Thesis Topics 2018-2019 v2

Thesis Topics 2018/2019
Mälardalen University
School of Business society and Engineering
Department of Energy, Building and Environment
Future Energy Center
Simulation and Optimization for Future Industrial Applications
The topics are suitable for students studying within the Energy Engineering and Mechanical
Engineering disciplines. Students studying full-time at universities other than Mälardalen University
(for example exchange students) may also be considered. Some of these projects will be carried
out in collaboration with some of our industrial partners.
You may send your application including a short personal letter and CV to the contact person for
given topic.
List of topics
1. Fuel recycle study for fuel cell systems
2. Waste-derived biogas in fuel cell based systems: performance assessment and control
requirements
3. Optimization of afterbody/nozzle operation for a low bypass turbofan
4. Modelling a Micro Combined Heat and Power unit for the Development of a Diagnostic
System
5. Conceptual design of a thermal management system for parallel hybrid-electric geared
turbofan
6. Spectroscopic Determination of Glass Content in Refuse-derived Fuels for Heat and Power
Production
7. Fast and Non-destructive Determination of Chlorine Content in Waste-based Solid Fuels
8. Real-time On-line Determination of Fuel Properties in Waste-based Solid Fuels
9. Spectroscopic Characterization of Cooking Liquor in Kraft Pulping Process
10. Spectroscopic Characterization of Diesel for Process Control Optimization in Oil Refineries
11. New Method to Determine the Fossil Share in Combustion of Waste
12. Energy Optimization and Advanced Control of a Kraft pulping plant.
13. Modelling and Diagnostics in the Combined Heat and Power Industry Using Modelica
(2 suggestions)
14. Parameter Estimation of a Settler Model with microalgae-activated sludge
15. Mälardalen University Solar Team Thesis Topics (3 suggestions)
Thesis topics 2017/2018
1. Fuel recycle study for fuel cell systems

Contact information
Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis Dr. Valentina Zaccaria
Future Energy Center, Future Energy Center,
SOFIA Research group SOFIA Research group
Room: R2-542, Campus Västerås Room: R1-549, Campus Västerås
Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se Email: valentina.zaccaria@mdh.se
Tel.: +46-21-151765 Tel.: +46-21-101566
Background
Anode recycle systems are commonly used in solid oxide fuel cell stacks to recycle part of the
anode off-gas at the cell inlet, increasing the overall fuel utilization and reducing the risk of carbon
deposition thanks to the higher steam content at the anode inlet. The main purpose is to increase the
efficiency in design conditions even for low single-pass fuel utilization. However, the use of anode
recycle for active control of fuel cell performance and safety operations is not yet fully explored.
Different configurations such as recycle of the off-gas exiting the post-combustor could be
investigated. This configuration would not be used to increase efficiency but to regulate the anode
inlet temperature and steam content, which could ensure safe operations when fuels with a high
variation of methane content are used (e.g. from coal or biomass gasification). Regulation of the
recycle rate with different design configurations can be studied also to mitigate fuel cell degradation
effects, which are driven, among other factors, by high fuel utilization.
The study will be mainly conducted on a Matlab-Simulink model of a solid oxide fuel cell stack
developed at the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, WV (USA). Performance
parameters of the fuel cell for different anode recycle designs, configurations, and operating strategies
will be analyzed and the opportunities for control will be assessed. This work will be conducted in
collaboration with the U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory.
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2. Waste-derived biogas in fuel-cell-based systems:

performance assessment and control
requirements
Contact information
Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis Dr. Valentina Zaccaria
Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se Email: valentina.zaccaria@mdh.se
Tel.: +46-21-151765 Tel.: +46-21-101566
Producing gas from urban waste is a valuable solution to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and
guarantee reliable energy from a source that can be considered renewable. The exploitation of fuel
cell technology for waste-derived fuel utilization is very promising due to the high efficiency of this
technology. Solid oxide fuel cells have a wide flexibility in terms of fuels and efficiencies that
exceed 50%. The performance of SOFC systems fed with waste-derived gas needs to be
appropriately assessed.
Information on biogas produced from waste will be taken from experimental data (for example from
Mälarenergi gasification plant), and the data will be used for a simulation study on a Matlab-
Simulink model of a solid oxide fuel cell stack developed at the National Energy Technology
Laboratory in Morgantown, WV (USA). Effect of fuel composition and LHV variations on fuel cell
dynamic performance and control will be analyzed. Requirements for stack design and system
control will be studied, with consideration on fuel cell degradation. This work will be conducted in
collaboration with the U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory.
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3. Optimization of afterbody/nozzle operation for a

