Energy efficiency is a crucial component of a future sustainable energy supply. In order to achieve the climate goals set by the federal government, Germany's annual primary energy consumption must be reduced by 50% with respect to 2008. Additionally every kilowatt hour which is not consumed at all, is reducing the impact on the environment – natural resources are saved and emissions and energy costs are reduced simultaneously. In topic 4 scientists of the KIT investigate strategies and technologies to increase the energy efficiency in technical systems. The focus is on buildings and industrial processes. Besides the best possible exploitation of the provided energy a high economic efficiency is an essential goal of the work.
Topic 4 – Efficient Energy Use
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Materials - Building Envelope The scope of research ranges from novel, better insulation materials via energy and resource-efficient processing of cement and concrete to recycling processes for materials with significantly reduced energy input. An important goal is to increase the durability of building materials and thus extend their life span. Innovative facade constructions with textile materials as well as the integration of solar and services systems into the building envelope – particularly in the context of refurbishment concepts – are further important activities. |
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Technical Building Services This research field comprises the development and test of components of building energy services systems with emphasis on heat transformation. Further, systems engineering concepts and control strategies to maximize the solar yield in buildings are developed and optimized with simulations and field tests. Different cross-sectional analyses evaluate the potential and the economic efficiency of technical building services systems on a scale from single buildings to urban quarters.
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Systemic Approaches and Planning Methodology Holistic considerations and assessments are in the focus of this field of research. Simulation models for the analysis of urban energy systems or the energy refurbishment of the residential building stock are developed as well as concepts for the implementation of sustainable energy infrastructures in cities. In demonstration projects new planning and evaluation methods for energy efficient urban quarters and cities are applied and tested. Further, different criteria for sustainability and political frameworks are addressed.
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Energy efficient industrial processes using microwaves Microwave heating is volumetric and selective. The maximum achievable process temperature is not limited by the heating source and the surrounding heating jacket (autoclave). Hence, very high process temperatures can be achieved. Intelligent process control is enabled by using distributed sources. In combination with hot air or infrared heating innovative hybrid heating systems can be realized. The necessary process times can be reduced, in particular for materials with low temperature conductivities. The application requires the detailed know how along the complete development chain. |
