Young Scientists – Juniorprofessor Gregor D. Wehinger stellt sich vor

This article introduces assistant professor Gregor D. Wehinger of the Institute of Chemical and Electrochemical Process Engineering at Clausthal University of Technology. Besides recent research projects and teaching activities, he gives an overview about his commitment to the community. He reports on current research results in the field of CFD modeling of packed-bed reactors, redox-flow batteries, and multiphase systems. Furthermore, the use of virtual reality in teaching is presented.     

Druckstandfestigkeit und Betriebseigenschaften von Doppelwellendichtungen

The strength and operating properties of wave‐ring gaskets are analyzed. A cylindrical shell of constant mean thickness is introduced to simulate the gasket. It is assumed that the shell is simply supported at the inner surface of the seat. The influence of certain geometric, material and assembly parameters on the strength and leak‐tightness of the closure is investigated. The results are illustrated by a numerical example. For the assumed material of the gasket and several fixed data the other parameters of the closure are examined. The region of admissible solutions for the gasket parameters such as dimensions, applied assembly clearance and pressure is determined.     

Gedanken zur Zukunft der Feststoffverfahrenstechnik

On the Future of Solid Processing Techniques The chemical industry is experiencing major changes. The experts of the “Solids Processing Industrial Network” expect that in the future two kinds of chemical plants will develop: on the one hand the polyvalent, multipurpose, modular plant and on the other hand the world‐scale plants. At the same time the high percentage of solids as products of chemical processes will continue to increase and therefore new challenges have to be met. Small‐scale production of solids has to be customized to the individual customer needs, which means that product design will be a technology that defines the competitiveness. For large plants techniques have to be developed that enable large volumes to be produced but that also allow the reliable scale‐up from laboratory scale to world‐scale production. Automatization will play a crucial role in the success of solids processing, which will depend on the availability of on‐line measurement systems and the development of simulation models for the processes and the particle properties involved.     

Fremdfirmenmanagement im Chemiepark Marl

External Company Management at the Marl Chemical Park Increasing competition is compelling companies operating chemical production plant to focus on the their core competence and to entrust other companies with non‐core activities. The outsourcer takes particular responsibility for the selection, instruction, coordination, and monitoring of the external company. The rules applicable to all companies operating at the Marl Chemical Park are laid down in a general handbook for outsourcing management. This handbook describes the tasks and areas of responsibility of participating companies for overall order fulfilment with due attention of existing demands on industrial safety. The resulting obligations for the external companies are given in a set of guidelines for contractors and are an integral part of contracts awarded to external companies. External company management is a means of achieving quality assurance, accident prevention, and improved collaboration with external companies.     

Simulation komplexer fluider Transportvorgänge in der Verfahrenstechnik

Simulation of Complex Liquid Transport Processes in Chemical Engineering The numerical calculation of flows has become a universal tool in several scientific and technical applications to be able to better understand or control the transport processes in fluids. Still, in many areas of chemical engineering technology the use of numerical simulations is less developed. One of the reasons for this is the low reliability and efficiency of standard CFD techniques. How can simulation methods in combination with alternative grid generation techniques be used to generate reliable predictions of the operation behavior relation of components in the chemical industry? A new way is demonstrated here, whereby the described calculation techniques are based on one of the most rigorous models of the transport processes of fluids, namely the Boltzmann equation.