Product Sheets

Institute branch Sulzbach-Rosenberg

Since 1990 the research institute in Sulzbach-Rosenberg develops concepts and processes for direct application. The target focus is the efficient use of energy, raw and functional materials. Within the Center for Energy Storage the main research interests are the development of integrated and decentralized energy conversion and storage solutions.

The Biobattery

The energy supply from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, is subject to severe fluctuations. New technology is sought-after so that energy can be stored in a time-independent and transportable manner. Even for renewable energy sources, it is important to use them effectively. At this point, the concept of the Biobattery takes hold, which was developed by the Sulzbach-Rosenberg branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT.

Biobattery: Goal-oriented use and storage of surplus energy

Germany‘s energy transformation sets special challenges for the country as an industrial location. Today renewable energy sources already cover a fifth of electricity needs. However, transforming energy from fluctuating sources such as sun and wind does not yet allow us to forego conventional power stations completely, which we still rely on to deliver balancing energy. Solutions are needed that guarantee a temporal separation of generation and use of power.

The Biobattery - Thermo Catalytic Reforming TCR®

Fraunhofer UMSICHT takes an active part in the redesign of the modifying handling with energy and resources. One important step in a resource efficient direction of management thereof, is the efficient use of biogenic residues. The exploitation of remaining biomass regarding its compound and inherent energy reduces the emission of climate-hazardous gases, diversifies the provision of raw material and contributes to its long-term stabilization.

Product and process development

The energetic utilization of biogenous residues, production residuals as well as waste material can reduce climate-damaging CO2 emissions and develop comprehensive economic potentials. Against this background Fraunhofer UMSICHT develops efficient and economic concepts for products and processes in the fields of combustion, pyrolysis, flue gas cleaning as well as their system integration.

Combustion Center

A lot of production processes cause residues, residuals and further waste materials. The use of these materials as alternative fuels can lead to the development of large energetic and economic potentials. However, the thermal utilization of non-woody fuels requires an adapted plant technology due to the partly difficult combustion characteristics.

Plant and Process Assessment

In the case of power generation plants for the thermal utilization of biomass, production residues and waste materials a number of factors decide on a successful realization and a safe and economic operation.

Business Markets for Renewable Energies

Fraunhofer UMSICHT develops products and processes through to technical or commercial maturity. Individual solutions like strategy consulting and development are devised in direct and confidential contact with the customer.

Mobile latent heat storage unit

Exploiting waste heat can make an important contribution to increasing energy efficiency. Latent heat storage units offer the advantage that the up-take and discharge of heat takes place at a constant temperature level. In comparison to hot water tanks, the energy storage density is considerably higher. Using mobile storage containers, the energy stored can be used independent from the location where waste heat is produced.

Energy from biomass and waste

It has been widely accepted that biomass will play a significant role in the future energy supply mix. As the only carbon based renewable energy resource it combines both abundant availability and storability.

Resource management

Today’s industrial nations largely depend on raw materials to support their leadership position and to secure their future development. However, increased global population growth and the industrialization of emerging countries have seen a surge in raw material demand, such as metals and minerals. This can easily lead to global shortages for materials in high demand.The lack of direct access to most primary raw materials makes most European industrial nations dependent on imports from other resource-rich countries in partially politically unstable regions.

Analysis

Are your materials exposed to agressive environments? We analyse your specific properties by corrosion tests and extensive investigations of resistance. We are skilled in long-standing experience in powder analysis, thermally sprayed layers and ashes.

Thermochemical gasification

Thermochemical gasification offers the possibility to transfer the chemical energy contained in a solid fuel into gaseous energy carriers. Besides the generation of heat and power the producer gas from gasification can be used to supply further high-grade energy carriers.

Mobile Latent Heat Storage

The utilisation of waste heat contributes to improve energy efficiency and hence reduce the need of primary energy in the future. Latent heat storages take advantage of charging and discharging of heat on constant temperature level from liquid to solid and vice versa.

Range of Services within Thermal Energy Storages

The development of thermal energy storages incorporates procedural aspects as well as considerations according material characterisation to ensure ecologically and economically harmonised systems. Based on material analyses, Fraunhofer UMSICHT determines the material characteristics of every heat storage material in advance of any practical realisation.

TCR®-Biochar

In the pyrolytic conversion of biomass by the TCR^®-process - which is an advancement of the pyrolysis technology - following product streams accrue: oil, gas, water phase and biochar. TCR^®-process parameters can be set exactly in technical and pilot plant size. Through this the quality and quantity of the products can be controlled.

Pyrolysis of electronic scrap

Fraunhofer UMSICHT develops innovative recycling technologies for residues from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in order to recover valuable metals for recycling and to gain high-quality fuels.

Powder Materials

Powdered materials make the base for a multitude of applications. Consequently, a large spectrum of powder processing techniques exists which needs special, made-to-measure powders and materials: the spectrum starts with the direct use of powders, e. g. in chemical processes and formulations, and leads via joining techniques like soldering and welding, and via coating processes, e. g. via thermal spraying, PVD or screen printing, to end up into finished parts fabricated via sintering techniques.

Thermal Storage Unit

Dependent on the process, waste heat is
often produced not on a constant, but
on a fluctuating level. Especially in energy
intensive industrial sectors, considerable
amounts of waste heat with a potentially
usable temperature level are produced.
New innovative concepts enable the conversion of this waste heat to high-quality
process energy, thereby increasing the
overall energy efficiency.