low bypass turbofan
Contact information
Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis Dr. Xin Zhao
Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se Email: xin.zhao@mdh.se
Tel.: +46-21-151765 Tel.: +46-21-101602
Michael Säterskog
Propulsion Specialist
SAAB, Linköping
Background
There are various configuration of jet propulsion on airplanes depending on their operating conditions.
Civilian commercial airliners often use high bypass turbofans for optimal fuel consumption while military
fighters use turbojets or low bypass turbofans due to a small frontal area necessary for supersonic flight.
In turbojets and low bypass turbofans, a convergent-divergent nozzle is often incorporated in the design
to increase the velocity of the jet stream and thereby increase the thrust. This works on the principal of
chocking the nozzle throat while having a large enough pressure ratio over the nozzle to allow for an
expansion to ambient pressure in the divergent part of the nozzle.
In theory an optimum area distribution can be calculated for a specific nozzle pressure ratio. However, in
practice there are several constraints to take into considerations such as mechanical construction of the
nozzle. Due to weight and mechanical complexity, it may not be feasible to control the nozzle areas
individually. Instead the throat area is controlled while the exit area mechanically follows.
The operating scheme of the nozzle is created by the engine manufacturer and tuned for optimal
conditions for the engine. When installed in an airplane, the nozzle may cause external aerodynamic drag
due to the engine operating point and nozzle setting in combination with flight condition. This could
potentially cause the nozzle to operate at a non-optimal setting regarding thrust, drag and fuel
consumption when installed in an airplane.
The object to study would be the F414-39E engine installed in the new Gripen E airplane and the master
thesis will comprise of the following tasks:
• Creating a model of the current operating scheme of the convergent divergent nozzle.
• Optimize the nozzle operating scheme based on engine operating point and nozzle aerodynamic
drag.
• Look at the current design of the nozzle and determine if there could be a more favorable
mechanical coupling between throat and exit area.
• If time allows, calculation of optimum nozzle settings for a specific operation condition using CFD.
3
The thesis work will be conducted at SAAB in Linköping. Since the work will involve access to military
data, a Swedish citizenship is required.
4
4. Modelling a Micro Combined Heat and

Power unit for the Development of a
Diagnostic System
Contact information
Dr. Ioanna Aslanidou Dr. Valentina Zaccaria
Email: ioanna.aslanidou@mdh.se Email: valentina.zaccaria@mdh.se
Tel.: +46-21-101423 Tel.: +46-21-101566
Background
Micro combined heat and power systems offer a promising alternative to conventional boilers for
covering heat demand in larger houses and small offices, with applications all over Europe, where no
district heating networks are in place. The operation of a large fleet of units introduces significant
challenges for real-time condition monitoring of all units simultaneously. As the units are installed, their
reliable operation is very important and any fault of the components should be detected, identified, and
fixed as soon as possible, minimizing the down time of the unit. This requires an advanced diagnostic
system that can detect an anomaly in the operation of the unit, diagnose the faults and predict the failure
of a component. This can significantly reduce operating and maintenance costs and increase engine life.
The detection and diagnosis of faults is based on the comparison of the measured operating parameters
of the unit to those of a “healthy” unit predicted by a physics-based model of the unit. A difference
between the measured and the expected values of a parameter would then constitute an anomaly in the
operation of the unit.
Thesis tasks
This thesis work focuses on the development of a physics-based model of a micro combined heat and
power plant. This model will then be used to detect anomalous operation of the components and predict
remaining useful life and develop a diagnostic system.
Expected results
- Thesis writing
- Participation in writing a scientific article for a conference or journal
Practical information
Group size: 1-4 students
Credits: 15hp or 30hp
Duration: 10 or 20 weeks
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Model of a micro gas turbine system
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5. Conceptual design of a thermal management

system for parallel hybrid-electric geared turbofan
Contact information
Dr. Xin Zhao Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis
Future Energy Center, SOFIA Research group Future Energy Center, SOFIA Research group
Email: xin.zhao@mdh.se Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se
Tel.: +46-21-101602 Tel.: +46-21-151765
Smruti Sahoo
Future Energy Center, SOFIA Research group
Email: smruti.sahoo@mdh.se
Background
The demand of more efficient aircraft propulsion system increases as the steady rise of civil air transportation in the
past decades. For the foreseeable future, the same trend seems inevitable. In recent years, one of the most
advanced turbofan architecture, the geared core for large turbofan (GTF) use was launched and commercialized.
The most notable benefit for this architecture is allowing the fan and intermediate pressure compressor (IPC)
operating at their own desired speed without a third shaft. However, the gearbox which is located between the fan
and the IPC requires to transmit massive power from the low speed shaft to these two rotating components. This
transmitted power is more than 20 MW for single aisle aircraft engines. An efficiency of 99% for the gearbox could
be translated into a loss and heat of 200 KW. Cooling of the gearbox system is hence an important key for the
success of this type of engine architecture. Another hot technology under development these years is the
electrification of the aircraft propulsion system. The success of the hybrid technology in the automotive industry is
a good example for the aircraft engineers. Nonetheless, electrical power system with hundreds of KW or even MW
power requirement would require excessive efforts on the cooling of the generator, motor, convertor and the
electrical energy storage.
This project consists of a conceptual design of the thermal management system for a parallel hybrid geared
turbofan. To be more specific, for a closely coupled geared core gas turbine and electrical power system, designing
a cooling system for both the gearbox and the electrical power components as mentioned in the previous
paragraph. Conventional air-cooled oil cooler (ACOC) concept can be one option, as the cooled oil can also be used
for the bearing and gearbox lubrication. Other concepts include the use of micro channel heat exchanger, fuel
cooling, ram air cooling and combined concepts, etc. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) may be involved for the
heat exchanger design and installation effects. The major output expected for this project would be a weight-
performance correlation for the most promising cooling concept. An example of an ACOC studied by von Karman
Institute for Fluid Dynamics is shown below.
J. Sousa, L. Villafañe, G. Paniagua,
Thermal analysis and modeling of surface
heat exchangers operating in the
transonic regime, In Energy, Volume 64,
2014, Pages 961-969,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.11.0
32
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6. Spectroscopic Determination of Glass Content in

