Lucia GIARRACCA-MEHL
Co-Supervisor of the Energy and Products program
lucia.giarracca@ifpen.fr
Lucia is a chemical engineer from Università di Napoli “Federico II ” and holds a PhD in Energetics, Thermics and Combustion from the University of Lille.
Lucia joined IFP School in September 2024 as co-Supervisor of the specialized engineering program in Energy and Products. Since January 2020, she has also been a research engineer in fluid/system matching at IFP Energies nouvelles.
Her career in biofuels began with a PhD on the impact of oxidation of ethers from lignocellulosic biomass on the formation of nitrogen oxides at PC2A in Lille. She pursued a post-doctorate at LRGP-ENSIC in Nancy on the development of a detailed kinetic model for the oxidation of fuel/biomass mixtures in the liquid phase, using a thermodynamic code based on theoretical chemistry methods.
Her research activity at IFPEN concerns the reactivity of hydrocarbons in the gas and liquid phases, the formation of pollutants and the physico-chemical characterization of fluids in relation to their properties vis-à-vis fluid/system matching.
Lucia’s research work into fuels and combustion systems focuses on several key areas. Firstly, the reactivity of fuels, whether hydrocarbons (HC), hydrogen (H2) or ammonia (NH3), is studied in both gas and liquid phases through experimental analysis and advanced modeling. These studies, which include detailed kinetics and machine-learning approaches, provide a better understanding of hydrocarbon behavior under various conditions.
Another area of expertise concerns the physico-chemical characterization of fluids such as fuels, biofuels, e-fuels, lubricants and coolants for electric vehicles, aimed at assessing the suitability of fluid properties for the systems in which they are used. At the same time, the study of pollutant formation in relation to the composition of fuels and biofuels is helping to inform strategies for reducing pollutant emissions.
She is also working on the compatibility of materials, particularly elastomers, used with biofuels and lubricants, to guarantee their durability and performance in modern energy systems. In addition, the impact of contaminants present in real market fuels is examined to better understand their influence on engine performance and safety.
Finally, expertise in biofuels is applied to complex combustion systems, such as those used in thermal power plants, opening up promising prospects for a more sustainable energy transition.
Lucia is currently supervising several theses at IFPEN and is the author of several scientific publications.
