Thermal separation processes

Efficient usage of energy in times of climate change and decreasing fossil resources is one of the big challenges we face today, and is thus a key field of activities at the group “heat and sorption systems”. One of our basic goals is to increase energy efficiency by applying and combining energy saving or process intensifying technologies. Concerning process technology, efficient application of energy can particularly be realized by technologies such as drying with superheated steam or the application of electromagnetic fields for volumetric heating.

Besides process intensification and the energy efficient design of industrial processes, the efficient usage of renewable energies and the possibility of energy storage are fundamental parts to ensure sustainable usage of energy. Vast amounts of waste heat are produced during many common industrial processes – the utilization of the waste heat provides an enormous potential in terms of cost and energy savings and process optimization. Key topics are the development, realization and optimization of innovative concepts for the thermal treatment of water and other substances, sorptive heat storage, solar desalination of seawater, concentration of industrial waste water and water harvesting from air humidity by a sorption process. For research, development and process applications on behalf of industrial clients, we operate with both stationary and mobile equipment. In addition, equipment for analytics and powerful software tools for simulation and design of prototypes are also available.