RESEARCH DEMONSTRATORS

DISCOVER THE DEMONSTRATORS

Through the Tr@nsnet project, we want to develop a generic and transferable University Living Lab model

An academic research demonstrator is a piece of equipment or a set of equipment designed to support academic research.

The first two task groups of the Tr@nsnet project focus on the development of academic research demonstrators: TG1 activities allow the replication of demonstrators and TG2 the development of new demonstrators between the partner universities.

TG1: Demonstrators replication

1.1 - Replication of intelligent lighting devices - BatSteetLighting on the UT3 campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Kawantech (Associated partner)
  • Batconnect (Associated partner)

Objective:

  • Study the replicability of smart outdoor lighting systems developed on the UT3 and UPM campuses

UT3 is deploying BatStreetLighting and BatLink smart lighting systems on its campus that are already installed on the UPM campus. UPM’s smart lighting system consists of an IoT solution (6loWPAN network, CoAP). 

 

 

Deliverable: Demonstrator transferability report – Capitalization of the experience of cross-transfer between demonstrators, including: list of non-technological barriers identified during transfer, solutions, detailed study of users’ perception, acceptability of cultures and companies’ opinions.

1.1 - Replication of intelligent lighting devices - Kara sensors on the UPM campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Kawantech (Associated partners)
  • Batconnect (Associated partners)

Objective:

  • Study the replicability of smart outdoor lighting systems developed on the UT3 and UPM campuses

A Kara sensor (developed by Kawantech) was installed to detect movement and optimize the operation of the lighting system installed on the UPM Montegancedo campus. The Kara sensors work in a network. Installed on each luminaire in an area, they analyze objects moving in the street and communicate with each other to optimize street lighting.

Deliverable: Demonstrator transferability report – Capitalization of the experience of cross-transfer between demonstrators, including: list of non-technological barriers identified during transfer, solutions, detailed study of users’ perception, acceptability of cultures and companies’ opinions.

1.2 - Home automation (IoT) in the Gateway building network - 6lowPAN, Batmeter and Batsense on the UT3 campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Université La Rochelle (ULR)

Objective:

  • Study the replicability of home automation systems in intelligent buildings

UPM’s 6lowPAN, Batmeter, and Batsense networks are replicated by UT3.


Deliverable:
Report on the replication of IoT demonstrators – Description of the replication of achievements as well as their common experience and lessons learned from the France/Spain cross-deployments, in order to define a method for successful implementation of these transfers in different contexts.

1.2 - Home automation (IoT) in the Gateway building network - ULR campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Université La Rochelle (ULR)

Objective:

  • Study the replicability of home automation systems in intelligent buildings

They propose an energy-aware, AI-assisted, recommendation system for the building tenants’ behaviours. After keeping track and continuous processing of data on tenants’ energy consumption and comfort preferences, their system learns a relation between the two -often contradicting parameters and helps users (building tenants in this case) achieve that interactively by continuously recommending actions to them.

 

Deliverable: Report on the replication of IoT demonstrators – Description of the replication of achievements as well as their common experience and lessons learned from the France/Spain cross-deployments, in order to define a method for successful implementation of these transfers in different contexts.

1.2 - Home automation (IoT) in the Gateway building network - IoT sensors for building automation on the UPM campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Université La Rochelle (ULR)

Objective:

  • Study the replicability of home automation systems in intelligent buildings

Five neoSensors devices including temperature, light, humidity and CO2 sensors were installed on the CEDINT-UPM campus. The performances were compared to those of existing sensors.


Deliverable:
Report on the replication of IoT demonstrators – Description of the replication of achievements as well as their common experience and lessons learned from the France/Spain cross-deployments, in order to define a method for successful implementation of these transfers in different contexts.

1.3 - Coupling of electrical and thermal energy production on the UT3 campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • CISE – Universidade da Beira Interior (CISE-UBI)

Objective:

  • Replicate and study the complex interactions that take place in hybrid energy networks

Small-scale replication of a photovoltaic and thermal installation: A system associating a photovoltaic solar panel with a thermal coupling is cooled by a controllable annex device. The whole system is fully instrumented. The performances will be compared and will allow to find the best strategies of piloting.


Deliverable:
Electric and Thermal Power System Replication Report – Describes the process of replicating electric and thermal power systems. The key challenges and findings complement a report containing a set of best practices for the successful deployment of hybrid energy networks.

1.3 - Coupling of electrical and thermal energy production - Management strategies on the CISE campus-UBI

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • CISE – Universidade da Beira Interior (CISE-UBI)

Objective:

  • Replicate and study the complex interactions that take place in hybrid energy networks

Under Activity 1.3, the overall objective of the demonstrator includes the study of advanced technologies and strategies for efficient and sustainable energy production. In particular, the demonstrator focuses on the study of renewable energy sources suitable for hybrid energy networks, involving several forms of energy (electricity, thermal energy and gas). These studies cover aspects of performance improvement and evaluation of the complex interactions between multiple renewable energy technologies.

To achieve the overall goals proposed for the demonstrator, CISE | GIRS-RES relies on indoor and outdoor facilities that house advanced technologies for energy production. Vertical axis wind turbines, thermophotovoltaic panels, and fuel cells are representative of a broader range of technologies currently being implemented and studied at the demonstrator.

Deliverable: Electric and Thermal Power System Replication Report – Describes the process of replicating electric and thermal power systems. The key challenges and findings complement a report containing a set of best practices for the successful deployment of hybrid energy networks.

GT2: News demonstrators implementation and capitalisation of experiences

2.1 - Recycling of batteries for solar energy storage - Microgrid on the UT3 campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL)

Objective:

  • Develop a demonstrator around recycling for solar energy storage

The demonstrator makes it possible to analyze the relevance and scale effects of replicating a microgrid integrating second-hand batteries on a reduced scale.

