Research at the Chair of Thermodynamics

Reacting Flows / Combustion:
In the foreseeable future combustion will dominate the global energy supply. For the introduction of novel combustion systems, meeting the stringent federal emission standards and improving existing combustion processes, it is important to gain an increased insight into the physical and chemical processes governing reacting flows. The research of the group "Reacting Flows" focuses on topics such as NOx reduction in premixed and diffusion flames, knocking, auto-ignition, flashback, flame acceleration and detonation, fuel flexible combustion systems, novel propulsion technology, enhancement of combustion efficiency and fuel cell technology. Most experimental facilities closely mimic real engines. Nevertheless, their design allows an extensive optical access for the application of optical measurement techniques such as Laser/Phase Doppler Anemomentry (LDA/PDA) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF), Raman Spectroscopy, and Holographic Interferometry.

Thermo Acoustics:
The strong coupling of acoustics and heat release of the flame leads to a feedback loop which can result in unfavorable combustion instabilitities. These oscillatory mechanisms result in substantial pressure oscillations, structural vibrations, increased heat transfer, and higher levels of emissions. Such effects can shorten the lifetime of a whole combustion system or limit a systems application range. Within the field of "Thermo Acoustics", numerical and experimental work is conducted on several topics including combustion oscillations, flame-to-flame interaction, prediction of combustion instabilities, active instability control, and flame noise.

Transport Phenomena:
Multiphase flows and systems play an important role in many industrial applications of process and power engineering. In order to improve the understanding of multiphase flows, fundamental investigations considering the momentum, heat, and mass transfer processes are necessary. The investigations related to these topics are of experimental as well as of theoretical nature. Established by professor emeritus F. Mayinger with his studies on thermo-nuclear hydraulics, this field of study is being continued successfully by T. Sattelmayer. Examples of research topics at the chair are boiling and condensation phenomena, transport of gas-liquid mixtures, spray research, and purification of waste gases.

Energy and Environmental Technology:
Due to limited resources of fossile fuels and the crucial reduction of the emission of green-house gases, the chair contributes efforts to the worldŽs sustainability challenges with its group for ``Energy and Environmental Technology". A Solar Research Center is affiliated to it. Since about 40\% of the total primary energy is consumed in buildings, a focus is set on building physics. Especially the combined flow and heat transfer phenomena in double-skin facades is investigated. Other topics deal with the applied use of solar energy as solar cooling, solar water treatment, and solar drying in developing countries.