Clean Energy Engineering

Energy technology – innovative and sustainable

Through our development of innovative and sustainable energy technology solutions and efficient energy systems, with a focus on thermo-fluid dynamics, we aim to contribute to the energy transition and decarbonisation.

We support the entire development process:

  • Analysis of requirements and feasibility
  • Idea development and product design
  • Model-based development and numerical simulation
  • Design and optimisation
  • Prototype development and experimental validation
  • Support right through to series production

This involves the use of modern methods such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Analysis (FEM), CAD design and data-driven development approaches. The most important areas of application include fuel cells, electrolysers, heat pumps, heat exchangers, heating and cooling systems, as well as flow and energy systems.

Concepts

  • Conceptual calculations

  • Conceptual designs

  • Conceptual modelling

  • Creativity techniques

  • Feasibility studies

  • Interactive workshops

  • Market analyses

  • Product concepts

 

Services

  • Component development
  • Component optimisation
  • Integration of components into systems
  • End-to-end prototype development
  • Hardware commissioning
  • Measurement campaigns
  • Design of measurement and control systems
  • Product improvements through the use of innovative technologies
  • Prototype construction
  • Characterisation of system performance

 

Methods

  • Physical Modelling
  • 1D Transient Analysis (MATLAB/Simulink/Simscape)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Computer Aided Design (CAD)
  • Finite Element Method (FEM)
  • Linear/non-linear analysis of dynamic systems
  • System Identification/Solving Inverse Problems
  • Numerical and data-driven optimisation
  • Conventional measurement methods
  • Laser-based experimental measurements
  • Optical experimental diagnostics

 

TAHERO’s key product and technology areas

 

Fuel cell systems

TAHERO develops and optimises fuel cell systems for zero-emission energy supply. The company focuses on component design, thermal management, flow optimisation and improving efficiency and service life.

 

Electrolysis systems

In the field of hydrogen production, TAHERO supports the development of electrolysers through modelling, simulation and system optimisation. The aim is to achieve cost-effective and scalable production of green hydrogen.

 

Flow systems

Development and optimisation of systems for conveying gases and liquids. Numerical flow simulations (CFD) are used to reduce pressure losses, improve efficiency and analyse flow behaviour.

 

Liquid cooling and heating systems

TAHERO develops thermal management systems for industrial applications, machinery and energy technology. The aim is to achieve efficient temperature control and reliable heat dissipation or heat transfer.

 

Heat exchanger

The company assists with the design and optimisation of heat exchangers in order to achieve the most efficient heat exchange possible with minimal energy losses.

 

Heat pumps and refrigeration systems

TAHERO develops components and systems for energy-efficient heat pumps and refrigeration systems. The focus is on high efficiency, sustainability and the optimisation of the overall system.

 

Turbomachinery, gas turbines, aircraft engines

In the field of rotating flow machinery, TAHERO offers simulation and development services for turbines, compressors and related systems. The aim is to improve performance, efficiency and reliability.

 

Continuous combustion systems

The company analyses and optimises industrial combustion processes in terms of stability, emissions behaviour and energy efficiency.

 

Thermoacoustic systems and phenomena

The modelling and analysis of thermoacoustic effects plays an important role in, amongst other things, combustion plants, gas turbines and innovative energy technologies, and helps to prevent vibrations and improve operational safety.

 

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Stack

TAHERO is developing and building a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack for research and development purposes. The aim of the PEMFC is to carry out research and development into next-generation fuel cell technologies.

Our model-based design framework is used to enable rapid development without the need for costly and cumbersome hardware test design iterations. In this process, the physical behaviour of the stack and its underlying components is modelled and analysed using numerical simulations. Thermodynamic sizing, integrated system design and detailed component design are carried out iteratively until benchmark analyses are achieved.

The specific areas of application are diverse. For example, the simple disassembly and reassembly function makes it possible to test various bipolar plate flow field designs or novel materials associated with the membrane electrode assembly. The stack can also serve as a reference product for the development of automated manufacturing solutions. Other possible research applications include the generation of real-world performance data for the development of system identification approaches to extract key physical parameters, or for the development of self-learning controllers.

Framework for thermoacoustic phenomena

This modelling and analysis framework provides all the functions required for model-based support of engineering design tasks relating to thermoacoustic systems. The framework can be applied to all types of systems in which thermoacoustic phenomena are significant. Prominent examples of such systems include gas turbine combustion chambers, rocket engines, aero-engines, heating burners, and thermoacoustic heat pumps and refrigeration systems.

The framework offers comprehensive modelling capabilities in the time and frequency domains, based on low-order network approaches and high-precision numerical simulation methods.

Model-based framework for clean-tech products

This framework was developed for innovative clean energy products, in particular fuel cell and electrolysis cell systems. The central idea is to model the physical performance of the component or system under design and to solve it numerically. The framework is highly flexible and cost-effective in this regard.

The degree of accuracy of the models used varies according to the given design objectives. These models guide the technical design work until predefined performance targets are met.

Specifically, the framework offers four different modelling and analysis modules: thermodynamic cycle design, energy management strategy development, numerical optimisation methods and a model ecosystem for ‘in-the-loop’ engineering work.

Megawatt-class thermofluid dynamics test rig

Modern, low-emission gas turbines are a crucial component in the development of an electricity grid that relies predominantly on renewable sources.

This test environment is used to carry out spatially and temporally resolved measurements of heat release and acoustic pulsations in an unstable combustion process. This provides insights into the underlying physics, generates measurement data for model development and validation, and enables the derivation of best-practice guidelines on how to prevent or suppress the occurrence of thermoacoustic instabilities.