René López-Alemán Email & Phone Number

Hengelo, Overijssel, Netherlands

Enschede, Overijssel, Netherlands

Assignment grade 9/10.Looking to gain insight into the best process conditions and possible solutions to known problems such as the low yield and quality of the recovered carbon black from end-of-life tires, I conducted a parametric study in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor at the University of Twente, after which some improvements were implemented and their effects analyzed.The experiments showed that the yield of carbon black is heavily affected by transport conditions inside the fluidized bed reactor, and that the proposed improvements did increase the yield without negatively affecting its quality.The reuse of carbon black recovered from end-of-life tires in the manufacturing of new tires may greatly reduce the production of new carbon black, with the environmental and economic advantages associated.

Enschede, Overijssel, Netherlands

As part of the experimental stages of the Enhanced Catalytic Pyrolysis (ENCAT) project at the Kleinhorst Laboratory of the University of Twente, I assisted the main researcher with the preparation and fine tuning of the experimental setup, catalyst regeneration procedures, and setting and controlling the experimental conditions.The first testing phase was aimed at determining the deactivation and regeneration times of the catalyst, and the biomass/catalyst proportion that best suited the experimental conditions and the type of biomass. After achieving repeatable results showing the existence of a high quality bio-oil from wood with an increased conversion of heavy hydrocarbons into CO2, a second phase allowed the production of a larger amount of oil, which would be further analyzed at the facilities of the other partners of this project.

Hengelo, Overijssel, Netherlands

For my master’s internship assignment, I worked in the development of a disciplined approach for assessing the quality of mixing in a biochemical reactor for a Wastewater Treatment Plant operated by Waterschap Vechtstromen in Almelo.The first step was to map the biochemical process of the entire facility and then for the selected mixing tanks. Next, using CFD tools, chemical reactor theory and concepts of turbulence in macro and micro scales, a set of performance metrics were proposed and used to analyze different operating conditions in the mixing tanks. This was translated into concrete information such as how much the residence times of streamlines deviate from the average residence time, how efficiently the energy dissipates from the mixers into the water, or the existence of dead volumes and bypasses that affect the system’s capacity and performance.Waterschap Vechtstromen finally received our recommendations which include the use of different mixer speeds and orientations, noting that this would increase the mixing performance without additional power consumption.

Costa Rica

Working in the palm oil operations of the company in the Central-Pacific region of Costa Rica, I was responsible for the following:- Communicating between the various levels of the organization, allocating team members to roles and facilitating the flow of information to other departments.- Maintaining direct contact with suppliers of materials and equipment.- Determining the heat and power and capacity requirements of the industrial park to confirm the size of steam, power generation, and other process equipment to be procured.- Designing and selecting process equipment such as storage tanks, solids transport systems, pumping stations, cooling towers, piping systems, and their installation details.- Preparing cost estimates and detailed budgets of projects, and monitoring and ensuring their execution.- Procuring the permits required according to the type of projects.- Preparing and managing contracts.- Requesting the purchase of project materials and equipment.- Hiring engineering design firms, construction and commissioning contractors, and third party inspection services.- Controlling the progress of activities and approving the payments of hired services.The projects developed were aimed at increasing fossil fuel substitution with biomass, increasing the capacity and efficiency of processes, and increasing the added value of products. I ensured the successful planning, execution, and commissioning of the following:- Construction of a new palm kernel oil extraction plant.- Construction of a power plant comprising a biomass fired boiler, a condensing+extraction steam turbine, a biomass storage, drying and conditioning station, water treatment facilities, and the connections of these processes with the industrial park.- Expansion of a palm oil extraction mill.- Supervision of the installation of equipment for a vegetable oil bleaching and deodorizing plant.

Costa Rica

In a joint effort between the logistics, production, and projects departments, we investigated the causes of the differences in production yields of two vegetable oil plants, ultimately finding that some processes were not standardized, with differences in raw material quality, and the size and specifications of certain process equipment, which for the same functions performed differently.As part of the actions proposed to solve these differences, I designed a clarifying tank which improved the yield and quality of the produced oil in comparison to the existing units, and compiled the specifications of important equipment so that both plants could have access to the same knowledge.

Costa Rica

- Prepared and revised the technical aspects of the offers made to energy companies in Central America and South America during tender processes for the acquisition of hydraulic turbines, generators, power and current transformers for power plants and electrical substations, overhead cranes, among others.- Supervised maintenance and overhauling works due to warranty or changes specified by the clients.- Assisted in the management of communications between suppliers from North America and China, and the clients, both during the tender process and the execution phase of projects.

Costa Rica

- I worked for the Fluid Mechanics course (BE in Mechanical Engineering) by supervising students during tutorial/lab sessions, preparation and revision of reports, as well as Q&A sessions about the course's topics.

Costa Rica

- My internship assignment for my BSc in Mech. Eng. was developed with the National Center for Energy Control (ICE, Costa Rica). Using FEM software, I compared the structural deformations in an old transmission tower used now for telecom services, and those of a tower specifically designed for telecom. In some cases, it was found that the deformations caused by wind loads were higher for the transmission-now-telecom towers than for the telecom towers. Possible negative effects of this are loss of accuracy of microwave data transmitted with parabolic receivers/transmitters, and increased vibrations.- I proposed the creation of a joint maintenance plan between the Control Center and the corporate Maintenance Business Unit for the older towers, given the high criticality of these assets.

Costa Rica

- Collaborated with the revision of assignments and giving guidance during Q&A sessions for the Technical Drawing 2 course (BE in Mechanical Engineering)

Master Of Science - Ms

Licentiate Degree

Bachelor'S Degree