REGEN-BY-2

Next renewable multi-generation technology enabled by two-phase fluids machines

Why REGEN-BY-2

The EU framework for renewable energy aims to develop new technologies for the exploitation of local Renewable Energy Sources (RES), which will form the backbone of the energy system by 2030 and 2050. These new technologies must not only have a commercial potential but they should also reduce the environmental impact and greenhouse gases emissions of the current energy system, stimulate the creation of high-tech industries and strengthen the EU’s global leadership in RES. In 2018, the revised Renewable Energy Directive entered into force, as part of the ‘Clean energy for all Europeans’ package, establishing a binding RES target for 2030 of at least 32% of the overall consumed energy in the EU.

REGEN-BY-2 will provide a decisive contribution to fulfil these ambitious EU objectives by developing a novel multi-generation, all-in-one integrated energy plant capable of converting any type of RES thermal source, from low to high-temperature, in energy vectors such as electric, heating and-or cooling powers, thus enabling the simultaneous supply to multiple typologies of end-users with different energy demands.

About REGEN-BY-2

REGEN-BY-2 is a Horizon 2020 EU-funded project, launched in September 2020, that aims to develop a first-of-its-kind lab-scale prototype of a highly efficient thermodynamic cycle and related plant for the revalorisation of renewable thermal energy sources, unlocking their large potential to supply electric, heating and-or cooling energy vectors. The REGEN-BY-2 technology, enabled by two-phase fluids machines, has been recently patented nearly worldwide by the project partner TIFEO, a start-up founded in 2018 and a potential European Unicorn.

The key of REGEN-BY-2 is the development of machines that are capable of functioning with two-phase fluids circulating through them, that is, fluids composed of both liquid and vapour phases. The patented thermodynamic cycle is highly efficient as it is constituted by a proper combination of Carnot cycles (the most efficient engine possible) operating with a two-phase fluid circulating in novel two-phase expanders and two-phase compressors. Expanders or turbines are machines that convert the thermodynamic energy contained in a fluid into mechanical power and pass it on to generators which then produce electricity; while compressors use mechanical power coming from variable speed motors to increase the pressure of the working fluid, concentrating the energy it contains and transporting it through the system. To be successful, these two-phase machines will have to be developed and integrated into the REGEN-BY-2 lab-scale prototype.


REGEN-BY-2 will follow a development process consisting of 3 main phases: design, construction and test of the prototypes. Firstly, REGEN-BY-2 will design the two-phase expander and compressor via mathematical models and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, as well as design the whole plant, selecting the most appropriate working fluid and performing a thermodynamic sensitivity analysis. Secondly, the lab-scale prototypes of the two-phase fluid machines and of the REGEN-BY-2 plant will be built, through the design technical specifications. Lastly, REGEN-BY-2 will perform experimental tests on the lab-scale prototypes of the expander and the compressor, and test the multi-generation plant, where the thermal power transferred from the renewable heat source to the working fluid, is delivered to the end-user through specific heat exchangers.

Expected results

REGEN-BY-2 will demonstrate the functionality and advantages of the patented renewable multi-generation technology by designing, constructing and experimenting with a lab-scale prototype of the thermodynamic cycle and related energy plant, enabled by two-phase fluids machines. The result will be a highly efficient turnkey multi-generation, all-in-one Combined Heating and Power (CHP), Combined Cooling and Power (CCP) and Combined Cooling Heating and Power (CCHP) device.

By effectively taming the potential of fluids in the two-phase region (both liquid and vapor phases), the REGEN-BY-2 multi-generation technology has the potential to deliver a radical step-change in energy system efficiencies, costs and RES penetration. New energy systems fed by low temperature sources can increase electric power production up to 50% using two-phase machines compared to existing plants based on the well-known Rankine thermodynamic cycle.

REGEN-BY-2 technology is capable of simultaneously supplying multiple typologies of end-users, with different energy demands in terms of required electric, heating and-or cooling powers, from small to large-scale, and related temperatures.

REGEN-BY-2 will efficiently provide the end-users in a predictable and dispatchable way thanks to its large operative flexibility for chasing and satisfying the end-users’ time-dependent energy requirements.

