Thermal Systems for Fuids

The research group Thermal Systems for Fluids focuses on the development of thermal energy storage systems with molten salt. The research area ranges from new materials with a broader temperature range, to new storage systems with lower operating and investment costs, to system integration in large-scale plants.

	Development of new material systems with molten salt: The focus is on optimising and qualifying new salt mixtures, salt purification, increasing operating temperatures and investigating material compatibility (metal corrosion).
	Development of molten salt storage in laboratory experiments and with the pilot plant TESIS:store: The research focuses on the cost-optimised design, new operating temperatures and operational improvements of commercial two-tank and innovative one-tank storage facilities for molten salts. The concepts can be investigated experimentally in the laboratory and in the pilot plant TESIS:store.
	Process technology and qualification of molten salt components with the pilot plant TESIS:com: Components for use in molten salt plants, such as fittings, measurement technology, seals, heat exchangers and electric heaters, are examined. In the pilot plant TESIS:com, the components can be qualified in stationary and dynamic operation up to 560 °C.
	Simulation and process integration of molten salt systems: Molten salt storage systems are successfully used in Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. The aim is to establish them in conventional power plants as electrical storage (Third life for coal-fired power plants) and in the area of industrial process heat. The focus of the research work is on techno-economic optimisation.