Projects

Our research is partly self-financed and partly financed by funded projects. Most important are cooperation projects with partners from industry and research on national and international level.

Some of our projects are presented below.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the fluid dynamics and mass transfer behavior of accumulation packings

Compared to conventional structural packings, sandwich packings allow more intensive mass transfer and reduced liquid maldistribution. This is achieved by combining structured packing segments with different geometric surfaces. The lower accumulation layer has a higher specific geometric surface and thus a lower capacity limit compared to the upper deposition layer. Accumulation packings are preferably operated with a flooded accumulation layer. This results in the desired intensified phase contact in this layer and in the bubbling layer above it. As part of the first funding phase, a rate-based mass transport model was developed, with which the separation performance of accumulating packings can be well calculated over the complete operating range, taking into account the complex fluid dynamics. Fluid dynamics were analyzed using ultrafast X-ray tomography, which was established for this purpose and for which extensive algorithms are now available. Overall model validation was performed using CO2 absorption option experiments with aqueous MEA solutions. The extensive experimental and numerical studies simultaneously indicate a need for model extension. The determination of the flooding points is to be improved based on a mechanistic fluid dynamics model. In addition, up to now the fluid flow has been considered as an ideal piston flow without capturing back-mixing effects. However, in particular in the accumulation layer and the overlying bubble layer, incoming dispersion flows are to be expected. With the aid of regime-specific dispersion coefficients in the extended rate-based model, a more differentiated view of mass transport and reactions becomes possible. In addition, the previously completely unknown mass transport parameters in the bubble layer are determined and the model is extended for application to rectification processes.

Start: 02/2022
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/26-3
Cooperation partners: TU Dresden

Studying of secondary structured Pillow-Plate-Heat-Exchangers

Intensive efforts to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the reduction of their pollutant emissions through different actions to increase energy efficiency are currently omnipresent. As a central element in numerous industrial systems heat exchangers have a significant impact on energy efficiency. They are used to transfer heat from one material flow to another and are therefore extremely relevant for the functioning and energy efficiency of processes. So-called Pillow-Plate-Heat-Exchangers (PPHE) are a new type of design and represent a promising alternative to conventional multitube heat exchangers or plate heat exchangers. PPHE are innovative, fully welded plate heat exchangers. PPHE are typically made from flat sheet metal, first joined to double blanks and then hydroformed. This process produces its characteristic “pillow-like” surface. A surface structuring or so called "secondary structuring" improves the heat transfer with only minimal pressure loss. This results an increase in the specific surface and an advantageous influence on the flow behaviour, especially in the area close to the wall. The optimal form of the surface structuring is mostly specified by its application or component and can currently only be determined by complex thermo-fluid-dynamic calculations. The aim of this project is to use CFD-based simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to study various secondary structures to increase the efficiency of the PPHE.

Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG)
Cooperation partners: Chair for forming and cutting production technology (LUF)

Numerical investigation of the fluid dynamics and heat transfer on rough, additively manufactured surfaces

The progressive miniaturization of apparatus has led to the development of microchannel heat exchangers, which are characterized by small geometric dimensions and intensified transport processes. These efficient microscale heat exchangers are especially used in innovative applications with limited installation space, for example in microelectronics.            
A further increase in the heat transfer performance of these devices is being pursued through various optimization approaches. One approach to reduce the thermal resistance is the utilization of microstructured channel walls. However, the structuring of the surface results not only in enhanced thermal performance but also in increased pressure drop. Consequently, the main challenge in the design of structured micro channels is to compromise these contrary effects.             
In this project, the influence of surface roughness on fluid dynamics and heat transfer is therefore investigated based on numerical methods. For this purpose, geometries of different surface roughness are generated by additive manufacturing and transferred into CAD models. These provide the basis for the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, which is used to simulate the transport processes over the rough surface.          
Finally, concepts for the design of additively manufactured microchannel heat exchangers with microstructured surfaces will be derived from the results obtained.

Start: 09/2021
Funded by: internal funding
Cooperative Remote Labs Virtual Campus for Higher Education in Industrial Engineering (RemLab)

The aim of the project is to reinforce the digitalization, internationalization, accessibility, and visibility of Engineering Education in the EU and worldwide perspective by using the remote labs approach in the Consortium universities. The focus will be on launching the Remote Labs Virtual Campus that will provide the teachers with easy to use tools for “remotification” of existing lab exercise or development of new ones; and the students of Partner universities (and external students) with easy to access to remote lab exercises for studying physical phenomena on real objects and hardware; Develop digital pedagogical competences of university teachers, enabling them to develop new high-quality remote labs for distance education in Engineering subjects with additional focus simultaneous education of many students and open online courses.

Start: 03/2021
Cooperation partners: Kungliga Tekniska högskolan, Politecnico di Milano

Method development for the simulation of viscous fingering in bonded joints of steel-intensive composite constructions

In a wide range of industrial applications, adhesive technology is becoming increasingly important due to its potential for joining different types of materials. A frequent application is the adhesive joining of steel and aluminum. During the artificial ageing of the adhesives, the bond gap between the components widens due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of the materials. This gap widening occurs predominantly while the adhesive is still liquid and thus leads to a significant reduction in the original bond area. The resulting area shows a meandering structure (finger) and decreases with increasing gap widening. This structure is "frozen" by the subsequent curing process. Due to the reduced bond area, significantly increased stresses and associated damage to the cured adhesive must be expected. This results in a significantly reduced load capacity and aging resistance of the bonded joints.

The aim of the project is to develop a method for quantifying the bond area actually present in the product in order to improve manufacturing processes and the design for the subsequent operational load case. For this purpose, experimental investigations as well as methods of finite element simulation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are to be applied.

The tasks of the chair FVT consist in the simulation of the adhesive distribution within the widening gap and the determination of the resulting effective bond area by means of CFD. The results are validated against experimental Data provided by the cooperation partner and form the basis for correlations with which the weakening of the bonded joint during curing can be estimated without additional CFD simulations.

