{"id":10,"date":"2026-08-27T14:34:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T17:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demec.ufpr.br\/gect\/pagina-inicial\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T17:21:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T20:21:32","slug":"pagina-inicial","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/demec.ufpr.br\/gect\/","title":{"rendered":"P\u00e1gina Inicial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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NPDEAS within SisH2-MCTI and the EMBRAPII Competence Center<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NPDEAS (Sustainable Energy Research and Development Center) is part of the Brazilian Hydrogen Laboratory System (SisH2-MCTI), an initiative of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) aimed at integrating and strengthening the national infrastructure for hydrogen research, development, and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NPDEAS also contributes to the research capabilities and infrastructure of the EMBRAPII Competence Center for Low-Carbon Hydrogen at the Federal University of Paran\u00e1 (UFPR). This center is structured to conduct research and technological development, train highly qualified personnel, and promote innovative solutions for the hydrogen value chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UFPR EMBRAPII Competence Center operates in an integrated manner with universities, scientific and technological institutions, companies, and other innovation ecosystem partners, covering topics such as low-carbon hydrogen production, storage, transport, safety, and applications in the energy and industrial sectors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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MISSION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The group is dedicated to the research, development, commercialization, and deployment of sustainable energy and thermal sciences technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HISTORY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Composed of researchers in the areas of energy, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena, the energy and thermal sciences group has been active on the campus of the Federal University of Paran\u00e1<\/a> (Polytechnic Center) since 1996.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its creation, the group has been developing scientific research and consulting in the areas of Thermal Engineering, Thermodynamics, Biomedical Engineering, and Transport Phenomena. In particular, the group has developed experimentally validated numerical simulation tools through experimental measurements carried out in new processes and prototypes, for the design, optimization, and development of new products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LABORATORIES<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The GECT research activities are carried out in three laboratories:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. At NPDEAS (Sustainable Energy Research and Development Center)<\/a>, where research, development, and innovation activities in energy and sustainability are carried out\u2014including low-carbon hydrogen, biofuels, microalgae, waste energy recovery, and technologies for the energy transition, such as the search for microalgae derived biofuels (e.g., green diesel, sustainable aviation fuel \u2013 SAF, hydrogen) and other bioproducts (e.g., animal feed, plant growth promoters, metabolites prospection with antimicrobial activity). Examples of the work accomplished so far are found in http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.renene.2020.09.045<\/a> and http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jenvman.2024.122141<\/a>. NPDEAS was founded in 2008 by the group leader, Prof. Jos\u00e9 Viriato Coelho Vargas, who is the current coordinator;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NPDEAS: Microalgae cultivation in 12 m3<\/sup> PBR (5 m x 2 m x 8 m). https:\/\/patentimages.storage.googleapis.com\/fa\/2f\/16\/96764ac22d19ff\/US10400202.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. At LaCelC (Fuel Cell Laboratory), research is conducted on the modeling and development of new alkaline (http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijhydene.2023.08.078<\/a>) and polymeric electrolyte fuel cells, seeking the development of new alkaline and polymeric membranes, as well as platinum-free electrodes. The potential production of sustainable green H2<\/sub> is also under investigation (e.g., microalgae derived H2<\/sub> \u2013 http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.algal.2023.103065<\/a>, no energy input H2<\/sub> production from fresh and sea water using scrap aluminum from a well-established recycling chain through the Alkaline Aqueous Redox Reaction of Aluminum, AARRA \u2013 http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1007\/s11244-024-02041-4<\/a>) for either local power generation or building applications (e.g., cooking, heating). LaCelC was founded in 2006 by the group leader, Prof. Jos\u00e9 Viriato Coelho Vargas, who is the current coordinator;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The developed H2<\/sub> driven sustainable electricity generation system: a) Front view, and b) Rear view. Main components: 1) Reactor; 2) Buffer tank (bottle); 3) Gas drier; 4) Booster; 5) H2<\/sub> storage tank (bottle); 6) 5-kW PEMFC stack; 7) Electric panel, and 8) Stationary batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. At LMH (Hydraulic Machines Laboratory), currently coordinated by Prof. Stephan Hennings Och, research and development is conducted on cabinets for housing electronics for various applications (e.g., telecommunications, cable TV \u2013 http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1177\/00375497211069979<\/a>) in collaboration with industry, as well as in the areas of refrigeration and air conditioning, energy systems in general, and biomedical engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Left: Electronic packaging cabinet 3-D isometric perspective showing air inlets (top) and cut showing internal components distribution and air outlets (bottom), and Right: photos of the cabinet inside the test chamber (top and center) and heat source (bottom).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

GECT has maintained a scientific interaction since 2004 with the Center for Advanced Power Systems<\/a> and Energy and Sustainability Center<\/a> at Florida State University, participating in several developments, including the project for an entirely electric ship for the US Office of Naval Research, via the Electric Ship Research and Development Consortium (ESRDC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Group Leader<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jos\u00e9 Viriato Coelho Vargas, PhD<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rua Ana Berta Roskamp, 1149 sob. 9, Curitiba, PR, Brazil, 81530-250<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phone: +55 41 99705-0766 (Brazil) or +1 448 200-6861 (USA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

E-mail: vargasjvcv@gmail.com<\/a> and viriato@ufpr.br<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brazilian and Italian citizen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jos\u00e9 Viriato Coelho Vargas <\/strong>is a Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Federal University of Paran\u00e1, UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, and is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Center for Advanced Power Systems at Florida State University. He leads the Energy and Thermal Sciences group at UFPR, and develops theoretical, numerical, and experimental scientific research in design optimization and systems engineering in several areas: renewable and sustainable energy; energy management in buildings and structures; innovative technology integration and combination with the energy and thermal-fluid areas; smart HVAC-R systems; oil refining processes; cogeneration and power systems; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); heat and mass transfer; biotechnology and biomedical engineering. The main ongoing works of the group involve the development of new fuel cells, intelligent kits for HVAC-R systems, new absorption refrigerators, thermal management of all electric ships, cabinets for electronic packaging, the use of infrared imaging in engineering and medicine, as well as the creation of a Sustainable Energy Research & Development Center (NPDEAS) for microalgae derived biofuels (e.g., green diesel, sustainable aviation fuel \u2013 SAF, hydrogen) and other bioproducts (e.g., animal feed, plant growth promoters, metabolites prospection with antimicrobial activity).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EDUCATION AND TRAINING<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n