Master's thesis in cooperation with ChemTherm: Modeling and simulation of inductive heating of fixed-bed reactors

In cooperation with the Institute of Chemical Process Engineering and other industrial partners, we are delighted to welcome Tim Irlweck to our company. Tim will be supported by our team as part of his Master's thesis at the University of Stuttgart. His master's thesis is dedicated to the overarching topic of the electrification of chemical processes.

The energy transition in Germany is bringing many changes for the chemical industry. Processes that were previously powered by fossil fuels will have to be converted to alternative energy sources in the near future. This also means that the combustion of fossil fuels as a heat source will increasingly have to be replaced by electrical heat sources. This electrification of chemical processes poses a considerable challenge for the industry.

The main focus of the master's thesis is to create a model-based test track for the inductive heating of catalyst materials. Accordingly, the existing test rig is to be supplemented by a digital twin. The next step will be to investigate the influence of induction on different materials and structures relevant to the chemical industry. Furthermore, the optimization of the electrical heating of endothermic reactions, such as ammonia decomposition, is in the foreground.

We expect this work to provide new insights into the electrification of chemical reactors using new technologies. We look forward to working with Tim and wish him a good start to his Master's thesis!