Start: 03/2021
Funded by: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)/AiF-IGF
Funding Reference Number: 21686 N/2
Cooperation partners: Laboratory for material and joining technology (LWF) at Paderborn University

PV-2 Heat to Mongolia (PV-2-H)

The overall objective of the project, which is being pursued jointly by the German and Mongolian partners, is the development of a heating system suitable for the harsh conditions of Mongolia, which converts regenerative energy generated by means of photovoltaics (PV) into heat (H). In addition, the foundations are to be laid to enable the Mongolian government, on the basis of the project, to roll out the systems on a large scale and thus provide the population with a sustainable supply of electricity and heat via EE-2- Heat systems. In addition to the photovoltaic approaches, the use of wind power is also to be examined. The first development path concerns the design and construction of a PV-2-Heat system adapted to the harsh climatic conditions and the lower technical level in Mongolia compared to Germany. The derived systems will be designed, built and tested for different usage environments (private households, public institutions, trade/commercial) as demonstrator systems. The goal is to develop a system that can not only be operated safely in Mongolia, but also largely manufactured and maintained there, since on the one hand this keeps costs low and on the other hand a large-scale rollout of the systems in Mongolia can only be made possible by numerous partners familiar with the system. Active involvement and participation of Mongolian partners in the development of the equipment, production concepts and commercialization strategies throughout the project is crucial for this. The project will continue to ensure the transfer of know-how on the topics of conversion or storage of renewable energy in other energy forms as well as sector coupling via international cooperation in a research alliance of universities and companies, and to establish and deepen partnerships at both academic and corporate levels.

Start: 05/2021
Funded by: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Funding Reference Number: 01LZ2001D
Cooperation partners: ESDA Technologie GmbH, Klaus Rauch consulting engineer, WestfalenWIND Planungs GmbH & Co. KG, Solar Energy LLC, RTT LLC, National University of Mongolia - School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Mongolian Academy of Sciences - Institute of Physics and Technology

Reduction of climate-relevant process emissions through improved design of packed columns (ReProvAP)

This research project aims at a significant reduction of climate-relevant process emissions in the chemical industry by improving the design of structured packing columns. As a result, a new, innovative design methodology to calculate the necessary packed height of mass transfer columns will be developed. Thereby, three different goals are pursued: in the short term, the analysis of existing operating data is to be used for more efficient operation of existing plants. In the medium term, newly developed measuring cells are to provide experimental information for the design of new plants quickly and in a targeted manner, without the need for experimental experience on a pilot scale. In the long term, the development of novel modeling approaches will be considered. Ideally, the new design method will replace experimental investigations with their specific substances and directly allow a transfer from known substances to new, real and strongly non-ideal substances. In the end, a new design method with improved design reliability shall be obtained, which allows energy efficiency measures that could not be designed with sufficient reliability so far.

In the joint project, our chair is engaged in column simulations using the Hydrodynamic Analogy (HA) approach. The results from these simulations will help to develop the new, improved design methodology by identifying and validating dependencies and correlations. Together with the work of the collaborative partners, modelling and simulation of structured packings with multiple methods and multiple scales will thus be realised, leading to a holistic, improved understanding of fluid dynamics and mass transfer in mass transfer columns. Together with the companies and university partners, modeling and simulation of structured packings with multiple methods and multiple scales will be realized, leading to a holistic, improved understanding of fluid dynamics and mass transfer in packed columns.

Start: 03/2021
Funded by: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Funding Reference Number: 01LJ2002H
Cooperation partners: 5 academic and 16 industrial pertners

Development of multifunctional, slim, thermally insulating facade elements with increased heat storage capacity and integrated active temperature control to increase the energy and resource efficiency of buildings (MultiFace)

The aim of the project is to develop a new type of facade element. Almost
40 % of the final energy consumption in the Federal Republic is attributable to residential and non-residential buildings. Thus, energy saving in the building sector is an important contribution to the energy turnaround. The focus of this project is the development of energy- and resource-efficient, innovative and architecturally high-quality facade elements with multifunctional properties. The multifunctionality is shown in the combination and the resulting synergetic effect of different elements, which implement and expand the use of renewable energy sources on the building facade in a novel way. One element of the novel façade element is the integrated PCM heat accumulator.  This is to be used for space heating and/or cooling by means of thermal activation. The task of the chair is to design the geometry of the PCM storage cassettes and to optimize them for thermal activation. For the design of the storage cassette geometry, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model shall be developed to realistically model the flow of the heat transfer fluid within the storage cassette and the thermal performance of the facade element. The newly developed facade element is to be implemented and characterized in terms of energy by means of monitoring and subjected to operational optimization.

Start: 01/2021
Funded by: Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)
Funding Reference Number: 03EN1028C
Cooperation partners: 4 research institutions, 5 industrial partners

Model-based numerical investigation of the material transport-induced motion of free fluid phase boundaries

Transport processes around moving phase boundaries occur in a variety of process engineering separation processes, e.g. on droplets in liquid-liquid extraction, on bubbles in absorption and in distillation or rectification processes. For an accurate and safe design of these processes, the fundamental understanding of such transport processes is therefore of crucial importance. CFD-based simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics), in which the motion of the interface is simulated with spatial and temporal resolution, allow detailed insights into transport processes in two-phase flows.
In case of significant mass transport across the interface or concentration-dependent interfacial tension, a coupled problem for momentum and mass transport must be solved. Such problems are particularly complicated because the deformation of the interface influences mass transport and vice versa, so that the frequently made assumption that the velocity field is not influenced by the concentration field does not apply. The movement of the phase boundary can be caused by two mechanisms: On the one hand, the movement due to the flow itself, e.g. due to different densities of the phases under gravitational force, and on the other hand the movement of the phase boundary due to mass transfer (e.g. evaporation or condensation). Especially this mass transport induced interface movement is in the focus of the proposed project.
Currently, there are only few CFD-based methods for the description of transport phenomena at moving phase boundaries, which consider mass transport and the movement of the phase boundary coupled. This is where the proposed research project starts. A model and a corresponding numerical method will be developed, which are able to precisely detect mass transfer at moving phase boundaries and to reproduce the interface motion resulting from mass transport.

Funded by: Budgetary ressources

Theoretical investigation of the fluid dynamics and mass transfer behavior of moving columns

The offshore extraction of fossil fuels is gaining in importance due to its still growing demand. So-called "Floating Production Storage and Offloading" (FPSO) units are increasingly being used to develop more distant and smaller fields in deep sea areas. In addition to the actual extraction process, the FPSOs are also used for the pre-treatment of the extracted product and the production of petrochemical products. Due to the swell and permanent winds, the equipment operated on the FPSOs is subject to great technical challenges. The dynamic movements cause phase misalignments due to gravitational and inertial effects which have a significant impact on the separation processes. Therefore, in cooperation with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), characteristic flow structures are to be dynamically identified and measured. Using derived correlations for the fluid dynamics of two-phase flow, a dynamic modeling approach of the hydrodynamic analogies for the description of the separation performance of the example process for air drying using triethylene glycol is to be developed. The development of the correlations as well as the validation of the overall model are based on experimental investigations of the fluid dynamics and the separation efficiency of the air drying process under the influence of angular and translational movements.

