The Gas Science and Technology and Efficient and Rational Use of Energy Group, GASURE, aims at research, technological development, human resource training, and dissemination in the energetic use of renewable and non-renewable fuels, as well as in the rational use of energy. Through its research work, the group contributes to reducing fuel consumption, optimizing industrial combustion and heating systems, training personnel,
increasing the competitiveness of productive sectors, and improving occupational health.
Research Lines and/or Areas
Combustion of gaseous fuels.
Incidence of atmospheric conditions on thermal energy systems.
Thermal engines and alternative fuels.
Application of renewable and non-renewable fuels in electricity generation.
Rational and efficient use of energy, and energy economics.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Group Coordinator
Andrés Adolfo Amell Arrieta, M.Sc.
Mechanical Engineer, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín
Master in Energy and Natural Resources Economics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Sede Medellín
Combustion Laboratory, University of California, United States.
Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
DLR Stuttgart (German Aerospace Center), Germany.
Federico Santa María Technical University, Chile.
Université Libre de Bruxelles (Free University of Brussels), Belgium.
National Partnerships:
National University of Colombia, TAYEA Group.
Metropolitan Technological Institute (ITM), MATyER Group.
University of La Guajira, DESTACAR Group.
University of Valle, Coal Combustion Laboratory.
Pascual Bravo University Institution.
Industry Partnerships:
Ecopetrol
EPM
Cotecmar
Industrias Metálicas Asociadas (IMAL)
Suministros de Colombia (SUMICOL)
Industrias HACEB
Frigosinú
Agrosilisium Mejisulfatos
Highlighted Projects
Attenuation of the altitude effect on induced-air and partial-premix atmospheric burners.
Development and evaluation of a high-thermal-efficiency flameless combustion furnace.
Development and evaluation of a natural gas-fired flameless burner using oxygen-enriched air.
Incombustion: Development and evaluation of a submerged combustion system.
Incombustion: Energy diagnostics in Colombian industrial sectors.
Incombustion: Development and evaluation of a 5 kW burner operating in the flameless combustion regime using coal or a coal-natural gas mixture as fuel.
Incombustion Phase II: Production increase and optimization of natural gas consumption through waste heat recovery in the heat treatment line of Imal S.A.
Incombustion Phase II: Technical feasibility assessment and development of a scaled prototype for implementing a heat regeneration system in a frit furnace operating in oxy-combustion mode.
Incombustion Phase II: Process adjustment at a semi-industrial scale and technical evaluation of a self-recuperative combustion system with infrared radiation heating in a rotary kiln for drying fertilizers at the Mejisulfatos company.
Adjustment, scaling, and evaluation of advanced, high-energy-efficiency, low-emission combustion systems under industrial production conditions. https://hdl.handle.net/10495/43814
Determination of the potential for energy consumption reduction in manufacturing subsectors. https://tinyurl.com/3s7pvet7
Increase in production and optimization of natural gas consumption through waste heat recovery in the heat treatment line of IMAL S.A. by implementing and adapting new combustion technologies. https://tinyurl.com/8ktx3rkr
Technical feasibility evaluation and development of a scaled prototype for the implementation of a heat regeneration system in a frit furnace operating in oxy-combustion mode. https://tinyurl.com/j8nuxv23
Technical guide for the selection and operation of steam generation systems in Colombia. https://tinyurl.com/f6jcfyrz
Development and evaluation of a technological package for the energy recovery from ruminal content in export-oriented slaughterhouses and municipal abattoirs. https://hdl.handle.net/10495/43728
Foresight and technological development in the production, complementarity with other energy sources, and uses of hydrogen in Antioquia.
Technological Park for Energy Efficiency.
Commissioning of a flameless combustion system for high-temperature heating and drying of granular non-metallic materials and fertilizers, advancing from TRL 8 to TRL 9.
Commissioning and evaluation of a Power-to-Gas (PtG) system with different renewable energy sources and biogenic CO₂, advancing from TRL 5 to TRL 7.
Evaluation of the combined effect of self-regenerative heat recovery and the use of hydrogen/natural gas mixtures on energy efficiency and decarbonization in non-ferrous material melting processes, advancing from TRL 8 to TRL 9.
Key Research Findings
Related to Phenomenological Aspects:
Effect of altitude on the operation of atmospheric burners in Colombia's climatic zones.
Phenomenological and experimental study of flameless combustion with different gaseous fuels.
Effect of water addition on the stability of the flameless combustion regime.
Stability behavior of the flameless combustion regime with natural gas/hydrogen mixtures.
Study of the flameless combustion regime using solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels.
Behavior of the flameless combustion regime with self-regenerative heat recovery.
Coupling of premix combustion systems with infrared heat transfer systems.
Study of hydrogen combustion in premixed and non-premixed systems.
Production of low-emission hydrogen and development of Power-to-Gas (PtG) systems.
Stability study of combustion systems in submerged and surface porous media.
Study of stability, efficiency, and emissions in the combustion of a diesel engine converted to spark-ignition operation with biogas.
Numerical and experimental study of flame morphology, stability, and emissions in a turbulent premix burner with CO₂ and water vapor dilution.
Effect of atmospheric conditions (pressure, temperature, and humidity) on the operation of combustion systems in Colombia's climatic zones.
Study of engine combustion in the HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) regime.
Study of the effect of adding carbonaceous nanomaterials on the combustion, performance, and emissions of compression-ignition engines operating with diesel and in dual-fuel mode with natural gas.
Dual-fuel supply strategies (gaseous and liquid) in heavy-duty vehicles in the Colombian transport sector to increase energy efficiency and reduce pollutants.
Application of Machine Learning (ML) in the study of premix combustion systems using flame images and sound.
Predictive ML models for combustion and water heating systems.
Development of a digital twin for a furnace for non-ferrous material melting and heat treatments with self-regenerative heat recovery.
Related to Technological Development, Innovation, and Transfer:
Technology transfer of a flameless combustion system to a clay drying process at SUMICOL S.A.S., achieving savings in fuel consumption (natural gas) of up to 30%.
Technology transfer of a package for the utilization of ruminal material in a water heating process at a cattle processing company.
Mobile laboratory for the energy transition in mobility.
Obtainment of 9 invention patents and 2 pending patent applications.
200 kW self-regenerative furnace for melting non-ferrous materials and heat treatment.
Development of a virtual reality model of the green hydrogen value chain.
40 kW flameless combustion furnace with a self-regenerative burner for heat recovery.
120 kW submerged combustion system.
Development of porous media burners.
Development of an air-induced burner.
28 kW forging and heat treatment furnace with a dual heat transfer system: convection and radiation.
70 kW combustion and heating system with infrared radiation and heat recovery for low-temperature processes.
Power-to-Gas plant in two Colombian climatic zones: the Departments of Antioquia and La Guajira.
Double-walled cooking utensil to increase energy efficiency in cooking with gaseous fuels.
Compact atmospheric burner with attenuation of the altitude effect on combustion, applied in the manufacturing of the first on-demand water heater in Colombia.
Development of a green aluminum production plant.
Services and/or Products Portfolio
Industry training on energy efficiency and combustion.
Analysis of the incidence of atmospheric conditions on thermal energy systems.
Development of dual systems using diesel engines for electricity and heat generation.
Development, adaptation, and transfer of new combustion and heating technologies.
Comprehensive energy diagnostics.
Simulation of thermal systems for equipment and process optimization or design.
