LEAP stands for Laboratorio Energia & Ambiente Piacenza (Laboratory for Energy and the Environment Piacenza) and is a specialized research center in the field of highly efficient, low environmental impact energy technologies. LEAP s.c.a r.l. (Società Consortile a Responsabilità Limitata) is a limited liability consortium founded in May 2005 and participated by the Politecnico di Milano, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, industrial partners and local institutions. LEAP is one of the Emilia Romagna Region’s High Technology Network laboratories with the prime goal of promoting cooperation between universities, industry and public bodies. Its work team is composed globally by approximately 20 collaborators and full time employees who strictly cooperates with professors, research fellows and PhD students of the GECOS group.
Mission
Research Projects
Consulting & Technical Services
Onsite Tests & Experimental Activities
Workshops and Training Courses
Scientific Dissemination
Structure
LEAP is led by Prof. Stefano Consonni (full professor at the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano) and its activities are headed by the Scientific Board, which is composed by professors belonging to different departments of Politecnico di Milano and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
Expertise
LEAP conducts activities in the energy-environment sector operating in 6 main lines:
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Material and energy recovery from waste, residues and biomass
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High efficiency thermal energy generation
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Thermohydraulics for innovative nuclear power plants
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Fossil fuel technologies and CO2 capture and conversion
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Renewable energies and energy efficiency
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Gaseous emissions, fine particles and air quality
Experimental Facilities & Equipment
Heat Box
● Testing and development of innovative solutions in the field of residential heat generation appliances
● Experimental activities to evaluate the efficiency and emissions performances of combustion devices with thermal power up to 100 kW
● Accredited tests in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard for biomass fired boilers
CO2 Box
● Test rig to assess the thermodynamic properties of CO2 mixtures for Capture and Storage (CCS) applications and of advanced working fluids for closed cycles (refrigeration systems, organic Rankine and supercritical gas turbines power cycles)
● VLE (Vapor Liquid Equilibrium) bench with Gas Chromatographer: Pressures up to 200 bar | Temperatures from -20°C to 150°C
● Single phase mixtures test bench with vibrating tube densimeter for pvT (pressure, specific volume, Temperature) determination
Suction Pyrometers
● Advanced instruments for accurate measurements and model calibration of post-combustion chambers fume temperatures up to 1600°C together with O2, CO and CO2 sampling
● Plant tests addressed to manufacturers and operators of Waste-to-Energy plants and large steam generators
● Optimal algorithm development to verify the compliance with the T2s requirement of Waste-to-Energy facilities (850°C for at least 2 seconds)
Air Quality
● Measurement of ultrafine dust (PM2.5 and PM1) and nano particles (to 5-7 nm) in flue emissions and in the atmosphere using an ELPI® (Electrical Low-Pressure Impactor, Dekati Ltd)
● Measurement of pollutants in gas flows in flues from fixed combustion and industrial processes
● Analysis with chromatographic separation techniques for the disaggregated evaluation of the presence of total volatile hydrocarbons (TVHC) in methane (CH4) and non-methane compounds (TNMVHC)
MatER Study Center
● The MatER Study Center aims to give a rigorous scientific definition of the technologies and the policies which can be adopted for the material and energy recovery from refuse, contributing to identify the most effective options for sustainable, economically viable waste management practices.
● Established at the end of 2010, its Scientific Commitee is supervised by professors of the Dept. of Energy and of the Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA) of Politecnico di Milano with the support of relevant Italian waste management companies.
● MatER has established strong relationships with international research center networks and is the Italian representative of the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (GWC).
