CPFD Software is proud to announce our collaboration with the University of Luxembourg in research on hydrogen-based iron ore reduction using fluidized beds.
One of the key research projects of the Paul Wurth Chair Group at the University of Luxembourg, undertaken in close collaboration with industry to decarbonize the steel sector, focuses on improving the efficiency of hydrogen-based iron ore reduction using fluidized bed technologies through CFD simulation. This approach requires the accurate investigation of all influencing parameters. Given the high costs of conducting optimization analyses on real reactors, CFD tools offer a cost-effective and practical alternative.
“Barracuda Virtual Reactor offers an intuitive workflow that significantly reduces time and effort compared to other CFD software packages, particularly for fluidized bed simulations, which are inherently complex. The training engineers at CPFD are highly accessible and supportive, making the software even more convenient and user-friendly,” said Zahra Amini Garakani, a doctoral researcher at the Paul Wurth Chair Group in the Department of Engineering at the University of Luxembourg.
“At CPFD Software, we are excited to support Zahra and her team at the University of Luxembourg on advancing green hydrogen and iron ore reduction research,” said Niraj Mehta, Solutions Engineer at CPFD Software. “Fluidized beds are among the most challenging systems to model computationally, and we are thrilled Barracuda Virtual Reactor can provide them the multiphase capabilities and scalability necessary. CPFD Software is committed to accelerating innovation, and we are excited to see how the Paul Wurth Chair Group contributes to decarbonizing the steel industry.”
About the Paul Wurth Chair Group at the University of Luxembourg
The Paul Wurth Chair Group, led by Prof. Bradley Ladewig and based in the Department of Engineering at the University of Luxembourg, collaborates closely with industry, government, and research partners to advance green hydrogen solutions. The group conducts innovative research in process engineering while actively supporting Luxembourg's industry in its transition toward sustainable energy and a hydrogen-based economy.
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.