Topic 1 - Energy supply

Energy conversion turns naturally occurring forms of energy into usable final energies. The KIT Energy Center deals with all types of energy conversion, such as electrochemical processes in fuel cells or electromechanical processes in generators. Topic 1 focuses on combustion, chemical energy carriers and the associated processes/procedures.

  

  Focal Area Description
Combustion and its Optimization  Energy research at KIT is looking for ways to convert fuels in a resource-saving and low-emission manner. The aim is to further improve the efficiency and environmental friendliness as well as the reliability and service life of turbines and engines.
Synthetic Fuels / Combustibles

Combustibles and fuels of the future should release as little CO2 and other pollutants as possible. Therefore, researchers at KIT are also developing novel synthetic fuels, partly from organic residues, and optimizing them for their respective use and with a view to future emission guidelines. Also synthetic natural gas substitutes,

that are produced from regenerative electricity and CO2 (power-to-gas) are the focus, as in the example of the KIT-coordinated research project HELMETH with PtG efficiencies > 76% was shown.

Innovative Burner Concepts and Applications

Other research projects deal with innovative burner concepts and fuels such as a Sulfur based storage process for solar thermal power plants. The goal is the development of sulfur burners with high energy density that can be used to generate electricity with gas turbines and/or steam turbines.

Energy Conversion Systems

In order to take full advantage of the new fuels, the KIT researchers are working on adapted and coupled technical systems. One of the challenges is to achieve the best possible combustion quality even with variable fuels. The main focus of the work in the KIT are internal combustion engines with direct injection, gas turbines and novel power plant processes as well as combined heat and power systems. Cooling technologies are also developed, materials are examined and the physical and chemical processes are simulated.