REGEN-BY-2 technology is a breakthrough in our energy system as it will be used in wide sectors, such as District Heating and Cooling systems, Distributed Renewable Flexible Energy systems and isolated end-users, thus strengthening EU leadership in the RES technologies by 2050.

REGEN-BY-2 brings a technological advancement that will reverberates across the entire energy system as it will foster innovation in other sectors:

  • Control systems that tune and optimize flexible multi-generation for specific application scenarios will be needed.
  • Aggregators and ESCOs will be able to innovate their business models and make better use of renewables.
  • Grid operators and energy suppliers within the grid will have a new asset for increasing the share of renewables and balancing (e.g. diverting electricity to heating or cooling).

About REGEN-BY-2

The REGEN-BY-2 consortium is composed of 13 partners from 6 EU countries (Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Greece) and 1 international partner (South Korea). The consortium is well balanced in terms of roles of participants, since all necessary stakeholders and actors are represented in sufficient number to cover all the project deployment activities.

Università di Pisa

Italy

Università di Pisa

The University of Pisa, founded in 1343, is one of the most ancient and prestigious universities in Europe. UNIPI counts twenty large departments covering all disciplinary areas, with high level research centres in all sectors. UNIPI is committed to promoting and supporting research in every field of knowledge, encouraging innovation and openness to new subjects and collaborations between different disciplines. Thanks to the quality of the research undertaken by its academic staff, individually or in teams, UNIPI holds a prominent position in the national and international scientific context. The Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering (DESTEC) addresses the challenges of modern energy systems. DESTEC activities are dedicated to thermal engines, power plant technology, electrical and power engineering, grid control and design, electric mobility and internal combustion engines, heat transfer and fluid dynamics, and building engineering. The Department may provide competence and expertise in several fields concerning energy conversion systems and energy infrastructures. Ongoing projects concern micro CHP plants, integration of renewable energy into grids, integrated renewable systems for energy supply to buildings, electric and thermal energy storage and hybrid vehicles as well as biofuels production. The Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering (DICI) includes several research areas: mechanical, chemical and process engineering, energy engineering, industrial and operational systems, maintenance engineering, material engineering. 15 experimental laboratories related to the sectors cited above are present.
X

RINA Consulting Spa

Italy

RINA Consulting Spa

RINA is a global corporation that provides services across the Energy, Marine, Certification, Transport & Infrastructure and Industry sectors through a global network of 170 offices in 65 countries. Through its 3.700 talented professionals, RINA provides a wide range of high quality tailored solutions aiming to back up the market operators across the entire life cycle of their projects.  RINA will be mainly involved in the REGEN-BY-2 project through its operational company RINA Consulting. As the engineering consultancy division of RINA, RINA Consulting provides a wide range of services covering the whole project life cycle from feasibility and specialized technical studies to conceptual and detailed design, prototyping and testing, project management, site engineering as well as operation and maintenance management.. Innovation is a key element in all our projects; RINA Consulting has a proven experience in helping its clients in developing their new products and services as well as managing their collaborative innovation processes, with a track record participation in H2020 projects.
X

Fundación CARTIF

Spain

Fundación CARTIF

CARTIF is a leading Spanish Applied Research Centre in terms of R&D and technology transfer activities. It was legally established as a Foundation (private non-profit research center) and its main goals are to identify technology needs and develop R&D-based knowledge, to support technological innovation in industry, mainly among SMEs and to disseminate R&D and innovation results. Nowadays CARTIF is formed by 175 researchers, which work in multiple knowledge fields focused to many economic sectors: energy, industry, construction and infrastructures, food, health and environment, addressing research lines oriented to the main societal challenges, as industry 4.0, smart grids, smart cities, energy efficiency, cultural heritage, quality of life, circular economy, natural resources and biotechnology. CARTIF participation in international activities is promoted through the International Projects Department and has been materialized in the current participation in 59 ongoing international Projects (and 8 more H2020 in negotiation stage), including 35 H2020 ongoing Projects (7 as coordinator) 11 LIFE Projects (5 as coordinator), 8 POCTEP (1 coordinator), 4 CYTED (1 as coordinator) and 1 Interreg Project. CARTIF is part of 20 research and professional networks including 13 international and several technology platforms and Networks such as SPIRE, Eurobotics AISBL Network, ISES (International Solar Energy Society) and IEA (International Energy Agency), and it is also the Spanish National Liaison Point of the European E2BA (Energy Efficient Buildings Association).
X