Refuse-derived Fuels for Heat and Power Production
Contact information
Dr. Jan Skvaril Dr. Ioanna Aslanidou
Email: jan.skvaril@mdh.se Email: ioanna.aslanidou@mdh.se
Tel.: 073 6620977 Tel.: +46-21-101423
Elena Tomás-Aparicio
Email: Elena.Tomas-
Produktionsoptimerare
Aparicio@malarenergi.se
Värme Anläggningsutveckling Optimering & Analys
Tel.: 021-39 53 99
Mälarenergi AB
Background
According to waste management strategies, energy recovery from waste is prioritized over landfilling.
Composition and properties of the waste-based fuel intended for incineration has substantial effect on
combustion process performance and formation of environmentally harmful emissions. Fuel composition
vary significantly depending on the material source, sorting procedures and other pretreatment
methods. In general, it typically contains wood, paper, plastics, textile, other organic materials and
further undesired substances including e.g. glass and metals.
Prior to incineration, waste is processed in the sorting plant to separate incombustible substances,
separation is however not fully efficient. Produced refuse-derived fuel (RFD) therefore still contain glass
residues. The presence of glass in the RDF, which is intended for incineration in fluidized bed boilers,
causes increased risk of operational problems. This is due to the poor heat resistance of glass. The most
soda-lime glass containing mostly SiO2. Glass material combined with elements such as K, Na, Cl, S, Si, and
P from the fuel form low-melting compounds. These compounds deposit on the bed particles (silica sand;
i.e. SiO2 in the form of quartz), forming agglomerates and cause bed defluidization which result in a
malfunction or failure of the combustion equipment followed by the necessity of replacing the bed
material. Furthermore, when glass is heated to temperatures close to its melting point, a high viscous
silicate phase can form, which causes clogging problems during sand/ash extraction and the boiler may
need an unscheduled shut down. This leads to increased operating cost for the facility and environmental
issues due to the increased production of used bed material and enlarged emissions during operation,
start-up and shutdown of the boiler.
These problems can be minimized by improving process monitoring and control followed by appropriate
operational measures. Therefore, the challenge is to find a method for rapid and reliable on-line
characterization of the fuel fed into the boiler. Glass detection methods would be beneficial for improving
boiler operating conditions, such as optimising the maintenance schedule for the bed sands and the use
of additives for reducing agglomeration rates.
Non-destructive solid material characterization may be achieved by employing a near infrared (NIR)
spectroscopy. This method is based on vibrational spectroscopy, which measures the interactions of
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electromagnetic NIR radiation with the covalent chemical bonds of the sample constituents at different
wavelengths. The NIR spectroscopy technique is used widely and for many years in the field of food
science as well as the pharmaceutical industry for quality monitoring. It is also extensively used in forestry
as well as the pulp and paper industry for identification of wood and characterization of its properties
and for measurements of pulp properties. Moreover, it’s also used in waste management for many
applications such as monitoring of the landfilled material, separation of recyclables, recovery of
biodegradable materials etc.
Thesis tasks and Expected results
The thesis work flow consist of following specific tasks:
- Evaluation the potential and limitations of using NIR spectroscopy measurements for the
characterization of fuel/feedstock material properties (literature review).
- Correct material sampling and sample preparation.
- Spectral data acquisition on top-notch spectroscopy instruments in the lab and at Mälarenergi.
- Build reliable and robust models from NIR spectra by employing linear or non-linear regression/machine
learning techniques.
- Define potentials and limitations for on-line measurements and suggest implementation of the sensor
for process control
- Thesis writing
- Participation in the writing of scientific conference or journal paper
- The feasibility of on-line measurement of glass at Mälarenergi combined heat and power plant.
Group size: 1-4 students, Credits: 15hp or 30hp
Suggested sensor implementation for powerplant control
References
1. Burns, Donald A., and Emil W. Ciurczak, eds. Handbook of near-infrared analysis. CRC press, 2007.
2. Skvaril J, Kyprianidis KG, Dahlquist E. Applications of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in biomass energy
conversion processes: A review. Appl Spectrosc Rev. 2017; (Epub ahead of print 31 January). Available from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/05704928.2017. 1289471
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7. Fast and Non-destructive Determination of

Chlorine Content in Waste-based Solid Fuels
Contact information
Dr. Jan Skvaril Prof. Erik Dahlquist
Email: jan.skvaril@mdh.se Email: erik.dahlquist@mdh.se
Tel.: 073 6620977 Tel.: +46 (0) 73-960 7191
Email: Elena.Tomas-
Värme Anläggningsutveckling Optimering &
Tel.: 021-39 53 99
Analys
Mälarenergi AB
Background
Incineration of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in waste-to-energy powerplants presents an important
challenge. Composition and properties of the RDF has a strong impact on a combustion process
performance and formation of environmentally harmful emissions. The RDF is a fuel with highly variable
properties which depend on waste material source, sorting and pre-processing procedures. Typically,
various portions of paper, polymers (plastics), wood, textile, soil and other biomass and inorganic
substances such as glass and metals compose the RDF.
If proper combustion conditions are not met a formation of carbon monoxide, hydrogen-cyanides, acid
compounds and aromatic hydrocarbons etc. is expected. Chlorine compounds of the RDF may lead to
release of highly chlorinated polycyclic compounds such as dioxins and furans. Strongly corrosive
deposits of alkali chlorides and other compounds may be formed on the heat exchangers which
decreases a heat transfer within the combustion system, reduce conversion efficiency and shorten
lifetime of the equipment.
The knowledge of RDF composition and properties is limited to direct or indirect continuous moisture
content measurements and periodic fuel samplings, which can provide the elementary composition.
Since the operating conditions of a process unit require continuous regulation, this information is not
sufficient for process control and performance optimization especially when considering strongly
heterogeneous RDF. Hence, there is an urgent demand for a method that continuously determines the
characteristics of the RDF feedstock affecting the incineration process, specifically the content of
chlorine.
Real-time non-destructive characterization of RDF can be done by employing near-infrared (NIR)

