Areas of Activity at OWI
The OWI Science for Fuels gGmbH researches and develops concepts and new technologies for heat and energy supply in close collaboration with industrial companies and with partners from science and research. The focus lies on the use of liquid, conventional and regenerative fuels. OWI is the only research institute in Germany that combines research in the areas of fuels and lubricants, energy systems (reforming and fuel cell systems, heating engineering) high-temperature engineering (thermal process engineering, combustion engineering) as well as materials engineering and modelling/numerical simulation.
The expert teams of OWI conduct research and develop technologies and products in the following areas:
- Fuels and Lubricants
Research on the characteristics of liquid fossil and regenerative fuels and their application in technical systems, such as heating systems, combined heat and power (CHP) units or vehicles. Especially the physical-chemical properties of new, regenerative fuels and their impact on technical systems and components are subject of numerous research projects at OWI. More - Combustion Technology
Research and development of burners primarily for the use of liquid energy carriers in systems generating room heat, industrial heat and thermal heat for mobile applications as well as energy in CHP plants. Moreover, the portfolio includes research on gas and multi-fuel burners. More - Reforming
Research and development of processes and reactors for the production of syngas from hydrocarbons, for example for the operation of fuel cells. OWI has experience in the processes of steam reforming, auto-thermal reforming and catalytic, partial oxidation. More - Fuel Cell Systems
Energy and heat generation on the basis of fuel cell systems for mobile and stationary applications based on fliud and gaseous energy carriers. As part of the system development, all aspects from the mixture formation to the reforming and gas purification to the fuel cell and the after-treatment of exhaust gases are considered. This is necessary for a complete fuel cell system. More - High-temperature Technology
Engineering processes in a temperature range above 500 °C: in industrial furnaces, for example for the development of burners, for testing and the optimisation of components and processes, for limits of application and prediction of the operational life of high-temperature resistant materials. In addition, the after-treatment of exhaust gas for motor-driven concepts in pressurised applications or the use of innovative evaporation and combustion environment. More - Heating Systems
Optimisation of existing and investigation of new combustion technologies for liquid fuels regarding domestic energy supply and mobile heating systems. Optimisation of the system control and regulation as well as the need-based heat supply. More - Materials Research
Examination of the limits of application and predictions of the operational life of high-temperature resistant materials in engineering processes in a temperature range above 500 °C. More - Modelling and Simulation
OWIs areas of expertise include numerical analysis of materials and fluid flows in a system, development of mathematical models for model-based control system and transient simulation of dynamic systems. More