The Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg is conducting research on sustainable energy storage systems. LAUDA provides the necessary temperature control system for it.

Germany has taken multiple measures to achieve energy transition, and by 2050, renewable energy generation should account for 80% of electricity consumption. With the growth of wind energy, photovoltaics, and other renewable energy sources, as well as the increasing degree of social electrification, the economic, political, and scientific fields are facing enormous challenges: in times of overproduction, dispersed energy must be stored as effectively and sustainably as possible in order to deliver energy to the supply network during peak consumption periods. Power to Gas "is considered a promising energy industry design. It uses electrolysis and methanization to convert wind or solar energy into methane. Thus storing energy in gas form and reusing it when needed. In the automotive industry, methane conversion can also promote the popularization of gas vehicles. The methane required for gas vehicles is produced in an environmentally friendly manner. Researchers around the world are working tirelessly to simplify and bring this technology closer to the energy industry. The Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg is at the forefront of studying this complex system, and has been engaged in research in this field for nearly seven years. In the research work, the institute uses LAUDA heat exchange system for its experimental equipment, which must meet the extremely demanding technical requirements of researchers.

Require high-precision rapid cooling

LAUDAHeating and cooling systems are the industrial division of temperature control equipment manufacturer LAUDA, which plans and manufactures temperature control equipment tailored to customer needs. LAUDA has developed the ITH 350 heat exchange system for the Max Planck Institute project. This device is used for temperature control of reactors. Among them, the cooling efficiency of LAUDA equipment must reach 100 K per minute, and the temperature must not overshoot to avoid affecting the quality of the final product. So the equipment must be rapidly cooled at a temperature not lower than a specific value to avoid damage to the process. For LAUDA engineers, this is also a challenge, as traditionally heat exchange systems are typically used for constant temperature control. For the research project of the Max Planck Institute, the device now needs to react quickly and undergo cooling.

Effectively cool from 340 ℃ to 150 ℃ within a few minutes

Methanation reaction releases a large amount of heat energy and high temperature, which may damage the reactor, especially the catalyst. So far, these processes have been gradually initiated and have been running steadily for several weeks. We first attempt to determine the dynamic operation of this process and develop preliminary plans for new operating strategies and reactor designs. Significant results have been obtained based on computer calculations, and now we hope to validate these results using experimental equipment, "project leader Jens Bremer explained the research objectives. The requirements for temperature control are correspondingly high. The LAUDA heat exchange system has achieved the required accuracy for this. The performance and power of the reactor will largely depend on its cooling. Rapidly adjustable temperature control will flexibly enable reactions to external influences, such as reducing hydrogen supply, without the need to shut down the reactor, "said Jens Bremer.

During this process, the reactor will be electrified and heated to 340 ℃. Once the set temperature is reached, the reactor begins to undergo exothermic reactions and must be rapidly cooled to 150 ℃. The commonly used electronic valve is used as a regulating component, which is obviously too slow for this application. According to the adjustment amount, the cooling power can be changed with the help of valves. When using cooling water for cooling, the cooling power is limited in conventional cooling tasks due to the consideration of material protection, so that the material can be protected even during temperature fluctuations. In this case, it is necessary to quickly initiate the task to achieve the desired cooling rate without applying excessive pressure to the material. Therefore, LAUDA engineers installed a pneumatic three-way valve that opens within two seconds to ensure that the cooling rate of the heat transfer medium is not less than 150 ℃ per minute.

Internally, the heat exchange system consists of two temperature control circuits. One circuit controls the temperature of the buffer container, while the second circuit controls the temperature of the experimental setup at the Max Planck Institute. Two circuits are connected to each other through a medium storage device and use the same medium. Another requirement from the customer for the equipment is that the working temperature of the heat transfer medium used must be as high as 350 ℃. Therefore, LAUDA has chosen thermal oil, which can meet the high requirements for materials.

Meet the special requirements of customers

LAUDADevelop and design a special heat exchange system based on the project of the Max Planck Institute. As early as the development stage using computers, limited space conditions were already considered. The equipment must be placed inside a special safety dome, which requires the control cabinet to be installed next to it. According to customer requirements, some interfaces are located on the bottom side of the device. During installation, LAUDA divided the equipment into two parts and transported it to Magdeburg, where it was lifted into a casing made of safety glass using a crane for assembly.

LAUDAThe heat exchange system developed for the field of methane conversion has been supplied to the Max Planck Institute for the second time. The researchers there are very satisfied with the performance of the temperature control device manufacturer: "From the design of the project to the final on-site implementation, we received detailed advice and guidance. Among the manufacturers we have contacted, no other manufacturer has been able to provide us with such a flexible solution for our special task," explained project manager Jens Bremer.

About LAUDA

We are LAUDA - the global market for temperature control. Our temperature control devices and heating/cooling systems are at the core of many applications. As a service provider, we ensure the best temperature in research, production, and quality control. We are a trusted partner, especially in the automotive, chemical/pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and laboratory/medical technology industries. For over 60 years, we have been providing professional consulting and innovative environmental design solutions with a fresh look every day, meeting the needs of our customers.

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At the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg, the LAUDA heat exchange system will soon be installed inside a casing made of safety glass. (Image: Max Planck Institute/Gabriele Ebel)

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The heat exchange system has been adjusted according to the specific needs of the customer. The picture shows the opened device. All cables have undergone insulation treatment before delivery. (Image: LAUDA)

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The Max Planck Institute uses LAUDA equipment for the study of energy storage processes. For this, the system must be able to control the temperature at 150 ° C. (Image: LAUDA)

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When designing the equipment, limited on-site conditions and special requirements of researchers were taken into consideration. The Max Planck Institute is very satisfied with the performance of manufacturers. (Image: Max Planck Institute/Jens Bremer)