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS

France

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS

The CNRS and its Centre-East Regional Office The National Center for Scientific Research is a major French research institution and one of the most important in the world. It is under the supervisory authority of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The CNRS was created 80 years ago to respond to the major challenges of the present and future and its scientists explore life, matter, the Universe and how human societies function. It is internationally recognised for the excellence of its scientific work and is thus a reference within the scientific community, in the broader economic sphere and for the general public. The CNRS has nearly 32,000 personnel working throughout the whole of France with an overall budget of 3.4 billion euros in 2020. Its 1100 laboratories in France and other countries actively work in all fields of knowledge. The Centre-East Regional Office supervises the work of 70 operational research and service structures with more than 1195 staff spread over the Grand Est (except Alsace) and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions of France who produce over 3500 publications per year. This makes it one of the main public research actors in the region alongside universities, grandes écoles and other national research organisations.
X

R2M Solution

Spain

R2M Solution

R2M Solution is an integrated and multi-disciplinary consulting company that aggressively targets filling the gap between research activities and market implementation. We excel at helping companies grow and acting as an accelerator for bringing technologies and services to the market across the fields of Innovation Management, Engineering, Energy, and ICT/Automation. We invest in opportunities, conduct research, and offer pure engineering, energy services, and ICT consulting services. We actively seek spinoff creation opportunities, showcase promising technologies and build clusters for their uptake. Welcome to Research to Market – Europe’s hardest working innovation accelerator.
X

TIFEO Srl

Italy

TIFEO Srl

TIFEO srl is an innovative start-up born in 2018 from the synergic union between academic competence and multi-disciplinary entrepreneurial innovation knowledge, In particular, TIFEO is the exclusive licensee of the near-worldwide recent patent driving REGEN-BY-2. The latter is owned by Dr. Stefano Briola, which is also the main TIFEO’s shareholder. The company can leverage to high competences in thermodynamic and energetic research and aims to consultancy for research and product development, education and training services, as well as to penetrate in the marketing of innovative products or services with high technological value for the industrial and residential sectors. Energy efficiency consultancy and application of renewable energy systems are contexts where TIFEO aims to build the strategic pillars for the energy transition and economic sustainability.
X

National Technical University of Athens - NTUA

Greece

National Technical University of Athens - NTUA

The Laboratory of Steam Boilers and Thermal Plants (LSBTP) belongs to the Thermal Engineering Department of the School of Mechanical Engineering at the National Technical University (NTUA). LSBTP has a wide experience and is active for over 30 years in the field of thermal energy conversion technologies, focusing among other topics on energy efficiency assessment and evaluation, energy savings in industrial processes and power plants, process simulation/optimisation, experimental testing and development of heat pump units, thermodynamic modelling and development of advanced cycles for power generation and innovative domestic tri-generation systems for heating and cooling production. LSBTP is globally active in ORC technology and has a long experience and expertise in the thermodynamic optimisation, design, development and experimental testing of ORC systems.
X

Université De Liège

Belgium

Université De Liège

Liège University (ULiège) is a public university established in 1817, comprising 10 Faculties and 1 School of Management and hosting around 23000 students. The Thermodynamics Laboratory is part of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (Engineering School). This laboratory is a research team of around 25 people comprising professors, PhD students, post-doctoral students, technicians and visiting scholars from all around the world. The research activities of the Thermodynamics Laboratory aim at developing efficient and innovative thermal energy systems that meet the needs of our society. The research work is based on both numerical and experimental approaches and focuses on the design, the integration and the control of energy systems. Activities of the laboratory cover different fields of energy engineering: energy conversion (heating, cooling and power production), HVAC, thermal energy transport (district heating and cooling), thermal management of vehicles, integration of buildings inside smart energy grids.
X

