hybrid collector - CAE




18 January 2024

A hybrid collector goes on a journey

In the EU MOST project, CAE has the task of developing a special hybrid solar collector that deviates significantly from the requirements of a conventional thermal solar collector. In the upper layer oft he collector, UV-part of the solar spectrum is absorbed and stored in molecules solved in a transparent liquid. The liquid is pumped through the double-walled cover of a solar collector, which makes optimum use of the remaining spectrum. A big thank you to GREENoneTEC Solarindustrie GmbH for providing important components for the thermal part oft he collector.
The hybrid collector has now been sent to our project partner in Barcelona to the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) for functional tests. Here, the hybrid collector will be integrated into an overall system in order to test the collector's efficiency and thermal charging and discharging processes over a longer period of time under real conditions. This is the first installation of its kind in the world.

Scattering image of a nanoparticulate sample to determine the specific surface area. The colours indicate different scattering intensities - CAE

Scattering image of a nanoparticulate sample to determine the specific surface area. The colours indicate different scattering intensities.


10 January 2024

Rapid determination of the specific surface area with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) according to ISO 20804

Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) is a non-contact, non-invasive characterisation method for analysing structures in the range of approx. 0.1 nm to 100 nm. The SAXS experts at CAE have played a key role in the ISO 20804 standard for determining specific surfaces of porous or particulate materials. This allows specific surface areas of approx. 0.1 m²/g to 1000 m²/g to be determined analogue to the BET surface area from N2 adsorption. The main advantage of the SAXS method is the short measurement times (< 10 min per sample), which makes it particularly suitable for a large number of samples, e.g. in development or quality assurance. The standardisation takes into account the increasing importance of the SAXS method in science and technology.



Silica aerogel tile with outstandig insulation properties above a gas flame. - CAE

Silica aerogel tile with outstandig insulation properties above a gas flame.




8 January 2024

How reliable are world records for thermal conductivity data of aerogels?

Reliable thermal conductivity data of aerogels, which are characterised by particularly low values, are absolutely essential for fair competition and efficient research and optimisation. Our colleagues at EMPA and we at CAE hope that our latest joint publication "The poor reliability of thermal conductivity data in the aerogel literature: a call to action!" will help to raise awareness of this problem. It has been a great team work. Within the paper we also give advice to improve the situation. The paper is freely accessible at: https://rdcu.be/du6OB







Young Energy Researchers Conference – World Sustainable Energy Days 5. – 8. März 2024, Wels/Österreich Energy transition now – fast, smart, resilient! - CAE


4 January 2024

Young Energy Researchers Conference – World Sustainable Energy Days
5 – 8 March 2024, Wels/Österreich
Energy transition now – fast, smart, resilient!

Two young CAE scientists, Christian Weiglein and Elias Wolfrath, have been invited to the World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) in Wels/Austria. The selected papers are entitled "Innovative approaches for thermal comfort and automated lighting" and "Energy-efficient indoor climate control with plants".

The World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels (Austria) is one of the leading conferences in the field of energy efficiency and sustainability with over 900 participants from more than 60 countries. As part of this conference, young scientists are invited to the Young Researchers Conference every year in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
mal insulation materials in the building-physical optimization of edifices.

More info on the conference at: https://www.wsed.at/


2nd International Conference on Aerogel Inspired Materials


20 August 2023

The "2nd International Conference on Aerogel Inspired Materials" will be held in San Sebastian (Spain) from September 27 to 29.

Experts in the field of highly porous, sol-gel based materials, the so-called aerogels, will gather there for a joint scientific exchange. The representative of CAE, Dr. Christian Scherdel will give a presentation on "Structural variation in silica aerogels ranging over two decades- challenges and limits". The research results from the ongoing DFG project "Structure-property relationships of hierarchically structured silica monoliths as a model system for innovative inorganic insulating materials" (funding code: RE 1148/15-1) show that structural variation of solid phase and pores over several orders of magnitude is possible with the investigated silica aerogels.
The material development of the SFM group contributes to future innovative solutions for thermal insulation materials in the building-physical optimization of edifices.

More info on the conference at:
https://conferenceonaerogelinspiredmaterials.com/



Experimental and Molecular Simulation Study - CAE




4 August 2023

Research work on structural characterization awarded

On August 04, the CAE publication "Adsorption-Induced Deformation of Zeolites 4A and 13X: Experimental and Molecular Simulation Study" went online in the Langmuir Journal. The collaboration paper is a joint effort of the SFM group with the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Due to its high research relevance, the publication was awarded the "ACS Editors' Choice®" and made available to the public for 6 months (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01248).

The scientific publication investigates the length change of microporous zeolites upon adsorption of CO2. It was found that different zeolites with the same adsorption isotherm can exhibit different length change isotherms. The experimental adsorption data were modeled and simulated accordingly. The in-situ dilatometry in adsorption measurements, which was particularly developed at CAE, is an example for the research excellence of the SFM group in the structural characterization of porous materials.
Here you will find more publications






Energy research realigned - Center for Applied Energy Research e.V. (CAE)

Energy research realigned: 

On 01.01.2023, the Center for Applied Energy Research e.V. (CAE) will start its research operations and thus continue the successful research and development work of ZAE Bayern in Würzburg in a reformed structure.

"After an intensive period of preparation, the plans for CAE can now be implemented. We continue to research and develop on the central future topics of our society. The energy crisis and climate change, which is particularly noticeable in our region, make it very clear how important innovative and application-oriented energy research is," says CEO Dr. Hans-Peter Ebert. The CAE was founded as a non-profit association in September 2022 in Würzburg. Founding members include the city of Würzburg, the Würzburg-Schweinfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Würzburg business incubators TGZ and IGZ, VR-Bank Würzburg and companies from the business community. From the beginning of 2023, the existing research projects of the Würzburg ZAE energy efficiency division on topics such as high-performance thermal insulation materials, innovative multifunctional façade systems, climate-neutral neighborhood concepts will be continued on a sustainable basis and supplemented by further innovative thematic focuses in the field of digitalization and hydrogen technology in the new research area of sensor technology for energy and hydrogen technology in the CAE. The CAE conducts application-oriented research and transports the research and development results directly into practice in cooperation with companies. Cooperation with universities also plays an important role, especially with the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg and the future Technical University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt. In order to further advance the implementation of research results, the CAE will in future provide founders with fast and unbureaucratic access to modern methods and processes of energy technology in a Makerspace. The reorganization of energy research at CAE was made possible by two years of start-up funding from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs.


Conference ITCC and ITES

New Date for the conference in Boston ITCC & ITES:
25. - 28 September 2022.

Welcome to the International Thermal Conductivity Conference (ITCC) and the International Thermal Expansion Symposium (ITES). These two conferences are held concurrently every two years. The mission is to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas, advancement of the science, training of new professionals, and discussions of the state-of-the-art in thermophysics. 
This premier conference series has a long history, and has served as an excellent forum for engineers, researchers, and program/project managers from industry, academia, and government labs to exchange and share the latest results in research and development. This conference will feature thermal conductivity and thermal expansion topics, as well as all thermophysical properties for materials, techniques, and applications. Visit the official web site

Keynote:
Dr. Hans-Peter Ebert - Thermal characterization of high-performance insulation – not always an easy task.