Prof. Dr. Norbert Huber

Professor of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

2018

• Creation of an Excel tool for the calculation and cost budgeting of the external piping of industrial steam turbines.
• Infrared-optical characterisation of ceramic thermal barrier coatings at high temperatures
• Investigations into solid-stream sludge treatment and sludge storage in large-capacity bunkers

2017

• Large-scale solar thermal plants to support local heating systems based on a project example

In the courses and research work, the fundamentals and applications of thermal and fluid engineering to energy technology systems and components are to be taught and expanded. Future engineers are to be trained, especially for the field of renewable energies, and applied research is to be carried out.

Practical skills in handling application-oriented experimental plants are to be taught in the thermodynamics laboratory and the pilot plant.

As a further focus in research and teaching, mobility as part of the energy sector as well as sustainable mobility will be covered.

• Member of the VDI Guidelines Committee VDI-GPP FA 320 Innovation Methodologies
• Editorial board member of the journal CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGENEERING

The supervision of relevant bachelor and master theses (e.g. in the fields of combined heat and power, thermo-hydraulic issues, numerical and experimental) will be gladly taken on.

The following theses are currently available in cooperation with SCHAEFFLER:

Thesis on a concept for the utilisation of wind energy

Theses and project studies in the Master's programme are also currently available in the following subject areas:

A. Conceptual design of thermal energy storage systems based on metal and ceramic foams

In many cases, thermal energy storage systems enable cost-effective and efficient additions to energy technology systems in the context of the energy transition. In addition to the storage capacity of a storage material, material structure and manufacturability also play a role in the design of storage capacity and performance of a storage system. As a result, advantages are seen in the use of so-called metal and ceramic foams, at least for high-temperature storage. With the help of calculations and measurements in the heat transfer wind tunnel, the suitability is to be verified.

Subtasks:

• Research on storage tanks
• Research materials
• Proposal for storage construction
• Measurement of eff. storage capacity, performance in the heat transfer wind tunnel
• Further calculations

B. Measurement of characteristic curve fields of a demonstration compression refrigeration system

The efficiency of compression refrigeration systems, but also of heat pumps of the same design, is essentially determined by control parameters and operating parameters. A demonstration refrigeration system that can be varied in many ways was created to investigate these influences. The task is to determine characteristic efficiency curves (COP values) by varying various parameters and to work out certain effects:

• Variation of different parameters (V ̇_(air cold) ,V ̇_(air down),P_el,...)
• Determination of COPs in steady-state conditions
• Tracing of steady-state operating conditions in Excel using the determined variables
• If necessary, make changes to the measurement technology

Prerequisite: Refrigeration-ventilation-air-conditioning technology

C. Dynamic simulation of the demonstration compression refrigeration system with Modelica (OpenModelica, SimualtionX, Dymola)

The efficiency of compression refrigeration systems, but also of heat pumps of the same design, is essentially determined by control parameters and operating parameters. The design of the plant is to be simulated in a system-technical simulation based on Modelica and a transient operation is to be recalculated. Work steps:

• Research of similar work
• Simulation of the plant with thermal masses and characteristic curves
• Comparison of simulation results with measurement results

Prerequisite: Refrigeration-ventilation-air-conditioning technology

Further topics conceivable in the specialist areas:

• Adsorption heat pump Adsorption chiller
• Heat dissipation / cooling to the night sky
• Power 2 Heat demonstration with use of information from the Internet