spectroscopy. The NIR spectroscopy is an inexpensive contactless measurement technique which
enables qualitative and quantitative material characterization.
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characterization of fuel/feedstock material properties with specific emphasis on chlorine content
determination (literature review).
- Determination of the reference properties of interest (primarily chlorine content in waste-based fuel
according to the standardized methods)
for process control
- Thesis writing
- The feasibility of on-line measurement of chlorine content in waste-based fuel at Mälarenergi combined
heat and power plant.
References
2. Skvaril J, Kyprianidis KG, Dahlquist E. Applications of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in biomass
energy conversion processes: A review. Appl Spectrosc Rev. 2017; Available from:
3. Kyprianidis, Konstantinos, and Jan Skvaril. Developments in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. InTechOpen,
2017.
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8. Real-time On-line Determination of Fuel

Properties in Waste-based Solid Fuels
Contact information
Dr. Jan Skvaril Dr Ioanna Aslanidou
Email: jan.skvaril@mdh.se Email: ioanna.aslanidou@mdh.se
Tel.: 073 6620977 Tel.: +46-21-101423
Email: Elena.Tomas-
Värme Anläggningsutveckling Optimering & Analys
Tel.: 021-39 53 99
Mälarenergi AB
Background
Incineration of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in waste-to-energy powerplants presents an important
challenge. Composition and properties of the RDF has a strong impact on a combustion process
performance and formation of environmentally harmful emissions. The RDF is a fuel with highly variable
properties, which depend on waste material source, sorting and pre-processing procedures. Typically,
various portions of paper, polymers (plastics), wood, textile, soil and other biomass and inorganic
substances such as glass and metals compose the RDF. Important properties of the fuel related to
combustion process are e.g. heating value, ash content and moisture content etc.
If proper combustion conditions are not met a formation of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanides, acid
compounds and aromatic hydrocarbons etc. is expected. Chlorine compounds of the RDF may lead to
release of highly chlorinated polycyclic compounds such as dioxins and furans. Strongly corrosive
deposits of alkali chlorides and other compounds may be formed on the heat exchangers which
decreases a heat transfer within the combustion system, reduce conversion efficiency and shorten
lifetime of the equipment.
The knowledge of RDF composition and properties is limited to direct or indirect continuous moisture
content measurements and periodic fuel samplings, which can provide the elementary composition.
Since the operating conditions of a process unit require continuous regulation, this information is not
sufficient for process control and performance optimization especially when considering strongly
heterogeneous RDF. Hence, there is an urgent demand for a method that continuously determines the
characteristics of the RDF feedstock affecting the incineration process.
The present study will be focusing on the application of NIRS to RDF material in order to develop a
method for on-line material characterization and to develop control strategies to be implemented in the
powerplant control system.
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characterization of fuel properties with specific emphasis on heating value determination (literature
review).
- Determination of the reference properties of interest i.e. primarily heating value by bomb calorimetric
measurements.
for process control
- Thesis writing
- The feasibility of on-line measurement of fuel properties (emphasis on heating value) in waste-based
fuel at Mälarenergi combined heat and power plant.
- Strategy for implementation of NIR based soft sensor for feedforward model predictive control of the
boiler.
References
2. Skvaril J, Kyprianidis KG, Dahlquist E. Applications of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in biomass energy
conversion processes: A review. Appl Spectrosc Rev. 2017; (Epub ahead of print 31 January). Available from:
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9. Spectroscopic Characterization of Cooking

