Research Projects

Recent geopolitical developments show the urgency of securing new ways of accessing raw materials relevant to economic strategy and making their extraction much more sustainable. The extraction of minerals such as lithium, magnesium, potassium, boron or gold from geothermal brines is not trivial in terms of process technology, but it is certainly possible. In addition, fresh water can be extracted from brines using geothermal energy as an energy source, which can be an important added value especially in arid regions. The aim of the project is, on the one hand, to determine the potential for mineral extraction from geothermal brines in Chile and, on the other hand, to develop and test the process engineering equipment for their extraction as well as for water production. | Duration: 03/2019 – 03/2023

In concentrator photovoltaics (CPV), there are systems that are operated with active cooling so that thermal energy can be used in addition to electrical energy (CPV-T systems). Overall efficiency greater than 75 % have already been realized in CPV-T systems. In general, CPV systems are most suitable for sunny locations that often are dry at the same time. There, drinking water can be produced using desalination systems. For this purpose, a combination of CPV-T and desalination systems is ideal. We propose to use part of the electrical system of the CPV system to operate the pumps of a desalination system with reverse osmosis. The thermal energy of the CPV-T system is used in a second stage of the desalination process with a membrane distillation. As a result, valuable drinking water can be provided efficiently from salt water. | Duration: April 2013 - April 2016

The Chilean mining company SQM extracts sodium nitrate from the mineral "caliche" in the Atacama Desert. As a high-temperature molten salt, the sodium nitrate is used as a heat transfer and storage medium for solar thermal power plants and in large heat storage facilities. SQM aims to make their processes more resource efficient and has developed a new process in the laboratory. We were able to support this development by implementing an intermediate step between the laboratory and an industrial-scale implementation. This was done within a few months and took the form of a pilot plant. In this way we were able to demonstrate both the technical feasibility of the process chain and its continuous operation. Contact initiation and monitoring of the project was carried out by Fraunhofer Chile Research. | Duration: 03/2020 - 07/2020

Project in the Business Area: Solar Thermal Power Plants and Industrial Processes; Topic: Water Treatment and Materials Separation; Duration: 07/2021 - 06/2024

Project in the Business Area Solar Thermal Power Plants and Industrial Processes, Topic: Thermal Systems Engineering, Water Treatment and Separation, Concentrating Solar Collectors, Duration: January 2016 - December 2018

In rural regions of the African continent, poor accessibility often poses a major obstacle to providing comprehensive medical care to the population. In the “PreCare – Health Care for Everyone and Everywhere” project, an international team from two Fraunhofer Institutes and Stellenbosch University is developing cost-effective modular solutions for pickup trucks that will enable pre-clinical examinations, tests, and vaccinations to be carried out even in remote areas. Creating prospects for local people is a task of global interest for both humanitarian and economic reasons. | Duration: 10/2022 - 03/2024

Project in the Business Area Solar Thermal Power Plants and Industrial Processes; Topic: Water Treatment and Separation; Duration: 10/2016 - 11/2019

Project in the Business Area: Solar Thermal Power Plants and Industrial Processes, Topic: Water Treatment and Separation, Duration: 06/2020 - 05/2024