Start: 10/2020
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/42-1
Cooperation partners: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)

Innovative lightweight construction and cooling concepts for electrical machines through additive manufacturing (ILuKadd3D)
The target of the project is the implementation of additive manufacturing in electrical engineering. The focus lies on the development of an electrical motor, which is characterized by innovative cooling and lightweight construction concepts that can only be realized by means of additive manufacturing. The motor components are optimized in terms of their cooling and lightweight construction potential, using time and cost efficient numerical methods. Furthermore, experimental investigations based on effect demonstrators and the final motor are performed to validate the numerical results and to quantify the realized optimization.  The results of the project will be made available to companies to enable them to develop innovative, promising products and to open up new markets with the help of additive manufacturing.
Numerical investigation of liquid topology in structured packings

The simulation of the flow morphologies of free gas-liquid interfaces in structured packings has so far been dependent on the modeling of an effective contact angle, since the microstructuring of the packing layers could not be mapped. Effective contact angles can only be sufficiently validated by experimental investigations. The aim of this project is to develop a methodology to map the microstructuring directly in the CFD simulations of structured packings, so that only the physical contact angle is needed to represent the flow patterns. The verification of this methodology is done by comparisons with experimental results for different material mixtures in varying structured packings. The validated methodology is then used to gain a deeper understanding of the fluid topology within structured packings. Furthermore, more precise parameters are determined, which are required for the design of separation equipment.

Start: 07/2020
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/41-1

Increasing of the energy efficiency of production processes through innovative heat exchangers: evaporation and condensation of mixtures
The aim of this collaborative project with three other universities and 14 industrial partners is to establish the use of pillow plates and strucutred tubes as condensers and evaporators in the process industry. Since there is a lack of dimensioning equations for these types of heat exchangers for heat transfer with phase change and these apparatuses are therefore usually overdimensioned to ensure the required heat transfer, these dimensioning equations must be developed. For the development of the dimensioning equations in the form of correlations, experimental investigations on the condensation of pure substances and mixtures on pillow-plates are carried out at the University of Paderborn. On the basis oft he developed correlations, pillow-plate condensers are then evaluated in comparison with smooth tube heat exchangers in order to identify advantageous application and operating areas for pillow-plate condensers. The correlations are published during the project and afterwards and can therefore be used, for example, by small and medium-sized enterprises that offer such designs in their portfolio.

Start: 12/2019
Funded by: Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)
Funding Reference Number: 20755 N
Cooperation partners: TU Braunschweig, Universität Kassel, TU München
Investigation of amino sugars as a new solvent for CO2 separation
Aqueous solutions of amino sugars in which one hydroxal group has been replaced by an amino group, are considered as potentially new solvents for CO2 separation. The amino sugars are particularly attractive for this application because they are safe, non-corrosive, biodegradable and, above all, are present in large quantities in nature. The main target of this research project is the investigation of CO2 separation using aqueous solutions of the amine sugar N-Acetylglusosamine (GlcNAc) and its mixtures with conventional amines. A new methodology will be developed to efficiently identify and test innovative solvents for CO2 capture using a combination of virtual and real experiments. Virtual experiments are performend using validated models to simulate CO2 absorption processes in typical absorption plants under selected standard operation conditions. The necessary input data (reaction kinetics, vapor-liquid euqilibrium, physico-chemical data, etc.) for modeling and simulation of the processes will be generated by experiments at the sire of the indian partner, the group around Prof. Vaidya, Institute of Chemical Technology, ICT, Mumbai.

Start: 04/2020
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/38-1
Cooperation partners: Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai
Development of a high-performance cold storage for back-up systems

Goal of the project is he development of high-performing and cost-efficient hybrid cold storage containing phase change material (PCM), which should be able to release the stored cold within a relatively short amount of time. The discharge rate should be reduced from 60 hours to 30 – 60 min. Within a hybrid storage, the main share of energy is stored PCM capsules, whereas the heat transported by a heat transfer fluid. The PCM itself as well as the geometry of the encapsulation has to be developed aiming for an optimization of the thermal conductivity, cycle stability, sub-cooling, heat transfer area and PCM layer thickness. Further, production and the filling process of the capsules have to be modified. For the optimization of the capsule geometry, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model has to be developed, with which the flow around the PCM capsules and thermal performance of the storage during charging and discharging can be simulated.


Start: 01/2020
Funded by: Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)
Funding Reference Number: ZF4032935ZG9
Cooperation partners: ESDA Technologie GmbH, Institut für Luft- und Kältetechnik gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH

Development and monitoring of a complete system for the combined renewable supply of heat, cold, electricity and fresh air to buildings (RENBuild)
The aim of the project is to develop an innovative concept for the combined regenerative supply of buildings with heat, cold, electricity and fresh air and to evaluate it in operation. The focus is on the comprehensive and efficient use of available regenerative environmental energy and the combination with LowEx systems for building cooling, heating and ventilation. Within the framework of RENBuild, a comprehensive system will be developed whose optimised components permit the highest possible energy efficiency while simultaneously using regenerative energies. At the centre of the system is a PVT collector, which simultaneously generates electricity, heat and cold purely regeneratively. During the day, solar energy is converted into electricity and heat, while at night environmental cold - essentially through long-wave radiation exchange with the cold night sky - is used. The temperatures achieved are at moderate levels, but can be used very efficiently in low-temperature heating and cooling systems such as heating/cooling ceilings or underfloor heating/cooling. If necessary, a heat pump can raise or lower the temperatures further. Correspondingly adapted and optimised heat and cold storages bridge the gap between generation and demand. The integration of a ventilation system with heat recovery completes the overall system. An intelligent control system allows the components to interact efficiently. The control system is designed the prefer highest possible self-use of the genarated energy. However, the storages also allow grid supporting functions such as power-to-heat or power-to-cold.

Start: 01/2020
Funded by: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)
Funding Reference Number: 03EN1009F
Cooperation partners: Bayerisches Zentrum für Angewandte Energieforschung e.V., PA-ID GmbH, Neuberger Gebäudeautomation GmbH, Ratiotherm Heizungs- und Solartechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Hanse Haus GmbH & Co. KG, Dipl.-Ing. Hölscher GmbH & Co. KG, Renz Solutions GmbH, ESDA Technologie GmbH
Innovative separation device for the recovery of nitrogen from agricultural waste (ITS NH3)

The recycling of organic waste from agriculture, in particular liquid manure and digestates, is not yet a satisfactorily solved task in the field of waste management. Liquid manure contains nitrogen, phosphate and other minerals, which are important nutrients for agricultural crops. The direct benefit (e.g. application to fields), however, leads, when used excessively, to high nitrate pollution of soils and waters.