Liquor in Kraft Pulping Process
Contact information
Dr. Anders Avelin Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis
Room: R2-554 Room: R2-542, Campus Västerås
E-mail: anders.avelin@mdh.se Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se
Tel.: 021-15 17 98 Tel.: +46-21-151765
Background
The kraft process is a process for conversion of wood into kraft pulp, which consists mostly of cellulose
fibres, the main component for paper production. Wood in the form of chips is used as a feedstock
material and together with chemicals (i.e. cooking white liquor – hot mixture of water and NaOH and
Na2S) is brought to a pulp digester i.e. process reactor where the wood is digested (depicted in the figure
below). The substance generated is a wood pulp, which is further processed resulting in paper as a final
product. Most of the pulp digesters nowadays are continuous process reactors with significant residence
time. The quality of the resulting pulp is affected mostly by cooking conditions, type of the wood, physical
and chemical properties of the wood, age of the trees, among others. One of the biggest challenges is to
maintain stable operation with the limited possibility to measure and control physical and chemical
parameters inside.
To optimize kraft pulping process, operators also need to understand and control the green and black
liquors of the kraft liquor cycle, which directly impact on the quality and yield of the pulp extracted from
the digester. An important consideration in this control is to reduce a negative variation in one part of the
cycle that results in downstream unit operations disturbances which in turn can create further variations,
causing a downward spiral effect. Traditional manual testing procedures performed by the operators
associated with the Kraft liquor cycle do not provide a full spectrum of the needed properties of the black,
green and white liquors to optimize the cycle. The infrequency of the test accompanied by the time lags
in the process do not allow for corrective actions to mitigate process upsets. In many cases operators
respond to upset conditions without ever knowing the originating cause or possibly even induce upsets
when acting on erroneous information.
Hence, there is an urgent demand for a method that continuously determines the characteristics of the
biomass feedstock and black liquor that affect the conversion into pulp.
Accurate on-line measurements can be realized by introducing the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)
technique. This inexpensive, contactless and rapid optical method enables qualitative and quantitative
characterization of solid and liquid materials. The method is based on vibrational spectroscopy and
measures interactions between electromagnetic radiation and the chemical bonds of the matter in the
near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. In biomass, electromagnetic radiation interacts with structural
molecular groups. The extraction of the information from spectra is done by applying chemometrics
which is a discipline that uses mathematical and statistical methods to provide maximum information by
analyzing NIR spectra. It is usually done by applying spectral pre-processing techniques which enhance
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the interesting information included in the spectrum. The quantitative analysis e.g. multivariate or
univariate regression method or machine learning techniques) are then applied in order to determine
quantifiable properties of the material.
According to previous studies NIR has a potential for online determination of reduction efficiencies,
effective alkali, sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate, sodium sulphide, and sodium thiosulphate in the
green liquor and white liquor and residual effective alkali, lignin content and an organic/inorganic content
determination of the black liquor.
Thesis tasks
- Literature review: Identification of what are the most important black liquor properties in kraft
pulping process which can be potentially measurable by NIRS
- Black liquor sampling at different extraction points from the kraft pulp digester
- Sample preparation of NIR spectra acquisition
- Determination of the reference properties of interest (e.g. soap content, residual affective alkali
etc.)
- NIR model development (signal pre-processing, calibration, cross-validation, independent external
validation)
- Evaluation of the potential
Expected results
- Thesis
- Possible conference or journal paper
- Production of robust and reliable NIR models predicting various properties of interest of the
green/black liquor.
Wood chips + White liquor
Steam
Group size: 1-4 students Impregnation
Steam
zone Strong
Credits: 15hp or 30hp while
liquor Steam
Heat
Circulation screen exchangers
Circulation screen
Cooking Strong while

liquor
zone
Black liquor
extraction
Extraction screen
Extraction
zone
Circulation screen
Strong while liquor
Washing
zone Chips Liquor Kappa number
measurement
Wash
Pulp
water
Kraft pulp digester scheme
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10. Spectroscopic Characterization of Diesel for

Process Control Optimization in Oil Refineries
Contact information
Dr. Ioanna Aslanidou Dr. Jan Skvaril
Email: ioanna.aslanidou@mdh.se Email: jan.skvaril@mdh.se
Tel.: +46-21-101423 Tel.: +46 (0) 736 620977
Background
Process industries are using a lot of energy while converting raw material into useful products. In the oil
and gas industry, a refinery aims to produce high quality diesel and gasoline to certain specifications from
crude oil with varying properties coming from all over the world. The properties of the oil product should
be kept within certain limits to reduce the waste of product and of energy. The production of oil with
higher quality than required is a give-away of product whereas low quality oil is off-spec and cannot be
sold.
The knowledge of the properties of the feed oil can be used in combination with a model of the distillation
process in order to determine the optimal operating parameters for the reactors in the diesel-upgrading
unit. This can then be used for feed-forward control of the process based on the properties of the material
going into the unit at any given moment, thus reducing product waste and increasing the energy
efficiency of the process.
The properties of the oil feed can be determined using Near InfraRed Spectroscopy, an optical technique
that is based on the interaction of electromagnetic radiation (light) with matter. The light causes a
transition of the molecules from lower vibrational state to higher resulting in response, which can be
detected by the spectrometer for a range of wavelengths providing an absorbance spectrum. This
information can then be correlated to different properties of the material using multivariate analysis
techniques.

This thesis work focuses on the development of a model for the characterization of key diesel oil
properties (distillation curve, sulphur content) using spectroscopic data. The use of linear methods such
as partial least squares regression (PLS) and non-linear methods such as artificial neural networks will be
investigated.
- Thesis writing
- Participation in writing a scientific article for a conference or journal
Group size: 1-4 students, Credits: 15hp or 30hp
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11. New Method to Determine the Fossil Share in

