معرفی
Carla Isabel Costa Pinheiro is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon. She specializes in sustainable process engineering with a focus on CO₂ capture technologies using calcium looping, thermochemical energy storage, and catalytic processes. Her work integrates computational modeling, process optimization, and control systems design.
Education & Professional Background:
- PhD in Chemical Engineering (assumed based on academic rank)
- Postdoctoral experience in process systems engineering
Research Interests:
Her research addresses decarbonization challenges through innovative process designs, including utilization of industrial wastes as sorbents, solar energy integration in chemical processes, and advanced control strategies for complex systems. Key areas include:
- Calcium looping cycle optimization
- CO₂ capture from cement industry emissions
- Fluidized bed reactor modeling
- Process intensification via reactive distillation
- Dynamic simulation of FCC units
Key Projects:
- CaReCI Project: Developed sustainable CO₂ capture solutions using calcium looping with industrial waste materials
- Modeling of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) production processes
- Control strategies for biodiesel extraction columns
- Thermal energy storage systems for CSP plants
Teaching Contributions:
Teaches Introduction to Process Control and integrates model predictive control projects into master's programs. Co-developed CAPE-based curriculum for chemical engineering education.
Labs & Collaborations:
Active in interdisciplinary teams at IST's Chemical Engineering Department, collaborating with industry partners on pilot-scale projects. Leads research groups focused on renewable energy systems and industrial sustainability.
