Institute of Solids Process Engineering and Particle Technology, Hamburg University of Technology

The Institute of Solids Process Engineering and Particle Technology (SPE) has been founded as one of the first institutes of the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) in 1980 by Prof. Joachim Werther and since 2008 the institute is headed by Prof. Stefan Heinrich. The research focus of the institute is the fluidized bed technology and its industrial applications. We investigate physical and chemical particle rate and transport processes like classification, drying, heating and cooling of solids, combustion, incineration, gasification and pyrolysis of solid fuels, including hard and brown coals, dewatered and/or dried sewage sludge, biomasses and different kinds of wastes. Hereby the research work is mainly directed towards combustion behavior, emission formation and reduction and measures for emission reduction, co-combustion and gasification. The major research area of the institute is formulation and design of particles by coating, encapsulation, granulation, and agglomeration, mainly by spray-fluidized beds but also by spray drying. Experimental investigations with novel developed measurement methods are supported and compared by hierarchically structured theoretical approaches. The model development includes particle based methods (e.g. DEM, population balances), continuous models (e.g. FEM, CFD) as well as steady-state and dynamic flowsheet simulations of solids processes, whereas simulations consider individual particles, bulk solids and multiphase particle laden flows. In order to meet these challenges we have also collaborations with numerous research groups, industrial partners, and federal institutions.