Name of Project Leader: Dr ZILI-GHEDIRA Leila

Names of the involved researchers:        

• NASR Abdelaziz
• ZOUAOUI Ahlem
• MARMOUCH Hichem
• BELHAJ Mohamed Amine

Names of PhD students:

• AZABI Miloud Zakaria Ahmed
• RAHALI Nadia

1.Summary:

The project is divided into two sub-projects:

Optimization of air conditioning systems through desiccation-evaporation

This sub-project builds on previous numerical and experimental studies. Key objectives include:

• Optimizing the adsorption capacity of desiccants by selecting appropriate adsorbents and combining them with phase change materials.
• Proposing new installations tailored to the harsh Tunisian climate, aiming to eliminate electricity needs through thermal/photovoltaic solar collectors.
• Implementing real-time monitoring of system performance in Tunisia’s climate.

Study of desalination systems through Humidification-Dehumidification

This sub-project addresses the severe scarcity of drinking water in Tunisia and globally, emphasizing the need to treat abundant saline water sources. The focus is on large-scale desalination techniques (e.g., reverse osmosis, MSF, MED, VC) which currently rely heavily on electrical energy, increasing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Methodology:

For the 1st Sub-Project:

• Characterization: Assess hygroscopic properties and adsorption/desorption kinetics of selected desiccants (e.g., activated carbons, zeolites, silica gels).
• Experimental Setup: Utilize a climate-controlled wind tunnel for regulated experiments.
• Thermo-Physical Analysis: Measure thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and porosity of desiccants.
• Numerical Integration: Incorporate experimental data into a numerical code for optimization, accounting for new parameters and viscous dissipation.
• Experimental Optimization: Test variations in desiccator design and conditions, including the effects of adding paraffin and phase change materials.
• Validation: Compare numerical and experimental results to ensure code accuracy.
• Application Proposals: Suggest air conditioning adaptations for humid climates in Tunisia, focusing on reducing electrical energy use.
• Monitoring and Analysis: Conduct real-time performance monitoring and an exergetic analysis to explore potential improvements.

For the 2nd Sub-Project:

• Mathematical Modeling: Develop models for components of humidification-dehumidification desalination systems (humidifiers, condensers, solar collectors).
• Numerical Simulations: Create calculation codes and perform simulations for each component.
• Component Optimization: Optimize design and operational conditions based on modeling results.
• Cycle Efficiency: Simulate various system configurations to identify the most efficient cycles.
• Overall Optimization: Enhance the performance of the entire desalination system.
• Evaluation: Assess system performance in relation to the Tunisian climate.

This comprehensive approach aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of both air conditioning and desalination systems in Tunisia.

Name of Project Leader: Dr EL ALIMI Souheil

Names of the involved researchers:        

• JEMNI Abdelmajid
• REHIMI Ferid
• BOUBAKER Samia
• HAMDI Mohamed
• HOUCINE  Ahlem

Names of PhD students:

• BOUKHCHINA Rim
• OTHMANI Tarek

1. Objectives :

This project consists of two components: renewable energies and sustainable cities.

Component 1: Renewable Energies

Objectives include:

• Developing Models: For various renewable energy systems.
• Analysing Models: Exploiting and analysing the developed models.
• Formulating Optimization Problems: Defining objective functions for different renewable energy systems.
• Developing Optimization Models: Creating and utilizing optimization models for renewable energy systems.

Component 2: Sustainable Cities

The focus here is on the energy and environmental modelling of urban energy systems, which has become imperative in the context of sustainable development, especially with the increasing need for smart cities and the adoption of electric vehicles. Macro-level research is increasingly concentrating on cities as energy systems, requiring comprehensive modelling to assess the impact of urban energy consumption on local environments. This involves integrating data on energy production, consumption patterns, and environmental factors related to anthropogenic emissions to ensure informed decision-making for sustainable urban development.

Key research themes include:

• Energy Transition in Transportation: Studying the shift from conventional fuel-based transport to electric and alternative energy sources to understand broader implications for energy systems and environmental sustainability in Tunisia.
• Smart Cities: Investigating the integration of advanced technologies and data analytics (V2V, V2I, V2X) to optimize energy consumption, enhance efficiency, and create more sustainable and resilient cities.
• Urban System Sustainability: Examining the overall ecological impact of urbanization, focusing on developing models that evaluate the sustainability of various systems within cities, including energy and waste management.
• Climate-Sensitive Urban Planning: Exploring urban planning strategies that account for climate change and environmental factors, aiming to create energy-efficient and resilient cities in the face of changing climatic conditions.

2. Methodology

Renewable Energies

The project focuses on developing and extending existing numerical models for various energy systems, such as photovoltaic and thermal solar systems, concentrating solar power systems, as well as wind and hybrid energy systems. The objectives include:

• Refining and Extending Models: Developing decision-support tools for selecting technologies and sites for renewable energy exploitation.
• Studying New Systems: Including parabolic concentrators equipped with Stirling engines for electricity production.
• Conducting Experiments: Complementing numerical studies with practical experiments.

Additionally, we propose to:

• Model and Optimize Other Energy Systems: Targeting cogeneration, trigeneration, positive energy buildings, and desalination systems.
• Study More Complex Energy Systems: Such as Micro-Smart Grids based on renewable energies and Power-to-X conversion technologies.

Sustainable Cities

This component focuses on developing a literature review on the certification of various urban sectors, techniques for measuring sustainability through structural analyses and composite indicators, as well as relevant documentation on smart cities.

The second phase will involve:

• Collecting Specific Data for Tunisia: Both micro and macroeconomic data for processing and exploitation.
• Developing Numerical Models: Related to transportation and other urban activities.
• The goal is to formulate proposals for alternative energy and environmental policies to ensure the sustainability of cities in Tunisia, applying energy policies and smart city technologies tailored to the Tunisian context.

Name of Project Leader: Professor MZALI Foued

Names of the involved researchers:        

• ALBOUCHI Fethi
• KHALIFA Dorsaf

Names of PhD students:

• BOUZGARROU Kamar

1. Summary:

This project addresses the energy and environmental impacts associated with manufacturing processes, focusing on the foundry sector and metal additive manufacturing. It aims to enhance energy efficiency and reduce waste by studying the thermal properties of casting sands and optimizing melting operations.

The project includes two main objectives:

• Conducting an energy analysis of the Gray iron casting process and its associated moulding sands.
• Investigating the energy consumption of metal additive manufacturing, particularly through the Energy Deposition (DED/WAAM) process, to improve efficiency and part quality while minimizing environmental impacts.

2. Methodology:

The research program aims to conduct an energy study of moulding processes and metal additive manufacturing, following this methodology:

• Development and characterization of foundry sands in terms of thermal, hydric, and physical properties.
• Analysis of the effect of sand characteristics on the quality of cast parts.
• Numerical simulation of the solidification of cast iron and study of thermal exchanges with the mould.
• Numerical and experimental study of metal additive manufacturing by energy deposition (DED/WAAM).
• Identification and optimization of energy source parameters in the WAAM process.