Energy Sciences
At the Department of Energy Sciences, research and teaching are carried out in energy engineering, mainly the transformation of energy to heat, electricity and propulsion, but also energy distribution and use. The common aim of all research at the department is to develop resource-efficient solutions are economically viable and good for the environment. About 80 employees are working at the department.
Website of the Department of Energy Sciences
Overview of divisions:
Combustion Engines
In the field of Combustion Engines, researchers are developing engines for vehicles. Most research is being carried out on the HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) engine, the next generation of combustion in engines, as well as current technologies like the Otto engines (petrol) and diesel engines. A large proportion of the research into HCCI engines is concerned with regulation and control of the combustion process in collaboration with other groups in Combustion Physics, Laser Diagnostics and Automatic Control.
Keywords: Otto engines, diesel engines, Stirling engines, HCCI, fuel distribution, combustion, flow and gas exchange, exhaust, emissions
Efficient Energy Systems
Research in Efficient Energy Systems involves the efficient and environmentally friendly use of energy, especially in systems using energy supplied through pipelines, i.e. grid-based energy systems, such as district heating and energy gas, which require extensive infrastructure. The subject is technology-based, but economic, organisational and behavioural aspects of importance for understanding the interaction between technology and society are also studied.
Keywords: energy efficient, district heating, district cooling, power economizing, electricity use, gas technology, grid-based energy systems, heat distribution
Fluid Mechanics
Researchers in Fluid Mechanics are studying how flows in gases and liquids behave under the influence of various forces. An important area of research is the calculation of chaotic, turbulent flows (e.g. in gas turbines), which often lead to better mixing but are more difficult to model than laminar flow. Another important aspect is control over the chemical transformation of air and fuel in the combustion process. Applications are mostly found in engines, but also in medicine e.g. in blood vessels.
Keywords: laminar, turbulent, compressible, incompressible, inert and reactive flows
Heat Transfer
Heat transfer concerns the generation, use, conversion and exchange of thermal energy within and between different physical systems. With todays urgent need to reach a breakthrough in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and global warming the field of heat transfer is gradually becoming more important. In practice, heat transfer usually occurs together with fluid mechanics and structural dynamics in different thermo-mechanical systems. The research and development is conducted using theoretical, experimental and numerical methods in combination.
Keywords: thermodynamics, turbulence, convective, conductive and radiative heat transfer, Reynolds Average Navier Stokes simulations Large Eddy Simulation, Direct Numerical Simulation, heat exchangers, fuel cells, phase transformation, high and low-speed reacting flows
Thermal Power Engineering
In Thermal Power Engineering, researchers are studying new means of converting fuel to electricity and heat in an environmentally friendly way. System studies of power plants and their components (boilers, steam and gas turbines, pumps, heat exchangers and fuel cells) are being carried out, both on newly built plants and in the modification of existing plants. The group has a leading position in gas-turbine-based thermodynamic processes, e.g. hybrid systems using gas turbines and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology.
Keywords: biofuel, combustion, boilers, gas turbines, steam turbines, evaporative gas turbine cycles, SOFC-hybrid, condition monitoring, system studies, power and heating technology