In this project we want to develop an innovative separation device for nitrogen recovery in cooperation with Envimac Engineering GmbH. It should be suitable for selectively removing nitrogen in the form of ammonium directly from liquid manure or digestates and thus producing high-quality fertiliser products. This involves the development of a high-tech apparatus with simultaneous agricultural robustness, with which liquids containing solids can be treated without the plant failing.

The task for our chair is the numerical investigation of the flow conditions within the separating apparatus.


Start: 09/2019
Funded by: AiF - Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
Funding Reference Number: ZF 4032929SA9
Cooperation partners: Envimac Engineering GmbH
Energy flow metering of natural and biogas for residential applications (ENFLOW)

Diversification of gas supply via liberalization of the gas trade, discovery of new fossil sources, and the increasing use of renewable gases (biogas, syngas and hydrogen) are favoring pronounced and more frequent fluctuations in gas quality.  The knowledge of gas quality is crucial for custody transfer, and safe, efficient and low-emission operation of gas-driven processes. The gas energy flow in fiscal metering is calculated as product of calorific value (qualitative indicator) multiplied by consumed gas volume. Only the volume metering is implemented at the consumption site for most gas consumers, while the quality metering is done by supplier and according to supplier internal procedures.

The main goal of the joint German-Swedish project is to develop and introduce into the market an innovative technology for real-time measurement of energy flow of natural and bio-gas at lower cost by the means of standard ultrasonic gas flow meter. Compared to existing solutions the cost reduction with new technology is expected to be up to 94% (compared to gas chromatography).  The cost for operation and maintenance will be reduced by 90%.

Our chair contributes to this project by simulation-based optimization of the measuring chamber with regard to in-flow effects



Start: 09/2019
Funded by: AiF - Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
Funding Reference Number: ZF 4032930CL9
Cooperation partners: GasQuaL AB (Schweden), Königlich Technische Hochschule Stockholm
Investigation of multiphase flows on structured surfaces with CFD methods

The goal of our cooperation with Sulzer Chemtech AG is to model the behavior of liquid flows with free gas-liquid interfaces on structured surfaces by means of a CFD model. In the process engineering industry, these are often used in structured packings, which are designed to establish the most intensive possible exchange between two ore more fluid phases with simutaneously low pressure losses (e.g. in rectification and absorption processes).

The investigations are performed without imposed gas flow with focus on the wetting properties of the surface. The consideration of the microstructure in the CFD model is to be achieved by adjusting the effective contact angle in the CFD model, whereby the contact angle is selected which best reflects the flow characteristics. In order to be able to evaluate this, the company Sulzer carries out propagation tests of liquid films on single sheets, which correspond to the structured packings in their microstructural surface properties.

Start: 09/2018
Funded by: Sulzer Chemtech AG, Universität Paderborn
Cooperation partner: Sulzer Chemtech AG

Development of a high-efficiency shell and tube condenser with structured chemically coated corrugated tubes for dropwise condensation (TROKO)

In the planned project, new heat exchanger tubes are to be developed to improve the heat transfer for condensation. The solution is to strengthen drop condensation compared to film condensation, as this increases the heat transfer coefficient by a factor of about 10. This is to be achieved by a double structuring of the condensation surfaces, with corrugated tubes instead of smooth tubes as a macrostructure and a novel chemical hydrophilic-hydrophobic coating as a microstructure. The technical and economic significance of this innovation results from two aspects: Firstly, an improvement in the energy efficiency of steam turbines by increasing the effective pressure gradient; secondly, an increase in the material efficiency through smaller sizes for specified condensation capacities.

In cooperation with the project partners, a suitable coating system will first be developed, then the modified coated single tube will be investigated in a test condenser on a laboratory scale under the direction of FVT with regard to the condensation behavior of steam in order to quantitatively demonstrate the improvement of the heat transfer. Furthermore, the improvement of heat transfer in tube bundles by reducing the bundle effect will be investigated. Finally, mathematical and physical correlations are derived.

Start: 05/2018
Funded by: AiF - Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
Funding Reference Number: ZF4032923ST7
Cooperation partners: Arbeitsgruppe Coatings, Materials & Polymers (Uni Paderborn) und Hatec Haag-Technischer Handel GmbH
Development of model-based tools for prevention and ellimination of pre- and emergency situations in chemical processes (MWNCA)

In the chemical industry, despite all safety equipment and regulations, incidents occur time and again. These incidents often lead to fires, explosions and the emission of toxic or cancerogenic substances and can cause considerable personal injury or environmental and material damage. In addition, they can lead to production losses on a considerable scale.

The aim of this project is the development of a software tool that enables the plant operators to detect critical situations in the field of chemical absorption and to use the tool to suggest control commands for avoiding critical situations in almost real time.

The tasks of our chair are the dynamic simulation of the selected processes and the development of reduced models to describe them.


Start: 04/2018
Funded by: AiF - Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
Funding Reference Number: ZF4032921BZ7
Cooperation partner: Sokratel Kommunikations- und Datensysteme GmbH

A new experimental facility for the determination of thermofluid dynamic characteristics in condensers

In the course of increasing demands on household dryers with regard to their energy efficiency, it is necessary to optimize the appliances in terms of thermal technology. As is well known, Miele & Cie. KG is one of the leading manufacturers of household dryers and attaches particular importance to the optimum design and manufacture of the individual dryer components, including the heat exchangers.
To optimize condensers in household dryers, it is important to determine individual influencing parameters of the condensation process. However, these are difficult to determine using numerical simulations or measurements on the entire apparatus. In order to better understand the effect of the individual parameters (volume flow, temperature, etc.) on the condensation process in a condensation dryer, a test facility was designed and set up at our institute in cooperation with Miele, with which a selected part of a heat exchanger can also be investigated. The thermal efficiency, the condensation rate and the pressure drop on the air side are determined experimentally.