The installation combines a 300Wc photovoltaic generator, storage on second hand batteries and allows to power a charging station for electric bikes. The whole system is fully instrumented. The performance and scale effects will be analyzed with a larger system located in Lisbon.


Deliverable:
Report on the challenges of replicating demonstrators using recycled batteries and the practical challenges for installation and replication, as well as its reproducibility.

2.1 - Recycling of batteries for solar energy storage - Reuse of second-hand batteries on the FCUL campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL)

Objective:

  • Analyze the potential of used batteries to store the energy produced by photovoltaic (PV) modules

The batteries used in the study are old electric car batteries that no longer have the capacity to power them but can have a second life storing electricity from renewable energy sources, supporting the electrical grid. The batteries will store electricity from the grid and power the student room on campus. Photovoltaic modules are being acquired and the batteries will be used to store the energy produced by the PV modules.


Deiverable:
Report on the challenges of replicating demonstrators using recycled batteries and the practical challenges for installation and replication, as well as its reproducibility.

2.2 - Mobility observation - Setting up a mobility observatory on the UT3 campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL)
  • Université de La Rochelle (ULR)

Objective:

  • Set up a mobility observatory (cars, bikes, etc.) on campus

We will characterize campus infrastructure, i.e., car parking, bike parking, shared bike stations, public transportation stops. A mobility survey will be set up to question members of the university community. In Toulouse, the Operations Management Service in charge of roads and green spaces will be involved. In addition, the UT3 campus will be equipped with equipment to count vehicles, measure travel times, and measure speed.


Deliverable:
Report on the mobility analysis and the result of the study on the evolution of users’ mobility behavior.

2.2 - Mobility Observation - Setting up a mobility observatory on the FCUL campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL)
  • Université de La Rochelle (ULR)

Objective:

  • Analyze the current use of soft mobility by the teaching community for commuting.

The results obtained during this study will be used to plan measures to promote the use of soft mobility modes. Similarly, the methods developed during this analysis will serve as a basis for future studies. Sensors are used to automatically count the number of bicycles and electric scooters (or not) arriving, departing and parking on the faculty campus.

Deliverable: Report on the mobility analysis and the result of the study on the evolution of users’ mobility behavior.

2.3 - Environmental interactions with human activities - Water filter on the UT3 campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Université de La Rochelle (ULR)

Collaborators:

Objective:

  • Promoting water recycling through nature-based solutions for sustainable water management

The principle of the filter is to use the bacteria in the soil to purify the water. The wastewater passes through basins filled with different substrates of varying sizes in which plant roots and worms facilitate infiltration. This increased biodiversity reduces the accumulation of sludge on the surface of the filters, thanks to the invertebrates that feed on organic detritus.

Water management is one of the main issues in adapting to climate change and this is why Tr@nsnet is installing this planted filter 2.0 which will become a research demonstrator. It will enable research into the reuse of wastewater treated by the filter, which is inspired by natural water purification phenomena. We call this a nature-based solution.


Deliverable:
Report on human-environment interaction activities – Report on the different demonstrators, from the design and deployment phase to the study of their impact in the cohabitation of campus users and environmental agents.

2.3 - Environmental interactions with human activities - Analysis of the effects of users on biodiversity, UPM campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Université de La Rochelle (ULR)

Objective:

  • Analyze how different user activities affect campus biodiversity

Various sensors (bioacoustics, camera traps, ambient) were deployed to monitor wildlife behavior and how it is affected by campus activities (traffic, noise, lighting, etc.).

Deliverable: Report on human-environment interaction activities – Report on the different demonstrators, from the design and deployment phase to the study of their impact in the cohabitation of campus users and environmental agents.

2.3 - Environmental interactions with human activities - ULR campus

Partners involved:

  • Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UT3)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
  • Université La Rochelle (ULR)

Objective:

  • Analyze how different user activities affect campus biodiversity

[Under construction]


Deliverable :
Report on human-environment interaction activities – Report on the different demonstrators, from the design and deployment phase to the study of their impact in the cohabitation of campus users and environmental agents.

2.4 - Guarda International Renewable Energy Research Station (CISE | GIRS-RES) on the CISE-UBI campus

Partners involved:

  • CISE-UBI
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Objective:

  • Develop strategies for the efficient integration of energy systems based on multiple forms of energy (electricity, thermal energy and gas)

In the framework of activity 2.4, the general objective of the demonstrator comprises the development of strategies for the efficient integration of energy systems based on multiple forms of energy (electricity, thermal energy, and gas). Such studies cover the aspects of performance optimisation and evaluation of the complex interactions taking place between the building blocks of hybrid energy systems, namely energy generation, storage and consumption technologies.

To achieve the overall goals proposed for the demonstrator, the CISE | GIRS-RES relies on indoor and outdoor facilities that house a variety of advanced technologies for energy production, storage, and consumption. Vertical axis wind turbines, thermophotovoltaic panels, fuel cells, supercapacitors, batteries, and adsorption machines are representative of a wide range of technologies currently being implemented and studied within the demonstrator.


Deliverable :
Hybrid Energy Systems Implementation Report – Report detailing the implementation process for each demonstrator, summarizing the results of the activity.

2.4 - Integration of electrical and thermal networks - UPM Campus

Partners involved:

  • CISE-UBI
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Objective:

  • Develop strategies for the efficient integration of energy systems based on multiple forms of energy (electricity, thermal energy and gas)

The integrated controlled provides seamless connection between VRV (Daikin) and BACnet BMS systems, allowing to start/stop and to regulate temperature/speed of several air conditioners from a central control unit.

 


Deliverable :
Hybrid Energy Systems Implementation Report – Report detailing the implementation process for each demonstrator, summarizing the results of the activity.