Miguel Menéndez Sastre

@article{RENDA2025107764,

title = {Effect of particles size and density on the segregation of catalyst-sorbent mixtures for direct sorption-enhanced DME synthesis: Experimental and mathematical study},

author = {Simona Renda and Jaime Soler and Javier Herguido and Miguel Menéndez},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953425001758},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107764},

issn = {0961-9534},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Biomass and Bioenergy},

volume = {197},

pages = {107764},

abstract = {Direct sorption-enhanced dimethyl ether synthesis (SEDMES) is a promising process for the production of fuels from CO2 sources. Using novel technologies, the process can be run exploiting the phenomena of particles segregation in a fluidized bed reactor. However, the knowledge on the solid movement and the segregation patterns is a mandatory preliminary step for the setup of the final application. In this study, we evaluated the impact of particles size and density on the segregation patterns, and we used the Gibilaro and Rowe (GR) model to analytically represent the experimental results. It was observed that the variation of both parameters influences segregation, even though a higher separation degree in a wider operating velocity range was observed when a higher density ratio was induced between the two solids. Through the experimental analysis, five possible bed configurations were identified, and a consideration was made on the aims of the GR model to adjust the mathematical representation to the present case. By considering the bottom portion of the bed as a jetsam-rich phase and not – as previously reported – as a segregated layer, a mass balance on the catalyst allowed to obtain a faithful analytical representation of the experimental segregation patterns.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{catal15060509,

title = {Process Intensification for CO2 Hydrogenation to Liquid Fuels},

author = {Simona Renda and Miguel Menéndez},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/15/6/509},

doi = {10.3390/catal15060509},

issn = {2073-4344},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Catalysts},

volume = {15},

number = {6},

abstract = {Liquid fuels obtained from CO2 and green hydrogen (i.e., e-fuels) are powerful tools for decarbonizing economy. Improvements provided by Process Intensification in the existing conventional reactors aim to decrease energy consumption, increase yield, and ensure more compact and safe processes. This review describes the advances in the production of methanol, dimethyl ether, and hydrocarbons by Fischer–Tropsch using different Process Intensification tools, mainly membrane reactors, sorption-enhanced reactors, and structured reactors. Due to the environmental interest, this review article focused on discussing methanol and dimethyl ether synthesis from CO2 + H2, which also represented the most innovative approach. The use of syngas (CO + H2) is generally preferred for the Fischer–Tropsch process; hence, studies examining this process were included in the present review. Both mathematical models and experimental results are discussed. Achievements in the improvement of catalytic reactor performance are described. Experimental results in membrane reactors show increased performance in e-fuels production compared to the conventional packed bed reactor. The combination of sorption and reaction also increases the single-pass conversion and yield, although this improvement is limited by the saturation capacity of the sorbent in most cases.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ZAPATER2024101176,

title = {Multifunctional fluidized bed reactors for process intensification},

author = {D. Zapater and S. R. Kulkarni and F. Wery and M. Cui and J. Herguido and M. Menendez and G. J. Heynderickx and K. M. Van Geem and J. Gascon and P. Castaño},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360128524000340},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2024.101176},

issn = {0360-1285},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-07-31},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Progress in Energy and Combustion Science},

volume = {105},

pages = {101176},

abstract = {Fluidized bed reactors (FBRs) are crucial in the chemical industry, serving essential roles in gasoline production, manufacturing materials, and waste treatment. However, traditional up-flow FBRs have limitations in applications where rapid kinetics, catalyst deactivation, sluggish mass/heat transfer processes, particle erosion or agglomeration (clustering) occur. This review investigates multifunctional FBRs that can function in multiple ways and intensify processes. These reactors can reduce reaction steps and costs, enhance heat and mass transfer, make processes more compact, couple different phenomena, improve energy efficiency, operate in extreme fluidized regimes, have augmented throughput, or solve problems inherited by traditional reactor configurations. They address constraints associated with conventional counterparts and contribute to favorable energy, fuels, and environmental footprints. These reactors can be classified as two-zone, vortex, and internal circulating FBRs, with each concept summarized, including their advantages, disadvantages, process applicability, intensification, visualization, and simulation work. This discussion also includes shared considerations for these reactor types, along with perspectives on future advancements and opportunities for enhancing their performance.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}