Contact

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h. c. Uwe Hampel

Head
Experimental Thermal Fluid Dynamics
u.hampel@hzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2772

2021 -

Hernandez, J.

Energy and resource efficient processes

With the development and application of advanced simulation tools and measurement techniques we contribute to an improved understanding of multi-scale transport phenomena in energy-intensive industrial processes. On these grounds we develop and assess modern concepts of process intensification.

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

Transport processes in bubble column reactors

Bubble columns are the working horses of the chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industry with large environmental footprints. A proper optimization of such reactors can contribute to gross savings in energy consumption and catalyst materials and to reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
More
Foto: Experimental and theoretical investigations of fluid dynamics and mass transfer in sandwich packings - logo ©Copyright: Torsten Berger

Process intensification in multi-phase reactors

In the last few years, a growing interest of the chemical industry in concepts for process intensification in multi-phase reactors has been observed. Our research investigates various possibilities to intensify processes in multi-phase reactors.
More
Foto: Droplet formation and reduction in thermal separation devices - logo ©Copyright: Torsten Berger

Efficient thermal se­paration processes

Thermal se­paration processes such as rectification, distillation, absorption, desorption and extraction are central unit operations in chemical process industries. The vapor-liquid se­paration processes are ­very energy-intensive, since they involve multiple sequences of evaporation and condensation.
More
Foto: Effiziente Abwasserbehandlung - Referenzbild ©Copyright: Dr. Sebastian Reinecke

Efficient biological waste water treatment

Removal and treatment of municipal and industrial waste water is of great importance to reduce pollution and eutrophication of natural watercourses and is part of a sustainable use of water resources.
More
Foto: Capture of mineral particles by rising bubbles - reference picture ©Copyright: Dr. Gregory Lecrivain

Hydrodynamics of flotation

In the froth flotation process the valuable hydrophobic particles attach to the fluidic interface of rising bubbles while the undesired hydrophilic particles settle down to eventually be discharged. A bet­ter understanding with the help of a three-phase flow model to simulate the particle capture and appropriate microscale experiments using the in-house optical process microscope could help to make the capture of hydrophobic mineral particles more efficient.
More
Foto: Analyse von Energiesystemen - Referenzbild ©Copyright: Dr. Gonzalo Rodriguez Garcia

Energy System Analysis

A sustainable society needs an energy use that is adapted energy production. As a key consumer, the chemical industry must adapt to use increasing amounts of renewable electricity.
More
Foto: Development of a tubular steam electrolyzer with integrated hydrocarbon synthesis - reference picture ©Copyright: Dr. Stefan Fogel

Chemical energy storage via methanol synthesis in a tubular steam electrolyser-reactor

A promising opportunity for the con­version of excess power into chemical energy carriers can be found in the decentralized production of methanol or longer-chain liquid hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and electrolytic hydrogen, gained from intermittently regenerative energy sources.
More