KIT/F. Kreißig

Eike Schmidt's poster presentation on ‘Investigation of heat transfer in high-temperature heat storage systems with liquid metals’ at the FVEE Annual Conference, 7-8 October 2025, Berlin, was awarded a poster prize! His poster shows how high-temperature heat storage systems can contribute to the energy system of the future and how the research in his PhD work contributes to this. In his doctoral thesis, Eike Schmidt is investigating heat transport processes in packed-bed storage systems with liquid metals as part of the DFG Priority Programme Carnot Batteries (SPP 2403).

MHD

The article “A code-to-code benchmark for magneto-convection in a horizontal duct” was published in the journal Nuclear Fusion.
Details: Liquid metals play an important role as breeding material and coolant in applications in future fusion power plants. In an international benchmark project, initiated by ITES, various research groups are comparing their findings on heat transfer in magnetohydrodynamic liquid metal flows, which they obtained using different numerical codes.

FPS-SiemensEnergy

This year's Siemens Energy Challenge takes the topic of decarbonization into its spotlight. Pioneering solutions for energy transition pathways are developed by teams of MSc students who share the  passion for Energy Technologies. Problems and concepts are validated by intensive interaction with customers. The student teams compete, supervised by Siemens Energy and University Partners, for the best business models that will be presented at the final event in February 2026.

KIT/MHD

The article "Design, fabrication and experimental test of a helical induction pump with rotating core" was published in the journal Magnetohydrodynamics.

Details: A new type of liquid metal electromagnetic pump for medium flowrates and moderate pressure heads has been developed at KIT. The major difference compared to existing concepts is that the central iron core, which closes the magnetic flux lines, is fabricated from a single iron piece, which may freely rotate in order to avoid magnetization losses. The pump was manufactured at KIT and tested in the liquid metal NaK loop of the MEKKA facility.

ITES-FST

The institutes ITES (department FST) and INR support the organization of the 2025 Advanced Manufacturing Workshop, hosted by Fusion for Energy (F4E, https://fusionforenergy.europa.eu). This is the inaugural event to build a European community for fusion-related additive manufacturing.

The Article "Characterization of MHD pressure losses in a mock-up of the WCLL Test Blanket Module" has been recently published in the Journal Fusion Engineering and Design.

Details: Liquid metal flows in strong magnetic fields are investigated in a scaled mock-up experiment for a test blanket module of the ITER fusion reactor. Of particular interest is the pressure distribution of the magnetohydrodynamic flow in the feeding and draining manifolds as a function of the flow rate and the magnetic field strength. Results are summarized in a pressure drop correlation.

RESIS

On May 23, a Dutch delegation from the Arnhem-Nijmegen region visited the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Supported by EDIH AI&CS, the visit included a tour of the Energy Lab and a presentation by S. Ottenburger on systemic resilience research, focusing on AI-assisted decision-making for resilient energy planning.

EVT-P. Schadt

Successful master's thesis in collaboration with Siemens Energy: simulation model developed for large CO₂ heat pump

Karlsruhe, May 22, 2025 - Together with Siemens Energy, Paul Schadt has developed an innovative simulation model for a large CO₂ heat pump as part of his master's thesis. The aim of the project was to simulate the power control of the heat pump using variable speeds of the compressor and expander - an important step for the future use of such systems in grid balancing services.

A. Bramsiepe/KIT

The COSMOS-H research facility at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), which opened on Thursday, May 8, 2025, makes it possible to study complex heat transfer processes in detail, even under extreme conditions such as those found in power plants or industrial facilities. For the first time, science now has an infrastructure at its disposal to research flow and boiling phenomena in detail, even under realistic high-pressure conditions.

Job description
Our award-winning and internationally acclaimed research into the production of industrially usable carbon from carbon dioxide and hydrogen from methane without producing carbon dioxide is entering the next round.

The positions offer varied, exciting tasks in a highly motivated, multidisciplinary team of several PhD students and experienced technical staff in an excellently equipped research environment.

Research Assistant (HiWi)
Period: immediately
A student assistant is sought for the preparation of a new English language lecture on heat storage. The tasks include:

•    Researching statistics on energy demand, energy transition, heat transition and heat storage
•    Researching heat storage technologies
•    Creating informative graphics
•    Creating lecture materials (mainly slides) on the topics of energy demand, energy transition, heat transition and heat storage

„Computational fluid dynamics with OpenFOAM“

13.10. - 23.10.2025

The format of the course allows a very flexible participation!

The course consists of four parts, each extending over two days. During day1, participants receive videos of the lectures, slides, and do the proposed exercises. During day2, teachers are available at any time for a one-to-one discussion via Zoom meeting to solve issues related to exercises and answer questions. The course will be held in English.
Objective: The purpose of the course is to acquire the knowledge and practical skills necessary to use the software OpenFOAM.

Deadline: 30. September 2025!