Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGBEfficient 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.
Thermal processes.
Thermal separation processes
Tabbed contents
Our research
Range of services
Range of services
- Market and technology analyses
- Feasibility studies and preliminary investigations in laboratory and pilot-plant scale
- Process development carried out by an interdisciplinary team drawn from the fields of process engineering, mechanical and chemical engineering, microbiology and electrical engineering
- Optimization and modification of thermal and sorptive processes to increase efficiency
- Customized developments in the field of thermal materials treatment, absorption and adsorption
- Engineering specification including characterization of automation algorithms, up to industrial prototypes
- Extensive laboratory and technical equipment as key component for a successful project realization
equipment
Infrastructure and technical equipment
- Laboratory systems for characterization and investigation of adsorbents and electrolytes/absorption agents
- Extensive analysis methods for water analytics
- Design and simulation software: SolidWorks, CST Microwave Studio, COMSOL MultiPhysics®, Design-Expert Workstation
- Laboratory components for investigation of thermal separation processes
- Pilot plant for concentration of (industry-)wastewater
- Pilot plant for investigation of solid matter heat exchanger for adsorbents and for investigation of sorptive thermal storage processes
- Methods for measurement of the thermal conductivity from filling under vacuum
- Analysis methods regarding consistency of adsorbents (e.g. BET theory)