Start: 10/2013
Cooperation partner: Miele & Cie. KG

Theoretical and experimental investigation of viscous system distillation in packing columns
The separation of viscous mixtures in packed columns is a technically relevant yet not systematically examined unit operation. Among others, viscosity affects diffusion in the liquid phase or wettability of the packing material, which makes the established correlations or models unsuitable for the prediction of the separation efficiency. In preceding studies at our Chair, an appropriate model describing the distillation of mixtures with elevated viscosity in structured packed columns was developed. In the current project, this model will be extended to cover the distillation of liquid mixtures with viscosities up to 50 mPa s. Therefore, the fluid dynamics within the structured packing will be investigated by tomographic measurements and implemented into the modeling approach based on hydrodynamic analogies. Finally, an experimental validation will be carried out in cooperation with TU Braunschweig to ensure the compatibility with different chemical systems at a standardized measurement effort.

Start: 05/2017
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/19-3 
Cooperation partners: TU Braunschweig
Numerical and experimental investigation of Marangoni convection during droplet formation and coalescence

The target of this research project is the development of a model for simultaneous droplet coalescence and Marangoni convection, which can be used for the design of extraction processes. Here, experimental and numerical (CFD) results will be combined. Furthermore, the CFD simulations extend the basic understanding of droplet formation and rise under Marangoni convection conditions. Together with the experimental data, the basics for the future modelling of these process stages will be created. The research work will be carried out in collaboration with the TU Kaiserslautern, which is responsible for the experimental programme, while the numerical studies will largely be performed by the FVT Paderborn.

Start: 07/2016
End: 12/2019
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/28-1 
Cooperation partners: TU Kaiserslautern

Development of a modular heat storage system using highcapacity, innovative latent heat storage elements (MoLaWS)
Within the framework of the MoLaWS project, a new, modular, air-guided heat storage system is being developed using innovative, pressure-loss-free and cascadable high-capacity latent heat stor-age elements. The aim is to adapt the heating and cooling supply to the current demand and to minimize the cost-intensive consumption of electricity and fossil fuels. In the heat storage, heat is cyclically stored and extracted, while a medium (e.g., air) flowing through the storage releases and absorbs heat. In addition to conventional heat storages, phase change materials (PCM) are utilized in latent heat storages. In this case, the volume-specific heat storage capacity as well as the driving forces are much higher than in sensitive heat storages. Consequently, latent heat storages enable more compact storage units, reducing heat losses and thus increasing the energy efficiency. FVT’s main focus is on the modeling and CFD-based investigation of the heat transport processes induced by the phase change as well as on the design of the heat storage elements in regards to optimal heat transfer.

Start: 07/2017
Funded by: AiF - Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
Funding Reference Number: ZF4032917ST7
Cooperation partners: ESDA Technologie GmbH
Joint project ‘‘SoLifE‘‘: Increasing efficiency and lifespan of photovoltaic modules by integration of polymer-bound phase-change materials
The primary goal of this project is to increase efficiency and lifespan of photovoltaic modules by integration of high-capacity, polymer-bound phase-change materials (PCM) with improved thermal conductivity. Preliminary investigations have shown that the integration of PCM in PV-modules leads to a significant reduction of the operating temperature and to a decline in the rate of temperature change. The latter is the decisive factor for aging-related degradation which is attributed to thermally induced, cyclic material stress. In addition, the improved thermal conductivity has shown to be a suitable measure to avoid the formation of so-called hot spots. Such spots are primarily caused by unforeseen shadings and increase the operating temperature in the affected area.
The project is executed in a close collaboration of all four partner groups of the Competence Centre for Sustainable Energy Technology. Our chair focusses on the modeling and the CFD-based investigation of the heat transfer processes under phase-change conditions.

Start: 07/2016
Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Funding Reference Number: 0324084A
Experimental and theoretical investigations of fluid dynamics and mass transfer in Sandwich packings
The aim of this project is the development of an application-oriented and predictive modeling approach to describe the separation performance of columns with sandwich packings. In the operating range of Sandwich packings, a heterogeneous flow pattern is established (bubble flow, froth and trickling film flow). In order to determine the impact of individual flow regimes on the fluid dynamics and mass transfer separately, diverse experimental methods are combined. In an absorption-/desorption plant, the influence of various operating and design parameters on the mass transfer is investigated. Furthermore, local information of the multiphase flow is generated with the aid of ultra-fast electron beam X-ray computed tomography. The results of both methods are used in the development of a rate-based model.
The work is carried out in cooperation with the TU Dresden. In Paderborn, the experimental and theoretical mass transfer studies of Sandwich packings are performed. At the TU Dresden, the fluid dynamics are investigated by ultra-fast electron beam X-ray computed tomography.

Start: 02/2016
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/26-1
Cooperation partners: TU Dresden
Development of a novel ice machine utilizing single phase coolant
To cool their products, companies in food industry produce ice in form of ice shards directly at the manufacturing site. This is done by means of ice machines, which freeze a falling water film on the outer surface of a heat exchanger (mostly pillow plates) followed by a cyclical detachment and crushing of the resulting ice plates. Currently available ice machines are characterized by a high fluid content of hazardous refrigerant (toxic, flammable, high global warming potential), resulting in high equipment cost and, in case of damage, a significant safety risk for personnel and environment. Within the scope of this project, which is carried out in cooperation with the company BUCO Wärmeaustauscher International GmbH, a novel ice machine will be developed, with a fluid content of refrigerant reduced to a minimum. Most of the refrigerant will be substituted by harmless coolant. However, the use of coolant instead of refrigerant brings about considerable uncertainty in the apparatus design, which should be eliminated with the aid of CFD-based studies (multiphase simulations will be carried out) as well as experimental investigations carried out in a pilot plant that will be built within this project.

Start: 01/2017
Funded by: AiF - Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy - BMWi)
Cooperation partners: BUCO Wärmeaustauscher International GmbH
KMU-innovativ: Innovative, low-pressure installations for use in absorption applications
The aim of this project is the development of new packing geometries to increase the efficiency of separation devices. This will be achieved with the help of a new, scientifically grounded and computer-aided approach, in close cooperation with Envimac Engineering GmbH, Oberhausen. The work of our Chair is mainly focused on the development and validation of a simulation model based on the hydrodynamic analogy principle, which allows predictive evaluation of separation characteristics of columns filled with newly created internals.

Start: 09/2016
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Funding Reference Number: 01LY1602B
Cooperation partners: ENVIMAC Engineering GmbH, Oberhausen
Theoretical and experimental investigation of fluiddynamics and heat and mass transfer in zero gravity distillation processes using tailor-made capillary structures
In this project, the concept of zero gravity distillation is investigated. This process represents an approach to establish distillation processes in units that contain internals with dimensions smaller than one millimeter. For keeping the flow patterns of vapour and liquid phase appropriate for the process, which represents a main challenge in micro-separation technology, capillary forces are utilised. Grooves and porous materials are considered as possible structural elements for the process. As the main targets of the project, the transport processes in such structural elements should be investigated and a theoretical process model should be developed, which would allow the design of technical units.
this project is carried out in collaboration with the TU Darmstadt. Basically, our group is responsible for theoretical modeling and simulation, while at the TU Darmstadt experimental investigations are performed.

