Research, technological development and innovation activities are structured in 8 workpackages with specific objectives and activities.

The project structure is shown in the following figure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The WPs and the corresponding milestones are briefly described as follow:

1)      WP1 - Requirements: objective of the first WP is the definition of the framework of the project regarding the requirements for the Up-THERM engine, properties targets, applications, work plan analysis. The expected milestones from this WP is:

-          M1: Engine specifics (month 3)

2)      WP2 – Engine modeling: thermodynamic model of the novel engines will be developed and used for a reference estimation of the performance. The model will basically similar to the thermodynamic models of other regenerative type heat engines but an important difference is that a particular attention will be paid to the factors that are responsible for deterioration of the engine efficiencies. The expected milestones is:

-          M2: TD model available (month 12)

3)      WP3 – Working fluid design: thermodynamic properties, toxicity, corrosion activity, fluid mechanical properties and temperatures of the heater and cooler will be taken into account for the selection of the working fluid. At this stage first calculations of the losses for pumping of the working fluids between the hot and cold zones of the engine, possible leakages will be made. Lubricating properties of the working fluid with respect to potential material of sliding parts will be an important criteria for the selection. The milestone related is:

-          M3: Working fluid selected (month 12)

4)      WP4 – Regenerator design: a crucial problem of any regenerative type heat engine is the regenerator. No design criteria are known for regenerators with working fluids changing phase and a detailed theoretical study will carried out in order to determine the regenerator parameters providing the highest engine efficiency.

5)      WP5 – Engine executive design: after the selection of working fluid and the design of the regenerator, the UP-THERM engine will be design in all its part (heaters, coolers, control system, piping). The expected result is:

-          M4: Engine executive design available (month 18)

 

DEMO activities

6)      WP6 – CHP prototyping and testing: the CHP system will be design, material for the engine and standard parts will be selected and ordered. The engine parts will be manufactured by a specialized machine-building company. For testing of the CHP a test set up including measuring and controlling equipment will be designed and constructed. Then, the system will be accurately tested. The milestone associated with this activity is:

-          M5: CHP testing report (month 24)

 

Other activities

7)      WP7 – Exploitation, Dissemination & Training: technology transfer and training, exploitation, technology benchmark and business plan, dissemination of results in events and commercial presentations are all comprised in this WP. Training activities will coincide with several important milestones of the project, and will be carried out by RTD performers for the benefit of the SMEs involved in the Consortium.           

 

Consortium management activities

 

WP8 - Project management: management activities will be carried out through the entire project duration. The Coordinator of the project, i.e. the Italian company TEP Solution, will follow the activities of all partners to achieve the objectives of the project. The coordination will regard also the administrative management and relation with the EC. All partners of the Consortium will be always taken informed on activities progress, sharing information and optimizing the total efforts.