Combustion of Waste
Contact information
Dr. Jan Skvaril Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis
Email: jan.skvaril@mdh.se Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se
Tel.: 073 6620977 Tel.: +46-21-151765
Background
This project will be included in the Future Energy project SPECTRA (Spectral measurements for prediction
of biomass) where the focus is to find a method that continuously determines the characteristics of the
biomass/waste that affect the conversion of biofuels into energy or paper. One of the biggest challenges
in optimizing biomass-based processes is the great variety in chemical properties of the material. A
method that continuously determines the characteristics of the biomass that affect the conversion of
biofuels into energy or paper is needed. In order to better optimize the combustion process, we mainly
study the link between the NIR spectra and the heating value. For optimization of the pulping process,
we will study the link between the NIR spectra and lignin content. Rapid and simple analysis of biomass
properties, such as, moisture, lignin, cellulose, reactivity and bleachability could enable characterisation
of biomass as it enters the power plant or the pulp industry. By implementing on-line measurements, the
process conditions can be controlled and adjusted accordingly. In addition, the method may offer a fairer
valuation of the actual biomass. Spectral measurements, such as Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR)
provides a rapid means to analyse a wide variety materials, such as feedstocks, wastes and biomass. NIR
requires minimal or no sample preparation and is non-destructive. The data from measurement can then
be utilized for prediction, optimization and control of industrial applications.
Thesis tasks
The task is to examine, investigate and assist in a feasibility study to find a new method using NIR
Spectroscopy for measuring fossil CO2. Standards are not fully sufficient for waste fuels and new methods
are needed to determine the fossil CO2 share of the fuel. Available monitoring regulations are written for
homogenous fuels with known origins and characteristics. Waste-to-energy plants are growing rapidly
and a need to determine fossil CO2 is important for future development. In this work, NIR spectroscopy
is used to correlate how much of the CO2 in waste fuel is fossil based and how much is from renewable
sources. Furthermore, the measurements are used for determination of other fuel characteristics such as
energy, ash and moisture content. A complete literature survey should be carried out to find the state-of-
the-art in the field. Experiments in the Future Energy research lab of fuel samples from Mälarenergi are
analysed and prediction models should be built from the retrieved data. If the results show good
accuracy, they should be implemented at Mälarenergi for the fuel preparation for boiler 6. Conclusions
and recommendations to the plant should be the final outcome of the thesis.
Expected results
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- Thesis.
- Participation in the writing of a scientific paper.
- Indication of the accuracy of characterization of waste fuel with NIR spectroscopy.
- The feasibility of on-line measurement of fossil origin of the CO2 from the plant.
References
2. Kyprianidis, Konstantinos, and Jan Skvaril. Developments in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. InTechOpen,
2017.
3. Skvaril J, Kyprianidis KG, Dahlquist E. Applications of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in biomass
energy conversion processes: A review. Appl Spectrosc Rev. 2017; (Epub ahead of print 31 January).
Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/05704928.2017. 1289471
18
12. Economic Model Predictive Control (EMPC) of

chemical processes by using open-source tools.
Contact information
Moksadur Rahman Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis
Email: moksadur.rahman@mdh.se Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se
Tel.: 021 101594 Tel.: +46-21-151765
Background
The student/s will develop and implement a prototype Economic Model Predictive Controller (EMPC)
using open-source tools preferably OpenModelica/JModelica and C/C++ or Python scripting.
Fig.1. (a) A simple CSTR, (b) Main idea of an EMPC.
Thesis tasks
1. Perform a literature review on Economic Model Predictive Control (EMPC), its benefits and scopes,
implementation techniques using open-source modelling tools.
2. Model a well-mixed, non-isothermal CSTR where three irreversible first order exothermic reactions
A →B, A →C, A →D takes place. Implement the model in OpenModelica/JModelica. Investigate how the
implemented model can be interfaced from other software using C/C++ or python scripting.
3. Make a C/C++ or python program that simulates the Modelica-model.
4. Define EMPC objective function. Extend the program to calculate an EMPC objective function.
5. Interface the objective function to the Ipopt optimization tool.
6. Document and discuss the results.
19
Previous experience with modelling tools like OpenModelica/Python/C/C++/MatLab will be very useful.
This will be a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in process modelling and process control.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions. We are also very open to hear
about your ideas.
Expected results
- The writing of a Thesis.
- Participation in writing a scientific article for a journal or a conference.
Group size: 1-2 students (Preferably 1)
Credits: 30hp
Duration: 20 weeks
Application procedure
- If you are interested in the topic, please sent a short email to moksadur.rahman@mdh.se with explaining
why you want to do this thesis and a list of programming tools that you have used before. Then we will
set-up a short meeting to discuss the possibilities.
Some useful reference
1. Li, X., Zhang, L., Nakaya, M., & Takenaka, A. (2016, October). Application of economic MPC to a CSTR
process. In Advanced Information Management, Communicates, Electronic and Automation Control
Conference (IMCEC), 2016 IEEE (pp. 685-690). IEEE.
2. Carbonell, C. B. (2010). Model-based predictive control using Modelica and open source components.
20
13. Modelling and Diagnostics in the Combined

Heat and Power Industry Using Modelica
(2 suggestions)
Contact information
Nathan Zimmerman Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis
Room: R1-456 Room: R2-542, Campus Västerås
E-mail: nathan.zimmerman@mdh.se Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se
Tel.: 021-107 335 Tel.: +46-21-151765
Possibility of two projects

1. Boiler and Combustion, Block 6 at Mälarenergi.
2. Low temperature district heating network combined with renewable energy sources for the new
residential/commercial region near the central train station in Västerås (Mälarenergi, “3B”).
Currently at MDH we are working towards building our own Boiler and District heating libraries. Where
the libraries are being developed using the programming language Modelica. By using the drag-and- drop
nature of object-oriented programming, the above mentioned libraries can be used to simulate not only
the production of heat but also the heat distribution to the district heating network. In both topics the
students will be working in the continuation, and development, of validating the model library packages
using data from Mälarenergi. Therefore, a high comprehension of Modelica is required. Once the model
libraries are up-to-date (there will be a need to develop new library components) and validated the
student(s) will have the possibility of exploring diagnostics, decision support, control, and accompanied
sensitivity analyses in either Block 6 at Mälarenergi or part(s) of the district heating network in Västerås.
21
14. Parameter Estimation of a Settler Model with

