Contact

Eckhard Schleicher

Head Experimental technology
Senior Scientist, Building VEFK
e.schleicherAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 3230

Dr. Markus Schubert

m.schubertAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2627

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Topflow+collage

TOPFLOW+ Multipurpose experimental facility

With the commissioning of the TOPFLOW+ test facility in 2014, seven variable test areas as well as a radiation-shielded X-ray laboratory are available for fluid dynamic experiments and measurement campaigns on a total area of 750 m². While in the TOPFLOW test facility, mainly experiments are carried out at high pressure and temperatures, TOPFLOW+ is primarily intended for smaller experiments under athmospheric conditions, with the advantage a fully parallel operation.

Construction of an experimental facility

For this purpose, each of the seven test areas has a separate media supply terminal, which in addition to the electrical power provides also LAN, water, compressed air and technical gases (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide). The compressed air supply is sub-divided into a small auxiliary compressed air, which can be controlled separately at each test stand and two lines (DN80) for the two sides of the hall, which are centrally controlled by two individual mass flow controllers and can provide up to 900 Nm3 of air. In addition, the individual test areas are equipped either with floor drains (for air/water experiments) or special floor trays with mesh stainless floor, which capture all substances hazardous to the aquatic environment. In addition, flexible local fume hoods are installed at the media supply terminals to safely operate with various gases and aerosols.

Building 771, experimental hall TOPFLOW+

The X-ray laboratory has an ultra-fast electron beam X-ray computed tomography system (ROFEX III), which can capture up to 8000 cross-sectional images per second, enabling dynamic data acquisition on fluid distributions from a wide variety of experiments. The ROFEX III is mounted on a traversing device, which runs on the crane runway and thus, makes it possible to reach almost any location and position in the laboratory with the measurement planes of the scanner. In addition, the laboratory has a microfocus-CT system with a fine-focus tube, which allows micro-tomographic 3D scans of any object and flow channel with resolutions in the micrometer range. Both, the experimental hall itself and the X-ray laboratory are equipped with indoor cranes (7.5 t and 5 t), in order to manipulate even large and heavy objects. A small mechanical workshop allows quick setup and rebuilding of fluid dynamic experiments.

The range of experimental equipment ranges from generic experiments on flow structures and flow phenomena in pipelines with valves and obstacles, experiments on distillation columns and multiphase reactors with mass transport studies, to studies on efficient aeration in wastewater treatment.


Selected experimental studies in the TOPFLOW+ facility

Foto: Grundlegende fluiddynamische Untersuchungen - refpic ©Copyright: Dr. Markus Schubert

Fundamental fluid dynamics analysis

Experimental analyses in bubble columns using advanced noninvasive imaging techniques, namely Ultrafast X-ray Computed Tomography and Radioactive Particle Tracking, in a time-resolved manner were performed, where each data set provides complimentary ­information to the other.
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Foto: Reactive two-phase flows - refpic ©Copyright: Dr. Markus Schubert

Reactive bubbly flows

The aim of this sub-project is the experimental investigation of hydrodynamics in bubbly flows and their influence on the chemical absorption in a lab-scale bubble column (100 mm).
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Foto: Bubble columns with internals - refpic ©Copyright: Dr. Markus Schubert

Bubble columns with internals

The aim of this study is to reveal the influence of various tube layouts and sizes in bubble columns on the hydrodynamics, i.e. bubble size distribution, interfacial area, velocity profiles and gas phase holdup.
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Foto: Open-cell solid foams as catalyst carrier for structured reactors - reference picture ©Copyright: Johannes Zalucky

Open-cell solid foams as catalyst carrier for structured reactors

In the course of the Helmholtz Energy Alliance ‘Energy Efficient Chemical Multiphase Processes’, different approaches with the application of open-cell solid foams as catalyst carrier were adopted for the optimization of the example process of the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline.
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Foto: Experimental and theoretical investigations of fluid dynamics and mass transfer in sandwich packings - logo ©Copyright: Torsten Berger

Fluid dynamics and mass transfer in sandwich packings

Within the scope of the DFG-funded project, the fluid dynamic behavior of sandwich packings is comprehensively studied at HZDR. For this purpose, experimental studies are carried out in a 100 mm dia­meter column operated with water and air in the counter-current mode. The ultrafast X-ray ­tomo­graphy permits noninvasive imaging of the complex and highly dynamic flow patterns inside the packing.
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Foto: Effect of fluid dynamics on separation efficiency of column trays - logo ©Copyright: Dr. Markus Schubert

Fluid dynamics and se­paration efficiency of column trays

Flow and mixing patterns are studied at high spatial and temporal resolution via advanced measurement and imaging techniques in tray columns. A column fitted with sieve trays and a wire-mesh sensor is installed and hydraulic data are utilized to develop new modeling methodo­logies to quantify the tray se­paration efficiency.
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Foto: Efficient gas dispersion systems - reference picture ©Copyright: Dr. Sebastian Reinecke

Efficient gas dispersion systems

Fundamental experiments are being conducted to study the generation process of gas bubbles at flexible and rigid orifices for different sparger plate materials. Moreo­ver, continuous and dynamic flow regimes are investigated.
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Foto: Bio-catalyzed removal of dye - reference picture ©Copyright: Dr. Iman Haider Mahdi Mohammed

Bio-catalyzed removal of dye

The project aims on developing new concepts of the use of natural porous loofa materials as biocatalyst carrier and the use of oxidative enzymes as biochemical catalysts for the treatment of contaminated water.
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