CPFD Software is proud to announce our collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso in research on the co-gasification of locally available biomasses and solid waste using fluidized beds.
The energy team from the Aerospace Center at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are working on a 300 kWth pilot-scale fluidized-bed co-gasifier to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) and biomass into clean hydrogen. The project aims to enhance syngas quality, efficiency, and hydrogen yield by optimizing key operating conditions such as pressure, temperature, and gasifying agents. The team is also conducting a techno-economic and life-cycle analysis to assess the commercial feasibility and carbon footprint reduction of co-gasification technologies.
“We are planning to use the Barracuda Virtual Reactor to model a comprehensive fluidized bed system and investigate various fluidized bed characteristics in heterogeneous systems, much of which still relies on empirical predictions due to the complex interactions between fluid hydrodynamics and energy transfer of the participating agents. Barracuda offers a CFD package that provides an optimized system for studying physics involving hydrodynamics, chemical reactions, and heat transfer. As part of my graduate studies, I am using Barracuda to investigate how heterogeneous solid particles behave under fluidization in a reactor system,” said Sumit Chanda, a doctoral researcher at the UTEP Aerospace Center.
“One of the major goals of this research is to optimize co-gasification systems under varying operating conditions, which is essential when working with heterogeneous feedstocks. We are excited to collaborate with CPFD and utilize Barracuda for our study,” said Dr. Islam, an assistant professor from Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Texas at El Paso and the principal investigator of the project.
“We are excited to collaborate with the University of Texas at El Paso and support their efforts to optimize co-gasification systems,” said Niraj Mehta, Solutions Engineer at CPFD Software. “Barracuda Virtual Reactor’s ability to model complex hydrodynamics and reactions in fluidized beds will provide valuable insights to enhance the efficiency and feasibility of converting waste into clean hydrogen.”
About the Aerospace Center at the University of Texas at El Paso
The Aerospace Center at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a premier research hub dedicated to advancing aerospace, defense, and energy technologies while fostering economic growth in the Paso del Norte region. With a strong emphasis on STEM workforce development, the center equips the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technicians with cutting-edge skills to tackle critical national challenges. By collaborating with government and industry partners, the Aerospace Center drives innovation in advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, and space technologies, strengthening the nation’s competitiveness. Through research excellence and strategic partnerships, the center is transforming the region into a thriving innovation powerhouse while creating pathways for social and economic mobility.
About CPFD Software
CPFD Software is advancing multiphase simulation and technology. Our flagship product, Barracuda Virtual Reactor®, is a physics-based engineering software package that simulates the three-dimensional, transient, fluid-particle hydrodynamics, heat balance, and chemical reactions in industrial fluidized bed reactors and other fluid-particle systems.
Virtual Reactor™ enables researchers and engineers working with diverse sustainability, renewables, and decarbonization technologies to explore a broad range of ideas, reduce physical testing costs, and minimize development risk, all while accelerating commercialization, scale-up, and overall time to market. The simulation results provide an objective basis for effectively communicating technological merits to partners, customers, and investors, while increasing market exposure and bolstering patent applications.
Learn more about Barracuda Virtual Reactor for sustainability applications on our Clean Technologies and Renewables page here.