Start: 09/2014
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/23-1
Cooperation partner: TU Darmstadt
Numerical simulations of the fluid dynamics in structured packings
In fluid process engineering , a high interfacial area is required for separation processes in packed columns. This can be achieved by the use of structured packings. Their geometrical parameters as well as fluid properties and operating conditions significantly influence the fluid dynamics of gas and liquid phase flows. In this project, both single-phase and two-phase flow phenomena in structured packings are studied with the aid of CFD-based methods. The target of the project is to reach a better understanding of the local flow phenomena. This will help to design packed columns more accurately and to further optimize structured packings.

Start: 09/2015
End: 12/2018
Funded by: internal funding
Investigation of heat and mass transport in a solar dryer by CFD methods
In Africa, food with a high amount of moisture is commonly dried directly on the ground. In such a process, part of the product is lost due to the influences of unfavorable weather, insects, etc.  In addition, quality losses that may be caused by exhaust gases and unstable process conditions affect the products market value. Hybrid solar dryers are implemented to make the drying process more controllable and environmentally friendly and in this way to help improving the farmers’ perspectives in Ghana.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi has developed such a solar dryer for corn. Its current design has successfully been modelled by CFD simulations, which have been validated against temperature measurements.
In our current work, we try to improve the compressor in use in order to enhance the air flow and hence to shorten the process time. Furthermore, the effect of additional ventilators on the temperature distribution in the dryer is studied as well as the product homogeneity.

Start: 2013
Funded by: DAAD
Cooperation partners: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and others
Thermal Analysis of Inductances Based on CFD-Methods
This project belongs to transfer projects which represent one of the funding instruments of the Leading-Edge Cluster it's OWL “Intelligent Technical Systems OstWestfalenLippe”. In cooperation with the SME Schaffner Deutschland GmbH, the thermal analysis of electric inductances by means of CFD-methods should be performed.
Electric inductances are used in many applications as filter elements to condition electric currents. Frequently, low weight and volume of the elements are desirable, resulting in a high power density. The reliability and lifetime of inductances strongly depend on the thermal load. Therefore, inductances are cooled by forced convection to avoid local overheating of the winding isolation system. For this purpose, cooling channels are integrated into the windings, which are, however, often designed with a high degree of uncertainty. Better predictions of the flow conditions and hence of the heat removal can be achieved with the methods of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Yet, because of its high complexity, CFD methods are not in standard industrial use. The project goal is therefore CFD integration into the established winding design methods at Schaffner Deutschlad GmbH. Along these lines, our Chair will develop a suitable modeling concept and validate it against the measurements carried out by the company. The software used is the commercial CFD-tool StarCCM+ by Siemens. Via training courses, a successful knowledge transfer from the university to the company should be realized, so that after the project end, the staff of Schaffner Deutschlad GmbH is able to accomplish further CFD implementations for winding-related products independently.

Start: 01/2017
Funded by: Spitzencluster it’s OWL „Intelligente Technische Systeme OstWestfalenLippe“
Cooperation partners: Schaffner Deutschland GmbH
Development of an efficient cooling concept for digital showcases
The aim of this project is the development of an application-oriented and predictive modeling approach to describe the separation performance of columns with sandwich packings. In the operating range of Sandwich packings, a heterogeneous flow pattern is established (bubble flow, froth and trickling film flow). In order to determine the impact of individual flow regimes on the fluid dynamics and mass transfer separately, diverse experimental methods are combined. In an absorption-/desorption plant, the influence of various operating and design parameters on the mass transfer is investigated. Furthermore, local information of the multiphase flow is generated with the aid of ultra-fast electron beam X-ray computed tomography. The results of both methods are used in the development of a rate-based model.
The work is carried out in cooperation with the TU Dresden. In Paderborn, the experimental and theoretical mass transfer studies of Sandwich packings are performed. At the TU Dresden, the fluid dynamics are investigated by ultra-fast electron beam X-ray computed tomography.

Start: 02/2016
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/26-1
Cooperation partners: TU Dresden
Modelling and simulation of multicomponent mass transfer at moving liquid-liquid interfaces
Transport phenomena at moving interfaces are met in a variety of chemical and reaction engineering processes. A fundamental and detailed knowledge of the transport phenomena is crucial for reliable and precise process design. CFD-based simulations contribute more and more to better understanding of complex transport phenomena in multiphase flows. Mass transfer across moving interfaces represents a particularly important phenomenon in separation processes. In case of significant mass transfer rates across the interface or a concentration-dependent interfacial tension, a strongly coupled momentum and mass transfer problem has to be solved. In addition, many processes deal with systems comprising more than two components in each phase. In such systems, the component interactions must be described by an appropriate modelling approach.
The project focuses on the further development of a mathematical model and a numerical method for the characterisation of multicomponent mass transfer in multiphase systems with moving interfaces.

Start: 12/2014
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/24-1
Energy efficiency in intelligent technical systems
The leading-edge cluster “Intelligente Technische Systeme” (It's OWL) is a trademark of the region Ostwestfalen-Lippe. The cluster involves 173 cluster partners - 127 companies, 16 universities and 30 economy related organisations. The main target of the project is to increase the competiting ability of a global scale and to enhance the value and occupation in the fields of mechanical engineering, electrical/electronics industry and automotive supply industry.
Our group contributes to the development of an efficient thermal management within the cluster project It's OWL-EE "Energy efficiency in intelligent technical systems" and interconnected innovation projects (in cooperation with industry partners). By an application of various modelling approaches and numerical simulations of heat transfer processes, the cooling or heating of electronic/mechanical components is analysed and evaluated. Furthermore, the established methods are systematised. The acquired information related to the methods, procedures, models and optimisations will be summarised in the form of a catalogue.