microalgae-activated sludge
Contact information
Dr. Jesus Zambráno Prof. Erik Dahlquist
Future Energy Center Future Energy Center,
Room: R1-458 Room: R2-556, Campus
E-mail: jesus.zambrano@mdh.se Västerås
Tel: +46 (0) 21-101541 Email: erik.dahlquist@mdh.se
Tel.: +46 (0) 73-960 7191
Partners: Stefan Diehl (Lund University), Bengt Carlsson (Uppsala University).
General task: Given an Algae-Based Activated Sludge from a pilot-plant scale, the aim is to obtain the
hindered and compression settling parameters.
Specific tasks: The project will involve two main parts: lab experiments and model/programming.
First, it is convenient to define the following settler parameters: height (B), critical concentration (Xc),
recycle concentration (Xr).
- Height (B): Distance between the feed inlet and the bottom. The settler height will depend, of course,
on the available space at the pilot plant.
- Critical concentration (Xc): defined as the concentration at the top of the sludge blanket.
- Recycle concentration (Xr): defined as the concentration at the bottom of the SST.
Lab work
- Run settling experiments to determine the hindered

settling velocity parameters for concentrations below Xc.
Traditionally, the Vesilind formula is used for calibration.
- Once the previous step is done, after approx. 20 minutes,
measure concentration vs. height in the region below the
sludge blanket level.
Model work
- For the hindering: Fit the parameters of the hindered Figure 1A settler column. The thickening zone is the
region where 0 < z < B
function using Vesilind, double exponential, or any ad-
hoc function.
- For the compression: Fit the compression function parameters using a linear, log-type or any ad-hoc
function.
Expected results:
- Thesis.
- Participation in the writing of a scientific paper.
22
- Group size: 1 student

- Credits: 30hp
- Duration: 20 weeks
References
Diehl, S., Zambrano, J. and Carlsson, B. 2016 Steady-state of activated sludge process with a settler model
including sludge compression. Water Research 88(1), 104-116.
Wilson, E. T. 2005 Clarifier Design, Manual of Practice No. FD-8. Water Environment Federation, 2nd
Edition, McGrawHill, pg 148-159.
23
15. Mälardalen University Solar Team Thesis Topics

(3 suggestions)
Contact information
Prof. Konstantinos Kyprianidis Dr. Ioanna Aslanidou
Email: Konstantinos.kyprianidis@mdh.se Email: ioanna.aslanidou@mdh.se
Tel.: +46-21-151765 Tel.: +46-21-101423
Background
Mälardalen University is for the first time competing in the World Solar Challenge. The competition is to
develop a Solar Car and race it 3000km across Australia with solar power only. The 8th of October 2017
the team competed against Stanford University, Cambridge University, Tokai University and many more
top universities from all over the world.
The MDH Solar Team started in 2014 and now consists of 30 students from different programs. A
construction team in Eskilstuna led by master’s students in Product and Process development and an
electronics team in Västerås led by a master’s student in Robotic Systems. The car has been manufactured
and now the team is searching for Energy Engineering students who are interested in performing project
and thesis work during autumn 2017 and spring 2018.
Figure 1. World Solar Challenge route
24
Topic 1: Solar cell cooling
The research and development of efficient Solar cells is constantly ongoing. Different chemistry of the
cells can give different properties and electrical characteristics as well as different efficiency. The most
efficient cells on the market are always the most costly and in a challenge such as the World Solar
Challenge it´s important to have as efficient cells as possible.
According to the World solar challenge regulations you are allowed to have photovoltaic cells covering a
total area which depends on their chemistry:
PV Cell Chemistry Allowable Total Cell Area

(𝒎𝟐 )
Si 4.000
thin film GaAs 3.560
Multijunction 2.640
The MDH Solar Team decided to use Silicon (Si) cells in the World Solar Challenge 2017. This is mainly
because the cost of Gallium arsenide (GaAs) and multijunction cells are out of the team’s budget. In the
race of 2015, most of the teams were using Silicon cells but at that time it was allowed to have a total area
of 6𝑚 $ compared to 3𝑚 $ of Gallium cells. For the Gallium cells, the efficiency is higher and the cells are
very temperature independent in comparison to the Silicon cells. The efficiency decreases rapidly with
temperature for Silicon cells and that’s why a cooling system for the solar cells is critical.
The task of this project is to examine and investigate solutions for a cooling system for the Solar cells. A
competitor analysis should be carried out in order to see what solutions already exist within the
competition, together with pros and cons of those solutions. A critical factor affecting the development
and integration of the system is the weight. The solar car needs to be as light as possible in order to keep
the power consumption low. Therefore the development of an efficient cooling system is a balancing act
between weight and efficiency.
In the race of 2015 it was allowed to spray the solar cells with cool water at stops, which most teams did
in order to keep the cells as efficient as possible. This was not allowed for the race of 2017 as:
3.18.3 External devices intended to increase the irradiance on the solar collector or increase the efficiency of
the solar collector must not be used at any time.
And so, most of the solar car teams will have to meet the challenge of developing an efficient cooling
system to be integrated in the car.
25
Topic 2: Energy management and race strategy
In the challenger class of World Solar Challenge it’s all about driving as fast as possible from point A to
point B with a limited amount of energy. Even though some teams are using more efficient equipment
than others, all teams face the same weather and road conditions. And as long as the mechanical parts
of the car do not malfunction during the race, how fast you drive depends on how well you utilize the
available energy.
The energy management and planning for the race is critical in order to be competitive to the top teams
of the race. Most teams use some sort of strategy/energy management system in order to tell the driver
what the optimal and most efficient velocity is. Depending on the complexity of the system, it can take a
lot of affecting parameters into consideration such as road elevation, predicted weather, obligatory
control stops etc. Some teams even have a short and long term strategy, which can be useful in case you
approach a team that you need to overtake etc.
The energy flow in the car will look like the following:
Where the solar panel consists of 4𝑚 $ of Sunpower E60 silicon cells. The battery system consists of 406
Panasonic NCR18650GA cells giving a nominal voltage of 104.4V and a capacity of approximately 48Ah or
5kWh. The traction system consists of two MITSUBA M1096 hub motors with special winding to match
the rest of the car’s electronic components.
As can be seen in the picture, depending on how fast you drive (how much power you consume), the
battery system can either be charged or drained. If the solar energy is not enough for a certain speed, the
battery will drain, or if the car is driving very slowly, the excess energy will charge the battery system.
The motor system can also regenerate energy by motor braking the car, which can be useful in bigger
downhill slopes if you want to maintain a constant speed.
The task of this project is to find a strategy so that the car can finish the race as fast as possible with the
small amount of energy available. In order to utilize all the energy available, the battery system should be
“completely drained” at the finish of the race. How much should the battery be drained each day in order
to have enough energy for the rest of the race? What are the most important factors that can affect the
optimal speed of the car and how can these be accounted for in the strategy?
Available material:
Solar irradiance model for Australia (MATLAB code)
Dynamic car model (MATLAB code)
Road data (GPS coordinates, elevation, speed limits, stop points)

