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.

AWG

The extraction of lithium from geothermal fluids raises new questions, as these fluids are sometimes significantly altered by the necessary process engineering interventions. A detailed investigation of the possible effects on well integrity and reservoir rocks is therefore essential for sustainable and economical reservoir management. Project partners from the DVGW Research Center and the KIT (ITES and AGW) are involved in the SCHUTZGRUND project, which is investigating these effects in more detail. The SCHUTZGRUND concept will develop solutions for evaluating the impact of geothermal fluid injection, thereby enabling methods for conserving geothermal resources and protecting the subsurface in practice.

A. Bramsiepe, KIT

Experts from the Technology House Business Unit on KIT’s Campus North know how to produce individual technical items of high complexity or prototypes. Examples are highly sensitive measuring lances for the Karlsruhe Liquid Metal Laboratory KALLA. They are about to be taken into operation.

MHD

The article "MaPLE: A versatile facility for investigating MHD convective flows" was published in the journal Fusion Engineering and Design.

Details: The article describes the experimental facility MaPLE (Magnetohydrodynamic PbLi Experiment) for investigations of liquid metal flows in strong magnetic fields. The facility is designed to enable heat transfer studies in free, forced, or mixed magneto-convective flows in simple ducts and more complex geometries relevant to liquid metal breeder blankets of future fusion reactors. MaPLE will support the development of breeding blankets for the European demonstration fusion power plant DEMO, and the international ITER project.

KIT/Breig

In the LIMELISA project, we are developing key components for energy storage using liquid metal at a temperature of 700 degrees. The collaboration between KIT, DLR and KSB SE & Co. KGaA is closing technological gaps and promoting innovation. In this project, KSB is working with KIT to develop high-temperature-resistant pumps and valves for storing heat with liquid metals.

EVT

In the EvA-M2 research project, measures against carbonate precipitation (scaling) in deep geothermal energy in the Bavarian Molasse Basin were developed and the application established on an industrial scale. In the past, lime precipitation led to high costs.

Stadtwerke München (SWM) was involved in the research project together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Merseburg University of Applied Sciences (HoMe) and Hydroisotop GmbH. The project was coordinated by the Energy and Process Engineering (EVT) working group from the Institute for Thermal Energy Technology and Safety (ITES) at KIT.

At the interdisciplinary conference “The Dynamics of Critical Infrastructure in Cities” at the Technical University of Darmstadt, S. Ottenburger gave a lecture entitled “Sustainable and resilient urban transformation: an opportunity to help shape energy systems with critical supply dynamics and well-being in mind”.

The focus was on the energy transition in cities, how the consequences of energy planning can be measured using microgrids, and the fact that only interdisciplinary research can enable a holistic, sustainable and resilient transformation.

MHD

The article "Electric potential on a WCLL TBM mock-up in MHD experiments as indication for flow distribution in breeder units" was published in the journal Fusion Engineering and Design.

Details: for applications in future fusion power plants, liquid metals play an important role as breeder material and coolant. The measurement of the electrical potential distribution on the surface of a scaled model of a test blanket module for the ITER fusion reactor allows conclusions to be drawn about the distribution of the liquid metal flow in the breeder units and shows the need to improve future blanket designs.

Green hydrogen: Market ramp-up - Dr Dana Kirchem & Prof Daniel Banuti from 10 November 2024

How much green hydrogen will we need in the future and in which sectors? How much of it can we produce ourselves or do we have to import it? And why is the market ramp-up so slow? Dr Dana Kirchem from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) and Prof Daniel Banuti from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) talk about this.
 

Successful Presentation at the AI x IA Conference

At this year’s Franco-German AI Conference AI x IA (https://aixia.eu/), sponsored by the European Digital Innovation Hub for Cyber Security & Artificial Intelligence (https://digitalhub-ai.de/de/allgemein-2), in which ITES is involved, the RESIS department showcased an innovative prototype during a workshop. The presentation featured a AI-based software for the resilient integration of energy technologies.

A key takeaway for participants: In complex planning processes, artificial intelligence can be used effectively to provide targeted support, overcome challenges, and achieve better results.

„Computational fluid dynamics with OpenFOAM“

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: 16. September 2024!