Start: 07/2012
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Funding Reference Number: 02PQ1030
Cooperation partners: 173 Clusterpartners
Website: www.its-owl.de
Theoretical investigation of separation behaviour of viscous polymer solutions in packed columns using hydrodynamic analogies
Structured packings are employed in separation columns particularly for difficult separations, because they reveal large phase interfaces at low pressure drops. One technically relevant area of application that has hardly been studied until now is the separation of viscous systems, e.g. polymer solutions. In these systems, large macromolecules lead to an increased viscosity and a significantly hindered mass transfer in the liquid phase, which results in a substantial separation efficiency reduction for processes like the removal of monomers in polymer manufacturing. The objective of this project is a theoretical investigation of the influence of viscous polymer solutions on the separation processes in packed columns using a modelling approach based on hydrodynamic analogies. This approach has already been successfully applied to absorption and distillation processes in systems with conventional and slightly elevated viscosities. Within the project, a new model extension incorporating the special fluid-dynamic (non-Newtonian) and mass-transfer properties of polymer solutions should be developed and validated using experimental data from literature.

Start: 01/2016
End: 09/2016
Funded by: Internal funding
 
Development of a model-based software tool for the control of electrical heating systems of wind turbine rotor blades
The construction of increasingly large wind turbines and site development of particularly cold regions (e.g. Scandinavian countries and alpine regions) has led to an increasing interest in heating mechanisms for the turbine rotor blades. Therefore, technologies for de-icing and avoidance of ice accretion have been intensively studied. Even in regions with minor icing issues, proof of reliable de-icing technologies or shutdown mechanisms in case of ice accretion is required by legal regulations. However, a satisfying reliability standard has not been achieved by present technologies. The project objective is the development of a model-based software tool for reliable control of electrical rotor blade heating systems, even for cases of temperature sensor failure. Therefore, a mathematical model for the prediction of temperature profiles considering multiple parameters (e.g. ambient conditions and wind speed) is beeing developed in our group.

Start: 10/2013
End: 09/2015
Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Funding Reference Number: 2363828KM3
Cooperation partner: www.sokratel.de
EFENIS: Efficient Energy Integrated Solutions for Manufacturing Industries
The overall objective of the project is the development of innovative energy management systems and low-carbon technologies for total-site integration applications. The research focus is the high-impact industrial deployment of energy systems based on total-site integration approach in the process industries. This includes both new designs and retrofits to existing sites. The subsequent demonstration of the results is an essential component of EFENIS. Industrial companies and universities from the EU-countries Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Denmark, Italy, Finland, Greece and Slovenia as well as from Ukraine, China and Korea co-operate in this project.

Start: 08/2012
End: 07/2015
Funded by: European Commission through its 7th Framework Programme (FP7)
Grant Agreement: 296003
Cooperation partners: 17 partners in 11 countries
Website: www.efenis.uni-pannon.hu
Development of a new corrugated wall tank for transformers to 15,000 kVA
The objective of this project is to improve the cooling of oil-immersed distribution transformers ranging from 30 kVA to 15,000 kVA significantly by the redevelopment of the casing (so called corrugated wall tanks). Thermal energy is released in the windings of the loaded transformers because of the high transferred electrical power. This energy must be removed from the transformer in order to protect it from overheating. The motivation for the redevelopment of a corrugated wall tank from scratch is in addition to the attainment of a considerable gain of energy and resource efficiency due to the fact that the turnaround in energy politicy leads to increased and often new demands on the transformers and therefore on the surrounding tanks. The corrugated wall tank will be redeveloped taking into account the methods of computational fluid dynamics.

Start: 12/2012
End: 03/2015
Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Funding Reference Number: KF2363819 AB2
Cooperation partner: www.loos-co.de
CAPSOL: Design Technologies for Multi-scale Innovation and Integration in Post-Combustion CO2 - Capture: From Molecules to Unit Operations and Integrated Plants
The objective of this project is to identify highly performing solvents in CO2 absorption, to design innovative separation equipment internals and to develop optimal process configurations in order to reduce the costs dramatically. Our tasks are to perform virtual experiments with new solvents and innovative internals and to select the best performing ones for verification by technical experiments.

Start: 11/2011
End: 10/2014
Funded by: European Commission through its 7th Framework Programme (FP7)
Funding Reference Number: FP7-ENERGY-2011-282789
Cooperation partners: 12 partners in 6 countries
Website: CAPSOL
InnovA²: Innovative apparatus and plant concepts to increase the energy efficiency of production processes (subproject A4)
In the BMBF joint project InnovA2 18 academic and industrial partners cooperate to survey promising apparatus and plant concepts to improve the process integrated energy efficiency in industrial production processes. All involved market partners are integrated into the project, i.e. apparatus manufacturers, engineering service providers, operators and research institutes. The Chair of Fluid Process Engineering is the subproject leader for the aptitude test of thermoplate condensers in this joint project.

Start: 01/2011
End: 06/2014
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Funding Reference Number: 033RC1013E
Cooperation partners: 5 academic and 13 industrial partners
Website: InnovA2
INTHEAT: Intensified Heat Transfer Technologies for Enhanced Heat Recovery
INTHEAT is a project within the scope of an EU programme towards support of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) within Europe. The project topics belong to the area of process engineering. The consortium consists of partners from universities and SMEs from Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Ukraine and Hungary. The Chair of Fluid Process Engineering is responsible for the modelling and numerical simulation of fluid dynamics and heat transfer in spiral heat exchangers made of plastic. Based on these results, optimisation steps will be suggested with the main target to adapt modern spiral heat exchangers to the requirements of up-to-date energy recovery. The spiral heat exchangers proved with the aid of theoretical investigations will be subsequently implemented into practice.

Start: 12/2010
End: 12/2012
Funded by: European Commission within the 7th Frame Programme
Funding Reference Number: FP7-SME-2010-1-262205-INTHEAT
Cooperation partners: 10 partners in 6 countries
Theoretical and experimental investigation of viscous system distillation in packing columns
The separation of viscous mixtures in packing columns is a technically relevant but not systematically examined unit operation. The aim of the planned research project in cooperation with the TU Braunschweig is the development of a reliable modelling approach on the basis of hydrodynamic analogies, using the integration of experimental and theoretical research. The model will be verified by further fluid dynamical experiments and separation efficiency measurements. Using the hydrodynamic analogy approach enables the development of a model which is more efficient compared to conventional modelling techniques and has a broad range of application.

Start: 10/2010
End: 04/2014
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/19-1
Cooperation partner: TU Braunschweig
Investigation of multicomponent mass transfer and thermal diffusion in micro scale liquid-liquid extraction systems
This research project concentrates on the theoretical analysis of multicomponent mass transfer and thermal diffusion in micro scale liquid-liquid extraction systems. The focus of the analysis lies in the assessment of the influence of cross effects on the entire process behaviour. For this purpose two immiscible, layered liquid phases will be examined which will be guided either in a concurrent or countercurrent flow through a micro canal. Both ternary and quaternary mixtures under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions will be analysed.

