Repsol YPF

Repsol YPF's Technology Centre in Spain

Repsol YPF's largest Technology Centre is situated in the district of Móstoles (Madrid) on a plot of land with a surface area of 17 ha. 

Its design takes into consideration all of the activities that are currently carried out within its walls (exploration and production, refining, gas, chemicals...), the different phases of the various R+D projects and technological support (bench scale, microplant, pilot plant...) and the necessity of anticipating its adaptation to the continuous changes that could foreseeably occur over its useful life span (40-50 years), considering the fast-changing world of technology. 

In order to meet these requirements, the Technology Centre was designed with flexibility of use as its most important aspect, leading to a modular layout of spaces and services. Based on one unique spatial element, known as a laboratory module, which includes all the services (electricity, waters, gases, data, security services, etc.), all of the necessary work zones can be generated, from small-scale test laboratories to semi-industrial pilot-type installations. In that way, the use of a particular space can be changed, without having to add to or remodel the installations and services, nor interrupt the activities being carried out in adjacent zones. 

The group of buildings that make up the complex amount to a total of 56,000 m2 of construction, with an additional reserve with development potential of 24,000 m2 and an occupation capacity of up to 500 people. 

In order to carry out the necessary experimental work, the centre is completely equipped with the following:

• Laboratory equipment for the small-scale study of operations and processes. Microplants and pilot plants as an intermediate stage in the escalation of processes to an industrial scale.
• Equipment for the chemical and structural analysis of products.
• Equipment for testing the physicochemical characteristics of oil products.
• Engine test benches and climatic vehicle chamber for studying the performance of fuels and lubricants.
• Equipment for studying the properties of polymers.
• Pilot machines for transforming polymers.
• Equipment for the characterisation of catalysts and other solid materials.
• Equipment for the study and certification of consumer and industrial gas appliances.
• Installation for manufacturing special fuels and those used in competition. Software for modelling and simulation of industrial processes.