Optimization Potential by Decentralization

Nowadays more than 40% of the final energy consumption in Germany and many other European countries have to be attributed to space heating and hot water supply in residential and commercial premises. Although this energy is needed at temperatures just marginally above ambient level, a major fraction is still provided by direct combustion of high-value fossil fuels, thus contributing substantially to our CO₂ emissions. On the other hand, such low-grade heat is discharged to the environment in large quantities (e. g. at power stations or industrial sites), since it is technically or economically infeasible to convey it to potential consumers.

So, extensive economies can be achieved by decentralizing energy conversion systems and relocating them to sites where low-grade heat can be efficiently utilized. This can be realized either by small cogeneration systems (CHP) or by heat pumps, which may be driven mechanically or thermally (by a burner, by solar power or possibly by waste heat). Considering climate change issues, utilization of heat from renewable sources is of particular interest here.

Stirling Engines and Similar Regenerative Machines

The so-called regenerative cycles offer several options to realize such systems at potentially high efficiencies and without any major constraints to the operating temperature levels, and they can utilize heat from renewable sources including biomass and solar power, or waste heat of sufficient temperature.

The most well-known of these, the Stirling cycle, has been used as a prime mover in various application fields for more than two centuries. Presently, Stirling engines form the core component of commercially available Mini- and Micro-CHP systems. Furthermore, the reversed Stirling cycle is used for mechanically driven heat pumps and refrigerators. Similar regenerative cycles may be used for thermally driven heat pumps, for an integrated trigeneration (CCHP)  or for waste heat utilization at industrial sites, e. g. directly generating compressed air without any detour via mechanical power.

This research group therefore focusses on the theoretical and experimental investigation and development of regenerative machines and their thermodynamic cycles.