Contact
Engler-Bunte-Ring 7
76131 Karlsruhe
Building number 40.13.I
Tel: +49(0)721 608-42571
Fax: +49(0)721 608-47770
E-Mail: Secretariat
Please try out our program for calculating the gas phase equilibrium state.
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Engler-Bunte-Ring 7
76131 Karlsruhe
Building number 40.13.I
Tel: +49(0)721 608-42571
Fax: +49(0)721 608-47770
E-Mail: Secretariat
Current proposals for topics of bachelor- and master thesis you find on the following page.
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Sprays are used in a large number of engineering processes (spray-drying, colour sprays, combustion etc.). As appropriate to the actual case, the spray needs to have different properties regarding droplet size and distribution thereof. These parameters are significantly influenced by the design of the nozzle. In combustion engineering it has become an important goal to optimise the widely-used combustion systems for liquid fuels with regard to their energy consumption and pollutant emissions. Since the combustion of liquid fuels proceeds via the process steps of atomisation, vaporisation, mixing with combustion air and reaction, optimising the respective burners calls for a precise knowledge of the separate steps and the key influencing parameters. The infrastructure available within the institute allows sprays to be characterised with regard to flow field, droplet sizes and the associated distribution densities. An atomisation test bench is available for this purpose on which investigations can be carried out with the Particle Dynamics Analyser, the Laser Light Slice Method and Ultra Short Exposure Photography. A combustion chamber with a thermal power of up to 300 kW is available for investigating the combustion of liquid fuels in highly turbulent technical flames. The measuring equipment used for this ranges from conventional cooled probes through to optical non-contact measuring methods for determining velocity, temperature and mix composition. |
Detailed description |
Within this research focus the following research projects are associated: |
![]() The project is funded in the framework of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions as Innovative Training Network (ITN).
Air transportation is expected to grow persistently over the next decades. Clean combustion technology for aircraft engines is a key enabler to reduce the impact of this growth on ecosystems and humans’ health. The vision for European aviation is shaped by the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe in the Flight Path 2050 goals, which define stringent regulations on pollutant emissions.
To meet these goals, the major engine manufacturers develop lean premixed combustors operated at very high pressure. This development introduces a large risk for reduced reliability and lifetime of engines: pressure oscillations in the combustor called thermoacoustics.
Aviation industry encounters currently the fourth industrial revolution: cyber-physical systems analyze and monitor technical systems and take automated decisions. This industrial revolution is known as “Industry 4.0” in Germany and “Industrial Internet” in the USA. An essential enabler of the fourth industrial revolution is Machine Learning.
The ITN MAGISTER will utilize Machine Learning to predict and understand thermoacoustics in aircraft engine combustors, and to lead combustion research to a revolutionary new approach in this area. |
Within this research focus in the past the following research projects were associated: |
Improvement and optimisation of PERM system (together with AVIO, UNI FI, CIAM)
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PEGASUS will investigate a novel power cycle for renewable electricity production combining a solar centrifugal particle receiver with a sulphur storage system for baseload operation. The proposed process combines streams of solid particles as heat transfer fluid that can also be used for direct thermal energy storage, with indirect thermochemical storage of solar energy in solid sulphur, rendering thus a solar power plant capable of round-the-clock renewable electricity production.
![]() The overall objective of PEGASUS is the development and demonstration of an innovative solar tower system based on solid particles combined with a novel thermochemical solar energy storage technology based on elemental sulphur, to achieve dispatchable and firm renewable electricity generation with a significant cost reduction with respect to current state-of-the-art concepts. The technology will be validated under real on- sun concentrated solar irradiation in the Solar Tower Jülich (STJ) thermal plant in Germany owned by the Project Coordinator, DLR.
In this perspective, the project’s specific Technical Objectives of KIT are:
More information is published in a press-release of KIT and on the public website of the project (link below) |
In the context of the objective of the German government and the European Union's energy policy, it is crucial to increase the share of renewable energy. However, due to the fect that renewable engergy production due fluctuating wind and sun energy does not correlate with the customer demand, it is neccesary to compensate this energy generation gap with flexible power plants. Such plants need to be operated in a flexible load range. In this context, gas power plants play an important role because they allow rapid load changes and provide energy at high efficiencies.
The true representation of the realistic subprocesses represent the scientific part of the project goals 1F
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The research carried out withing the subproject 3H contributes to the fulfillment of the projects' goal "operation flexibility and fuel flexibility". Operation stability is mainly depending on the the stability limit of combustion, which is still difficult to predict. Fuel flexibility requires the thorough design of a combustor which is able to operate on gaseous and liquid fuels. The goals of the subproject 3H, which continues the successful work of the subproject 1F stem from these requirements and challenges. |