Experimental investigations in the Research Unit T​hermodynamics and Thermal Engineering are carried out in the institute's own laboratory. This is located at the Campus Science Center of the TU Wien. On an area of approx. 400m² a semi-industrial infrastructure for thermal tests is available in the Research Unit.

Numerous test-rigs have been set up for the current research projects.

Air supply system

4 thermally insulated vertical pipes of an air supply system with temperature sensors.
  • Supply of hot and cold air for test rigs in the laboratory, ϑmax = 400 °C,
  • Max. mass flow of air mDot_Air_max = 0,138 kg/s,
  • Max. electric heating power Pel = 32 kW,
  • Switching between operating conditions “Heating” and “Cooling” by using pneumatic flaps,
  • Connected to the process control system – e. g. for the periodic implementation of charging-/discharging-mode at regenerative thermal storage systems.

Roots blowers

2 blue Roots fans with intake silencers arranged horizontally at the top.

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  • Two variable speed roots blowers, VDot = 3500 mN3/h delivery volume,
  • Max. overpressure pMax = 0,3 bar
  • Blowers are single controlled

Screw compressors

Oblique view of two rectangular Kaeser screw compressors.

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  • Two screw-compressors, Kaeser CS121 und DS 200,
  • Max. overpressure pMax = 13 bar
  • delivery volume: CS121 VDot =10,3 mN3/min, DS200 VDot =14,3 mN3/min

sCO2 test rig

4-post steel frame with a heat exchanger for the sCO2 test facility.

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  • Experimental set up for supercritical power cycles using CO2,
  • ϑmax = 380 / 630 °C in case of thermal oil/gas heating,
  • Max. CO2-mass flow mDot = 0,4 kg/s,
  • Max. pressure pmax = 230 bar,
  • In the foreground the air cooled condenser placed on the framework.

Horizontal fixed bed regenerator

Oblique view of the cuboid fixed-bed regenerator with thermal insulation on the top surface and thermal sensors arranged on the circumference.

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  • Filled with gravel for batchwise storage of thermal energy,
  • Max. charging temperature ϑmax = 380 °C,
  • Cyclic charging and discharging process: Measuring the temperature distribution at different positions within the bulk,
  • Usage as seasonal storage for waste heat from industry.

High temperature fluidized bed heat exchanger

Thermally insulated reactor with vertical pipe connections, also thermally insulated.
  • Experiments on heat transfer at fluidized bed heat exchangers,
  • ϑmax = 400 °C,
  • Investigation of different tube-geometries and configurations.

Erosion test rig

Oblique view of a Plexiglas fluidized bed heat exchanger with 10 dummy tubes on which erosion can be measured.

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  • Determination of attrition at heat exchanger tubes for fluidized beds,
  • Experiment under ambient conditions,
  • Investigation at different gas velocities.

Pressurized Coal Gasifier

Standing tube of a pressure carburettor with open flange connections.

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  • Evaluation of devolatilization behaviour of different coals for blast furnace use,
  • Hydrogen combustor,
  • Product gas analysis, gas chromatography.

Vertical fixed bed regenerator

Upwards extended cone-shaped fixed bed reactor with air supply. - All thermally insulated.

© IET

  • Filled with gravel for batchwise storage of thermal energy,
  • Max. charging temperature ϑmax = 380 °C,
  • Cyclic charging and discharging: Evaluation of temperature distribution in radial and vertical direction,
  • The system is currently used as an experimental set up for the evaluation of a DigitalTwin, created by the Research Unit Industrial Energy Systems.

Advanced Regenerator

In the middle you can see 3 chambers of the fluidized bed heat exchanger, slightly higher on the left and right, the containers for the sand.

© IET

  • Thermal energy storage using sand (image: cold model),
  • Max. charging temperature ϑmax = 850 °C,
  • Active storage system: storage and heat transfer are geometrically decoupled,
  • Up to storage capacities of about 6 MWh no mechanic transport devices are necessary,
  • Charging and discharging due to sand flux across the horizontal heat exchanger section, connecting the hot and cold hopper.

Dual Fluidized Bed

On the left you can see the measuring board with 8 U-tubes for measuring the pressure difference, on the right the Plexiglas tubes of the fluidized bed.
  • Dual fluidized bed for laboratory exercise,
  • Determination of pressure loss in both risers and in return legs,
  • Measuring the mass flow of fluidization air,
  • Estimation of circulating mass flow of solids.