Alternative energy converters
What will drive us in the future?
The challenges of mastering low-emission, efficient, affordable, resource- and climate-sparing mobility of the day after tomorrow and equipping the future with it is the department of Alternative Energy Converters' vision. Currently the optimisation of chemical-to-electrical energy conversion (serial hybrids/range extenders), secondary energy utilisation (thermal electricity), and bi-directional transformation of electrical into mechanical energy (electrical drives) is being researched for this.
The research with which the way to this vision is to be formulated can be classified into three fields of competence:
- Innovative drive systems: conversion of electrical into mechanical energy (electrical drive systems)
- Secondary energy utilisation: conversion of thermal into electrical energy (e.g. thermoelectricity)
- Range extender: conversion of chemical into electrical energy (serial hybrids/range extender/CHP)
The fields of competency are methodologically so aligned that both subjects and technologies from the road-bound and rail-bound transport area can be handled. In this connection it has been possible to enhance extensive synergies in many areas among the transport systems' technologies.
The tasks in the respective fields of competence encompass the components of the entire development process from conceptualisation, simulation, layout design, and construction, through optimisation and set-up, to testing of the entire development process's components.
Tools such as Matlab/Simulink, Maxwell3D, Simplorer, Catia, Ansys, and Dymola/MODELICA are employed in the process in order to be able to meet the research and development tasks of tomorrow innovatively and with great efficiency. A highly modern, in part unique roller rig environment is available to enable demonstration of the developed components' capability.
Insights achieved in the past accumulate with daily knowledge gained enabling profitable research both at the Institute and with partners from research and industry. The bundling of competencies in the department should be brought productively into the research and industry.
Areas of expertise
- Innovative drive systems
- Secondary energy utilisation
- Range extender
Test benches
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