Chair of Mineral Processing
Short description
Within the scientific area of mineral processing the methods and procedures are investigated, which, by means of different process engineering approaches, allow the conversion or improvement of material flows in such a way that an optimal material or energetic use can be realized. This includes among others in addition to drying, crushing / milling or agglomeration processes, also procedures of the enriching / concentration and / or the removing of the components as well as further basic processes. Thus, mineral processing technologies can be allocated within the chain of the energetic utilization between resources supply and energy production and / or transformation.
Research activities in the field of the energetic biomass use
The chair possesses special scientific knowledge in the field of processing of solid fuels for energetic use. This concerns above all crushing / milling (Fig. 2) and agglomeration or compacting (Fig. 3) of brown coal as well as processing of biogenous raw and waste materials such as wood, straw and sunflower kernels husks. Here the processing routes were adapted particularly to the feed raw materials as well as to the desired characteristics of the final source of energy and their further utilization.
Presently, alongside with the material use of biogenous raw materials and wastes, the main focus in research is placed on the energy-technical area concerning the utilization of biogenous loaded liquid secondary and waste streams. In this connection the procedures concerning optimized biogas technology as well as the production of biogenous filter materials are examined.
In the area of the biogas technology a particular focus was placed on the design of a high speed hydrolysis unit which enables a faster conversion of polymeric substrates. That allows the construction of the downstream biogas reactor with a smaller reaction volume. The complete process should hereby be better adjustable and more effective in regard to the biogas yield and waste water purity.
The research approach of the production of biogenous filtering medium with subsequent energetic utilization, similar to the biogas research, has the background in the use of biogenous fractions from liquid streams (usually waste water). With the help of the innovative and patented procedures primarily natural fibres are agglomerated into free flowing porous structure. Biogenous fractions (e.g. oils) can settle on the external as well as internal surfaces during flow through these elements. Subsequently, energy utilization can take place which also includes the filtering medium.