26
Topic 3: Solar panel configuration
In the challenger class of World Solar Challenge 2015 it was allowed to have 6𝑚 $ of Silicon solar cells. In
the race of 2017 it is only allowed to have a total area of 4𝑚 $ of Silicon solar cells. This reduction by one
third of the allowable area means that in theory, we will only have two thirds of the incoming solar energy
compared to previous competitions. By changing the regulations and lowering the allowable total area
of solar cells, the cars will not be able to have as high an average velocity throughout the whole race. The
new regulations also makes it easier to design the cars differently in comparison to last year. With a
relatively small area of solar cells you can place the panels differently and shape the car differently
without any greater increase of aerodynamic drag or frontal area. You also want to utilize the 4𝑚 $ of cells
to the maximum since there is not a lot of energy you can get from a solar panel of that size. An idea that
rises with the new design possibilities is to angle the solar panel so that the solar cells always are
perpendicular to the sun. In this kind of configuration, the solar panel is utilized to the maximum and can
produce as much power as possible. The MDH Solar Car in Concept III used a tiltable panel, but the
concept was quickly abolished due to the aerodynamic difficulties encountered.
The project task is to investigate and calculate, according to race regulations (stops etc.), how much
energy that could be gained with a tiltable solar panel. The car can only be driven between 8am and 5pm.
Is it feasible to always have the solar panel perpendicular to the sun or could it, from the mechanical point
of view, be more feasible to only tilt it in between certain angles? How could the tilting mechanism be
constructed so that it is not too heavy or energy consuming? How could the solar panel be placed so that
the aerodynamic drag and frontal area is not significantly affected?
The Solar team project is conducted together with:
Volvo AB, Würth Elektronik, Mälardalen University, Semcon Sweden AB, Mälardalen Industrial
Technology Center, Modellteknik, Mitsuba, Ansys, Living Lab, Swecomposite
Learn more:
www.mdhsolarteam.se
www.worldsolarchallenge.com
15. Conceptual design of a thermal management

system for parallel hybrid electric geared turbofan
27

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Thesis Topics 2018/2019

Simulation and Optimization for Future Industrial Applications

1. Fuel recycle study for fuel cell systems

2. Waste-derived biogas in fuel-cell-based systems:

3. Optimization of afterbody/nozzle operation for a

4. Modelling a Micro Combined Heat and

Model of a micro gas turbine system

5. Conceptual design of a thermal management

6. Spectroscopic Determination of Glass Content in

Suggested sensor implementation for powerplant control

7. Fast and Non-destructive Determination of

Real-time non-destructive characterization of RDF can be done by employing near-infrared (NIR)

Thesis tasks and Expected results

Suggested sensor implementation for powerplant control

8. Real-time On-line Determination of Fuel

Thesis tasks and Expected results

Suggested sensor implementation for powerplant control

9. Spectroscopic Characterization of Cooking

Cooking Strong while

Kraft pulp digester scheme

10. Spectroscopic Characterization of Diesel for

Thesis tasks and Expected results

11. New Method to Determine the Fossil Share in

12. Economic Model Predictive Control (EMPC) of

Fig.1. (a) A simple CSTR, (b) Main idea of an EMPC.

Some useful reference

13. Modelling and Diagnostics in the Combined

Possibility of two projects

14. Parameter Estimation of a Settler Model with

Partners: Stefan Diehl (Lund University), Bengt Carlsson (Uppsala University).

- Run settling experiments to determine the hindered

- Group size: 1 student

15. Mälardalen University Solar Team Thesis Topics

Figure 1. World Solar Challenge route

Topic 1: Solar cell cooling

PV Cell Chemistry Allowable Total Cell Area

Topic 2: Energy management and race strategy

Dynamic car model (MATLAB code)

Road data (GPS coordinates, elevation, speed limits, stop points)

Topic 3: Solar panel configuration

The Solar team project is conducted together with:

15. Conceptual design of a thermal management

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