications
- Significant experience in the characterization of thin films: Spectroscopy (in the visible and near infrared), FTIR, emissivity measurement, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), XPS (photoelectron spectroscopy of X-rays).
- Installation and operation of sterile area (glove box) with fully controlled conditions of moisture and oxygen (<<1 ppm) for the preparation and study of samples.
- Installation and operation of potensiostat-galvanostat for electrochemical measurements.
- Design and implementation of Cyclic Voltammetry experiments and non-continuous stoichiometric analysis GITT (Galvanostatic Intermittent Titration Technique) to electrochromic and electrochemical devices.
- Design and implementation of experiments measuring very small changes in mass of material deposited on an electrode using electrochemical microbalance crystal quartz (Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance).
- Design, installation and operation of high vacuum systems (~10-6 mbar) for thin film preparation (Electron beam deposition and thermal sublimation) and accessories such as vacuum power feedthroughs, water cooling systems, sample rotation provisions, shutters, etc.
- Design, installation and operation of instrument for in situ measurement of thin film thickness.
Study of advanced solar collectors
- Design and experimental study of various types flat solar collectors: a. with or without transparent cover, b. with coloured absorber for aesthetic integration into building façades and roofs, c. with plain or selective absorber.
- Experience in designing, manufacturing and testing of stationary high-efficiency solar collector using asymmetric mirrors (type CPC) and flat or cylindrical absorbers.
- Study of high performance solar thermal collectors with reverse absorber.
- Design and experimental study of stationary concentrating mirrors to improve the thermal performance of solar collectors.
- Design of solar devices, systems and devices for large scale water heating applications (residential buildings, hotels, swimming pools, industry, etc.).
- Experience in programming scientific equipment for receiving, recording and analyzing experimental measurements: temperature, solar radiation, wind speed and direction, etc.
Study of photovoltaics
- Design and experimental study of concentrating photovoltaic cells with enhanced performance for integration into building façades.
- Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal systems: experimental study to optimize the electrical and thermal performance of photovoltaic modules with mounted heat exchangers using air or water.
- Experimental study for the optimization of the efficiency (electrical and thermal) of photovoltaic modules using diffuse reflectors in order to increase the incident solar radiation uniformly.
- Study of the output power of photovoltaic modules on concurrent simulation of their energy behaviour in an annual basis.
Thermal and energy characterization of building structural elements - Study of the energy consumption
- Design and fabrication of special chambers (Test Cell) for thermal and energy characterization of structural elements of buildings.
- Significant experience in conducting experiments in Test Cells for determining the thermal properties of various building elements (windows, components, façades, solar cells, shades, solar collectors).
- Fabrication and calibration of "Hot Box" and "Hot Plate" unit for the thermal characterization of building materials.
- Characterization of building components (such as windows, frames, glazing, special walls, energy façades, insulation, etc.). Calculation of thermal conductivity and thermal transmittance (U-Value).
- Modelling of building energy consumption and annual energy performance of buildings elements (eg photovoltaic, solar panels), using computer simulation programs (Window, EnergyPlus, ResFen).
- Study of the energy performance of buildings incorporating "smart" energy glazing.