Research

“Understanding systems in thermal, chemical, pharmaceutical and energy engineering from the molecular over the fluid to the system level is the key for developing and improving efficient and sustainable technologies.”

- Mission Statement of the "Institut für Thermodynamik"

Research at the Institute of Thermodynamics is guided by this overarching principle and therefore encompasses a wide range of the size scales considered, starting with single molecules, continuing with fluid systems in the lab scale and extending to energy and process plants. There are three research groups at the institute: Molecular Thermodynamics, Transport Processes and Interfaces as well as Thermal Energy Systems.

Molecular Thermodynamics:

• Pharmaceutical systems
• Molecules at surfaces
• Coolants

Tranport Processes and Interfaces:

• Research on the transport of energy, mass, and momentum, as well as on fluid interfaces of systems in energy and process engineering

• Determination of thermophysical properties of materials using light scattering techniques, conventional measurement methods, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations

• Development of modern measurement and simulation techniques for thermophysical property research

• Development of engineering prediction methods for thermophysical properties

Thermal Energy Systems:

• Refrigeration and heat pump technology

• Thermal management and safety for battery-based energy systems

• Hydrogen-based energy systems