Start: 03/2010
End: 05/2012
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding Reference Number: KE 837/16-1
Development of a novel membrane contactor comprising a heat exchanger
In cooperation with the company Makatec GmbH the Chair of Fluid Process Engineering develops a novel membrane contractor with an integrated a heat exchanger for applications in chemical engineering. The innovative development should facilitate simultaneous heat and mass transfer, especially in gas-liquid processes. The modelling will be capable of covering both - three dimensional device structures and the intensive interplay of the different transport phenomena.

Start: 02/2010
End: 10/2011
Funded by: AiF - Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
Funding Reference Number: KF2363803OH0
Cooperation partner: www.makatec.eu
"F3 Factory": Flexible, Fast and Future Factory
F3 Factory (Flexible, Fast and Future Factory) is an EU-funded project with 25 project partners, who have set themselves three major targets: First of all to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the F3 concept at the technology centre and secondly to show that the F3 Factory style processes are considerable more economical, eco-efficient and sustainable than conventional processes in continuously operating world-scale plants or those in small and medium sized batch-plants. Additionally, advances in the joint development of modular “plug-and-play” technologies are targeted.

Within the scope of the project the chair of Fluid Process Engineering has the task to develop rigorous CFD-based methods for the description of coupled transport phenomena in two-phase flows in micro scale.

Start: 06/2009
End: 05/2013
Funded by: European Commission through its 7th Framework Programme (FP7)
Funding Reference Number: CP-IP 228867-2 F³ Factory
Cooperation Partners: 25 Partners in 9 countries
Development and optimization of a novel packing geometry
The objective of this work is to study the contribution of pressure drop mechanisms to the heat and mass transfer in structured packings. Based on the results a novel packing geometry can be developed. By using CFD methods the influence of the surface structure on the fluiddynamic is studied at micro- and macro-scale. The local distribution of turbulent eddy viscosity is estimated and used as an input parameter for the HA-model in order to take the gas-phase-turbulence at different locations into account. With the presented combined approach, the influence of the dissipation mechanisms on the packing separation efficiency can be studied.

Start: 05/2009
End: 05/2010
Funded by: BASF SE, internal fundings
Cooperation partner: BASF SE, Raschig GmbH, Dorstener Drahtwerke H.W. Brune & Co. GmbH
Study of the application of structured sandwich packings (partially flooded packings) process in order to increase the separation performance
The so-called sandwich packages, a further development of structured packings, are an innovation of filling material for distillation columns. According to initial researches the sandwich packing shows a 20 % higher separation effect compared to conventional packings. This means in future columns can be smaller and existing installations can be optimised.

The target of this project was to further our currently only rudimentarily existing knowledge about sandwich packages in order to prepare it for industrial applications. In addition to this models are developed experimentally for the specific research of hydrodynamic complex process and an optimised dimensioning of this type of packing.

Beginn: 10/2008
Ende: 01/2010
Funded by: AiF, funded by PRO INNO II
Funding reference number: KF0664901UL8
Cooperation partner: www.montz.de
Modelling of reactive absorption processes with the hydrodynamic analogies approach
Reactive absorption processes are very important for the purification of process gas flows. Our current interests are processes to separate carbon dioxide from exhaust gas flows from fossil operated generating plants. Because of their high specific separation performance and their fluiddynamic properties the application of structured packing in columns makes sense.

An appropriate method for the efficient layout and optimisation of these apparatus is the modelling according to the hydrodynamic analogies approach. In the scope of this project the application of relevant types of substances and of reactions will be operated in the existing system and thus being measured - inter alia by BASF SE - and verified by means of experimental data.

Start: 01/2008
End: 06/2013
Funded by: internal fundings
Coalescence
Within the scope of this project in cooperation with the TU Kaiserslautern coalescence experiments are carried out in a venture apparatus by means of a high speed camera and LIF measurements, taking the pH-value, ion type and concentration, drop size, direction of mass transport and turbulences into account, in order to quantify their influence on the efficiency of coalescence. For the support of the experimental researches a CFD model is developed, which takes the phenomena of mass transport and phase interface into account, for the place and time independent analysis and description of the hydrodynamics in the coalescence process. Furthermore the linkage of CFD and experiments provides a basis for the development of a physically sustained model for the description of the efficiency of coalescence and thus improving the conditions for the projection of technical extraction columns.

Start: 04/2007
End: 12/2009
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding reference number: KE 837/11-1
Cooperation partner: TU Kaiserslautern
Optimisation of a micro desorption geometry
In cooperation with Bayer Technology Services a CFD based model is developed for the determination of hydrodynamic and material transport within a micro stripper. Gas and liquid are separated by a porous membrane in counter current regime. Based on an experimentally validated model, strategies for optimisation regarding a higher separation performance are developed.

Start: 01/2007
End: 12/2008
Funded by: Bayer Technology Services, internal fundings
Cooperation partner: www.bayertechnology.com
ECOPHOS - Waste utilisation in phosphoric acid industry through the development of ecologically sustainable and environmentally friendly processes for a wide class of phosphorus-containing products
The EU-project ECOPHOS concentrated on new technologies for a cost-effective and ecologically sustainable production of phosphorus salts, phosphor containing acids, phosphoric acid and phosphates. The basic materials are compact waste materials from industrial production of phosphoric acid. A further target is the development of a new generation of phosphorus fertilisers.

At the Technical University of Dortmund Eugeny Kenig and Ulf Brinkmann were responsible for this project.

Start: 12/2005
End: 11/2008
Funded by: funded by the European Commission in the 6th supporting programme
Funding reference number: INCO-CT-2005-013359
Cooperation partner: 13 cooperation partners in 8 countries
Website: www.ecophos.org
PRISM – Towards Knowledge-Based Processing Systems
PRISM is a European programme within the “Marie Curie Research Training Network” (13 partners from 8 countries), which was funded with the aim to develop fully integrated model-based technologies for the chemical process engineering.

Start: 01/2005
End: 11/2008
Funded by: European Commission
Funding reference number: MRTN-CT-2004-512233
Cooperation partner: 13 cooperation partners in 8 countries
Website: http://www.cpi.umist.ac.uk/prism/home.asp
Contact

Chair of Fluid Process Engineering (FVT)
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Paderborn University
Pohlweg 55
D-33098 Paderborn


Prof. Julia Riese
Room E3.354
Phone: +49 (0)5251/60-2408
E-mail

Secretary
Building E
Room E3.359
Phone: +49 (0)5251/60-2422
Fax: +49 (0)5251/60-2183
E-mail