CFD for Future Mobility
Andrea Vespertini
- Thesis title: Development of Innovative Cellular Substrates for Advanced Exhaust After-treatment Systems
- PhD Tesi Supervisor: Angelo Onorati, Augusto Della Torre, Gianluca Montenegro, Enrico Tronconi e Isabella Nova
- Phd: STEN, 35° cycle (starting year 2019)
- M. Sc: 2019, Experimental Physics, University of Trento
- B. Sc: 2016, Physics, University of Trento
Tell us something to introduce yourself
I’m Andrea Vespertini, a friendly guy coming from the shadow of Torrazzo. About myself, among others, I’m really passionate about gardening and music. The first half of my school education was held in Cremona, whereas for the University period I moved to Trento in 2013 and I’m still very bound to that city. Now since 2019, I live in Milan and I am quite impressed with the number of possibilities this city can offer, both from a working and personal point of view.
Tell us about your research
First of all, my research topic is funded by the Energy for Motion Project and it combines different skills of the two collaborating groups: the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) group in the Department of Energy and the Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes.
More specifically, my PhD project aims at designing and testing innovative after-treatment systems for internal combustion engines, in which a key role is played by the adoption of cellular substrates: in literature, some comparisons have been performed between Open Cell Structures and traditional catalytic substrates, demonstrating not only that they can guarantee many advantages, but also that they represent a possible concrete solution for future after-treatment systems. From a computational point of view, this required the development of a model able to account for different physical phenomena, e.g. fluid-dynamics processes, reaction chemistry, spray-wall interaction etc. This has been done in the open-source environment of OpenFOAM. Actually, the heart of the matter is to design a structure matching a great efficiency in converting pollutants at the lowest price in pressure loss.
More specifically, my PhD project aims at designing and testing innovative after-treatment systems for internal combustion engines, in which a key role is played by the adoption of cellular substrates: in literature, some comparisons have been performed between Open Cell Structures and traditional catalytic substrates, demonstrating not only that they can guarantee many advantages, but also that they represent a possible concrete solution for future after-treatment systems. From a computational point of view, this required the development of a model able to account for different physical phenomena, e.g. fluid-dynamics processes, reaction chemistry, spray-wall interaction etc. This has been done in the open-source environment of OpenFOAM. Actually, the heart of the matter is to design a structure matching a great efficiency in converting pollutants at the lowest price in pressure loss.
What are the challenges of your research?
Being the subject very prevailing and popular for the near future perspective, one of the best challenges in my research is undoubtedly to comply with the more and more stringent regulations for engines emissions.
This challenge is also the most important power source for this specific field.
Furthermore, focusing on my work, this project requires multi-disciplinary knowledge, because in literature there is a wide range of cues to implement in the project, comprehending solutions of a different nature.
For example, we are now involved in the study of electrical heating of these structures, which is a promising option already present in the literature to overcome some problems already found in traditional after-treatment systems.
This challenge is also the most important power source for this specific field.
Furthermore, focusing on my work, this project requires multi-disciplinary knowledge, because in literature there is a wide range of cues to implement in the project, comprehending solutions of a different nature.
For example, we are now involved in the study of electrical heating of these structures, which is a promising option already present in the literature to overcome some problems already found in traditional after-treatment systems.
Why did you choose to start this experience and why did you choose Polimi? (Did your expectations have become reality?)
Since my background in Physics guaranteed me a good general theoretical comprehension and knowledge, I’ve chosen this opportunity in order to specialize in a very specific and topical field with a more practical approach. This could help me to better understand how to give a scientific contribution to a possible solution for the mitigation of environmental pollution. Besides, this path could grant me better opportunities for working and, for all these reasons, I decided to choose Polimi, which was the avant-garde of this thematic.
How would you describe this period of your life with three adjectives?
I don’t have any doubt about the first two adjectives to choose, which are “challenging” and “strengthening”. In fact, the most of the time it is required to face different nature problems and this makes the PhD a very intriguing experience, with respect to more repetitive works; however, it is undeniable that solving complex problems requires a great amount of time and energy and sometimes it was not easy to accept that things don’t work: that’s why this experience fortified my awareness on the difficulty of the research process. Finally, I choose the adjective “transversal” because, especially before the pandemic, I had the opportunity to join different live conferences, to which the best exponents of the subject were invited to. Thanks to this, I added further important information to my scientific background and, more than all, it grew my consciousness about the complexity of some different research fields.
What are your plans after the end of the PhD?
Personally, I don’t have any specific plan after the end of my PhD, but without any doubt, this experience opens me to a wide variety of possibilities which I will evaluate when the moment will come. From a personal and working point of view, this experience brought out to me some different interests which I will need to balance after this period finishes.
Which advice would you give to new engineers that are pondering about PhD in Polimi?
If you are very interested in a specific research topic, absolutely get in the game! Polimi grants you the opportunity to meet the maximum experts in each specific field and provides you with a very stimulating environment.
Tell me something surprising about yourself. What blog, podcast or book does everyone need to be aware of?
Premising that it is a very difficult question to answer, I would reply by focusing on my passion for crime stories. First of all, I am a fan of the character of Colombo, who gives the name to the historical tv series, because of his morbid care for details disguised by his apparent carelessness. In my opinion, it should be an integral part of every degree. Jokes aside, the crime novel that I absolutely suggest is “And then there were none” by Agatha Christie because of the very accurate psychological description of the characters and the very exciting plot, accompanied by the capability to share the entire pathos felt by the characters to the reader…and yes, I know, I am old.