Asociación Española de Normalización

Spain

Asociación Española de Normalización

The Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, is legally designated as the National Standardization Body of Spain. It is the national representative and member of the European (CEN and CENELEC), International (ISO and IEC) and Pan-American (COPANT) Standards Organizations, and member of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). More than 33.000 active standards in catalogue, 200 technical committees and 15000 participating experts are a sample of the experience developed as national standards body during more than 30 years. Formally, it is a non-profit-making, private, independent and multisectoral organisation, recognised at National, European and International levels. Through the development of technical standards helps improving the quality, competitiveness and innovation of companies, products and services. UNE has a large experience in supporting research and innovation communities when taking advantage of standards and standardization to increase the impact of their activities, approaching their results to the industry, society and market environments.
X

EXOES

France

EXOES

Exoes’ mission is to develop green technologies to decrease our carbon footprint in the field of automotive and stationary thermal applications. With more than ten years’ experience in energy management, Exoes has become a key industrial partner to accelerate the time to market of innovations. Exoes has a unique expertise in organic Rankine cycles for waste heat recovery, heat pumps for HVAC systems, and battery thermal management for electric vehicles. The company has the capability of developing specific components like expanders, compressors or pumps but also complete integrated systems including heat exchangers, control components, sensoring and monitoring. Exoes has also one of a kind expertise in immerged battery modules and packs, from design and simulation to test rigs for fluid characterisation, battery cycling and abuse testing.
X

LSTME Busan Branch of LSTM Erlangen e.V.

Germany / South Korea

LSTME Busan Branch of LSTM Erlangen e.V.

The Non-profit Promotion Association of the Institute of Fluid Mechanics Erlangen LSTME is recognized as an Affiliate Institute of the Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany). As a twin-institute, the German Engineering Research and Development Center LSTME Busan is a branch of LSTME in Busan (South Korea}. It aims at establishing sophisticated engineering research procedures at the highest international level, at fostering cooperation with Korean, European and international partners from industry and research institutes, as well as to offer an well-founded education of PhDs, research students and industrial personnel. With particular emphasis on the situation in Korean, Germany, Europe and Asia, LSTME Busan pursues the vision to focus in all its activities to meet the needs of individual humans and their societies under the prevailing geopolitical conditions. As humans basically need food/nutrition, pharmaceutical/medical products, sustainable/renewable energy and clean water/nature, contributing to all these field activities defines at the same time the mission of LSTME. Other than experimental works, LSTME Busan deals with modelling, simulation, diagnosis, prediction, automation and optimization of the corresponding systems and processes. The experimental facilities of LSTME Busan Branch include equipped labs for Fluid Mechanics, Thermo-fluid Dynamics and Combustion, Rheology, Turbomachines, Bio and Food Engineering, Mechanical Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering and a world-wide unique Deep Sea Simulator. For the simulative works not only workstation clusters are available but LSTME Busan also has got access to the Korean High-Performance-Computing Grid.
X

Dr. Jakob energy research GmbH & Co. KG

Germany

Dr. Jakob energy research GmbH & Co. KG

Dr. Jakob energy research GmbH & Co. KG (JER) is an SME consulting company based in Germany with a focus on research and product development as well as marketing, dissemination, education and training with a solid expertise in the fields of energy efficiency in buildings and industry, renewable energy technologies and climate engineering among others.
X

Hysytech Srl

Italy

Hysytech Srl

Hysytech is an engineering company with over 17 years of experience, specialized in the design, development and industrial implementation of new turn-key process technologies and equipment. Hysytech provides high quality engineering solutions and customized technical services to its clients, through advanced innovation engineering, cutting-edge R&D activities, and strong manufacturing know-how. We play a strategic role for companies in the manufacturing and industry business by bringing them a dynamic and flexible resource to meet and develop the world’s newest and leading technologies. The company is specialized in the development, design, scale-up manufacturing, certification and operation of first of a kind plants.
X