SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK

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Division of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm

Postal Address: Institutionen för Kemiteknik, Skolan för kemivetenskap, KTH, SE-100 44 Stockholm
Visiting address: Teknikringen 42
Web page: http://www.ket.kth.se/index_e.htm

Contact person: PhD Rolando Zanzi, phone: +46 (0)8 790 8257.

Research connected to South Asia:

The department has been involved in a major project on ”Integrated BIO-FC Technology”, along with a number of Asian partner universities in China (Dalian Maritime University); Malaysia (University Science of Malaysia, School of Mechanical Engineering, Penang); and India (Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal; and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)/Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Coimbatore). In November 2002 the project was given a Swedish Research Links (Asian–Swedish research partnership programme) grant on 600 000 SEK for three years (2003-05) by Sida and the Swedish Research Council. (An earlier collaborative project with TNAU was running in the 1990s, from 1991 to 1997.)
Rolando Zanzi (photo to the right ) has been in charge of the project at the Swedish side. The project was completed in 2005.
Other Swedish researcher involved in the project were:
Yohannes Kiros, and Bin Zhu.
In India the principal researchers involved are Anil Kumar Dubey at the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Energy & Power Division, Bhopal;
and A. Sampath Rajan at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Bioenergy, Coimbatore.
Project description:
The main objective of this Asian–Swedish Research Partnership Programme is to encourage research co-operation between researchers in Asia and Sweden, and the aim is to contribute to mutual scientific and socio-economic development of the countries involved in the collaboration by supporting joint projects of scientific excellence.
The objective of the joint research is to increase the scientific and the technological potentials regarding the development of a new range of technologies which permit the use of the biomass, wood and agricultural residues for application in fuel cells.
A Biomass-Fuel Cell Technology (BFCT) integrated in a system of biomass gasification and intermediate temperature (400 to 700°C) SOFCs (ITSOFCs), based on extensive R&D will be studied. Research in biomass gasification and material and electrochemical studies for fuel cells especially for ITSOFC (intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells) are included. Asian researcher will participate in the activities in Sweden during periods of 3 months. A further aim is to disseminate information and to contribute to the adoption of environmentally sound technologies and methodologies. The joint research is of mutual benefit and aims to a technology with successful application in Asia and Sweden. During the project publication in conferences and in scientific journals will be produced. More information on the research project.
An extensive Sino-Swedish research network on SOFC field has been established, and workshops successfully organised. A 4th Sino-Swedish SOFC workshop was held in Harbin, China, 25–26 August 2005. Based on this network the researchers are interested in extending or establishing a similar research and education network with focus on South Asia. Associate Professor Bin Zhu, based at Harbin Engineering University in Harbin, China (and a Guest Professor at the University of Science & Technology of China) was very keen on realizing this proposed South Asia network.