Focal Areas of the Biorefineries Department

The research focus areas of "Biorefineries" R&D activities are briefly outlined in the following.

Process simulation
Contact: Dr.-Ing. Stefan Rönsch (stefan.roensch(at)dbfz(dot)de)

• Stationary flow sheet simulation for plant pre-engineering, balancing and optimisation
• Dynamic flow sheet simulation for plant control on demand
• Methods and data for the simulation of biomass conversion plants

Biofuels and biorefinery technologies
Contact: Dipl.-Ing. Arne Gröngröft (arne.groengroeft(at)dbfz(dot)de)

• Analysis and optimisation of existing biofuel plants (e.g. bioethanol and biodiesel) and individual system components with regard to their efficiency
• Further development of biofuel plants to biorefi neries for optimal conversion of biogenic raw materials into energy carriers and other products
• Development of innovative concepts and technologies to exploit unused non-food raw material sources (e.g. lignocelluloses, residual materials and algae) for the production of biofuels
  

Overall system assessment
Contact: Dr.-Ing. Michael Seiffert (michael.seiffert(at)dbfz(dot)de)

• Assessment of biofuel and biorefinery concepts based on (i) single criteria (technology, economic and environmental aspects) and (ii) multi-criteria objectives
• Life-cycle assessments
• Feasibility studies

Fuel characterisation / engine test beds
Contact: Dr. rer. nat. Sascha Förster (sascha.foerster(at)dbfz(dot)de)

• Laboratory experimentation and analysis of existing biofuel and substrate properties, (by-)products and residues
• Use of engine test beds to investigate the behaviour of liquid and gaseous fuels and resultant emissions
• Biofuel production (e.g. biodiesel based on algae oil)

Synthesis gas production
Contact: Dr.-Ing. Marco Klemm (marco.klemm(at)dbfz(dot)de)

• Component development focused on thermo-chemical processes (e.g. gasifi cation with gravimetric reaction retorts, catalytic processes with tubular reactor)
• Analysis and experimental optimisation of biomass gasification (e.g. innovative biomass conditioning methods, multi-stage process control taking into account effects for gas conditioning and product synthesis)
• Investigating processes and technologies for hydrothermal biomass conversion

Research services

• Feasibility studies
• Life-cycle assessments (according to EU RED or 2009 / 28 / EC respectively and as per ISO 14040)
• Laboratory analyses and engine test bed investigations
• Expert reporting
• Support of development and engineering