Wissenschaftler:innen besprechen sich neben dem Modell einer Cracker-Anlage zur Wasserstofferzeugung aus Ammoniak

Processes and Fuels Department

Carbon-free and carbon-neutral energy carriers for a sustainable energy system of the future

In addition to the use of pure hydrogen, other energy sources will play a major role in the energy system of the future. This is due to high energy storage densities required in some applications, utilisation and expansion of existing infrastructure, and, significantly, the costs associated with large-scale conversion to new energy sources.

Our Mission

Our goal is to research carbon-free and CO2-neutral energy sources for hydrogen storage and utilisation. We develop various process engineering processes, apparatus, plants and systems based on heterogeneous catalysis. The following work focuses on the further processing of hydrogen into nitrogen- and carbon-based energy sources such as ammonia or methane and the use of these energy sources in fuel cells, engines and turbines:

Analysis of fuels, gas mixtures and trace substances
Development of process engineering apparatus, processes and plants (ammonia cracking, reforming, methanisation, gas processing and systems)
Qualification and testing of catalysts, components, instruments, plants and systems
Design, manufacture and construction of laboratory systems, functional models and prototypes
Operation of research plants and systems
Conducting safety assessments

Mitarbeiter im Labor bedient ein Reformer-SOFC-System

Our Potential

We are a team of approximately 15 employees with an agile working style. We have been collaborating with strong partners from industry and science in numerous research and service projects for more than 20 years. We have extensive equipment at our disposal at the ZBT site for these tasks: