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Thermal Systems with Phase Change

The research area Thermal Systems with Phase Change mainly addresses the research and development of thermal energy storage and conversion processes for power plant applications and industrial processes. The primary focus is on the development of high-performance phase change thermal energy storages from 150°C to 450°C.

In order to prepare thermal energy storages with phase change for a broad market, a main focus of ongoing development activities is the general controllability of the thermal charge and discharge power as well as the separation of the latter from capacity and load condition of the storage.
Attention is also being paid to storage systems for nearly-isentropic Power-to-Heat-to-Power (P2H2P) energy storage - so-called Carnot Batteries. Here, location-independent solutions based on right- and left-handed thermodynamic cycles with phase change of the working fluid are being pursued.
 

Research Areas:

• Development of fin design and active heat exchanger for thermal energy stores with phase change
• Development and material analysis of thermo-physical properties of phase change materials
• CFD-based analysis of natural convection during phase change
• Development of numerical models of different levels of detail for phase change thermal energy stores
• Storage integration and system analysis
• Modelling, development and testing of Power-to-Heat- and Power-to-Heat-to-Power-processes for energy storage and energy management systems
• Design, construction and operation of storage prototypes and accompanying infrastructure