The Università degli Studi ROMA TRE - Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering - is actively involved in the field of Hydrogen production from renewables as well as from fossil fuels. Moreover it is involved in the field of hydrogen storage and use in power plants. DIMI-RM3 participates in a research project funded by the Italian Government and-Coordinated by ENEA (National Agency for Energy and Environment) addressed to explore the feasibility of solar hydrogen production systems based on thermochemical water splitting processes. DIMI-RM3 research activities are related to process simulations, component design and lab-scale experiments. The DIMI-RM3 research group has available a solar energy capture and concentration facility. The system consists in flat mirrors which follow the sun light and forward it to a parabolic concentrator. In the focus a temperature of some 1200°C can be presently attained. This system has been used to carry out noticeable experiments, such as the production of water from the moonrock ilmenite by reduction with hydrogen and methane at high temperature. Situations involving SO2 have been experienced.
The research group is also actively involved in the field of combustion and combustion chamber analysis with NN approach with European research organisations (SENECOM funded by Italian Ministry of Research, NNADCICS and NEMORETS funded by EU).
This research group has a wide experience in analysing optimum management of cogeneration systems and has been involved in a study of “Optimum Management System with Environment Monitoring” (OMSEM) within the framework of JOULE III. In OMSEM project DIMI-URM3 has developed models for state recognition and analysis of plant components. The University of ROMA TRE (DIMI-URM3) has a wide experience in power plant related technologies as well as in the design and analysis of plant components (heat exchangers, compressors, steam turbines, gas turbines, cooling and so on). The experience includes the design (in co-operation with Ansaldo and ITALIMPIANTI) of cogeneration power plant of Esfahan (Iran). Another important experience concerns with steam injected gas turbine equipped with self-producing demineralized water thermal plant also with steam cooled blades, and the design of gas-steam combined plants (MPI, MURST and Nuovo Pignone). Optimisation of design and operation of power, cogeneration and combined gas-steam plants, modelling of components are also investigated topics (MURST, ENEA, ESACONTROL, TELETTRA, GAVAZZI).