Integrating sphere with FTIR spectrometer: determination of the directional-hemispherical reflectance and transmittance as well as the spectral and temperature-dependent emittance and absorbance
FTIR spectrometer with reflectance and transmittance extension: determination of the directional reflectance and transmittance for different angles of incidence and reflection
Emissivity measurement system: determination of emissivity and absorptivity at high temperatures
BBC system (Black Body Boundary Conditions): Determination of transmittance and emissivity as well as absorptance in the high temperature range
FTIR spectrometer: Determination of the complex refractive index and dielectric function
FTIR spectrometer: Determination of extinction coefficient, albedo, and radiative thermal conductivity, as well as absorption and scattering coefficients
Radiation thermometer, black body radiator, and fixed point radiator: contactless temperature measurement and calibration of radiation thermometers and infrared cameras
Thermographic/thermal imaging camera, spectrometer, and radiation thermometer: quantitative and spectral assessment of thermal irradiation on surfaces
Ellipsometer: measurement of change in the polarisation state of incident radiation upon reflection from a sample
Electrochemical Energy Storage EES
PEM electrolysis testing systems
Laboratory cells and stacks for material testing
Stack testing rig for up to 10 cells, up to 600 A
Two individual cell testing rigs up to 30 A
Testing rig for water transport and catalyst degradation
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, current-voltage characterisation and cycle measurements in the entire DC range
Redox flow testing systems
Laboratory cells for material analyses
Measurement of stacks and prototypes up to 15 kW
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, current-voltage characteristics, and cycle measurements with state-of-charge and temperature control
Three-electrode measurement setup and rotating disk electrode (RDE) setup
Laboratory equipment for the analysis of electrolytes and pre-treatment of electrodes (plasma system, high-temperature furnaces)
Mass spectrometer for gas analysis
Redox flow models for system simulation (Matlab, Python)
COMSOL Multiphysics cell models for material and transport simulation as well as fluid simulation
Energy-Optimised Buildings – EOB
Spectral and angle-dependent characterisation of optical properties, such as transmittance, reflectance, and absorptance of materials and components
Spectral and temperature-dependent emissivity
Testing façade and 1:1 measurement room pairs for characterisation of building components under operating conditions; measurement with user influence or well defined artificial user influence
Outdoor measuring rig for determination of solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of complex glazing systems
Indoor solar simulator for determination of solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and thermal behaviour of façade systems
Laboratory measuring rigs for thermal characterisation of building components and systems (e.g. with phase change materials)
IR camera for thermal bridge analysis and thermal quality control of heating/cooling systems and entire façades
Hot-box apparatus for determining the thermal transmittance (U-value) of windows and façade elements
Climate research station for testing of façade and greening systems (wall and roof) as well as heat pipes and switchable thermal insulation
Dynamic building simulation, life cycle assessment
Development of project-specific measuring equipment and (outdoor) testing rigs
Mobile metrology (e.g. U-value sensor)
Heat Conversion – HCV
Thermal analysis laboratory for static and/or dynamic measurement of heat pumps and chillers up to approx. 200 kWth (hardware in the loop)
Vacuum testing systems for measuring components under sub-atmospheric conditions
Test setup for determination of vapour-liquid equilibria of aqueous solutions
Leakage testing of vacuum systems or high vacuum systems (helium leakage testing system)
System for corrosion testing in aqueous salt solution environments
Comprehensive software models for static and dynamic modelling of sorption and compression heat pumps at component and system level
Nanomaterials – NAM
Synthesis
Sol-gel synthesis laboratory
Autoclaves for supercritical drying, system for defined ambient pressure drying
Tube and chamber furnaces for processes in air or defined atmosphere (up to 1,250 °C) and under inert gas (up to 1,800 °C)
Structural characterisation
Scanning electron microscope with EDX, option for electron-beam lithography, hot stage up to 1,500 °C, tensile/compression testing module
Gas adsorption systems with optional sample holders for in-situ dilatometric analysis (gases and vapours)
Helium pycnometry
Dynamic light scattering for analysis of particles sizes < 6 μm
• Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (structures < 100 nm, suitable for solids, powders, and systems in liquids; method also suitable for in-situ measurement)
Beam bending on liquid gels
Water uptake & gas transport
Precision balance for determination of water uptake and water vapour diffusion
Climate chamber with balance (water vapour sorption kinetics in plates)
Gas permeation equipment for analysis of gas transport through porous materials
Setup for determination of solution diffusion in barrier films/sealings
Electrochemistry
Cyclic voltammetry
Impedance spectroscopy (10 μHz – 250 kHz)
Constant current cycling
Glovebox (organic electrolytes)
Cells for half and full cell measurements (with in-situ dilatometry option)
4-point setup for determination of electrical conductivity
Further analytics
Mobile mass spectrometer for gas analysis (mass numbers up to 200 amu)
Ultrasonic time-of-flight measurements for determination of Young's modulus
Solar Energy and Geothermal – SGT
Solar testing rig and tracker
Thermal power measurement of collectors up to 160 °C
Thermal and electrical power (up to 1000 W short-term) of PVT collectors
Biaxial tracking
Electrical storages and grids
District storage 72 kW and 330 kWh incl. weather station (Epplas/Hof)
Electrical load and generation measurement (PV) via first-generation smart meter in about 30 participant households
Testing centre Arzberg
Battery test site with 20 kW DC power supply and sink
Weather station with direct radiation sensor and SkyCam
About 50 kWp PV generators using different module technologies
Redox flow battery cluster with 90 kW and 390 kWh
Thermal response test (TRT)
Mobile measuring equipment for the determination of thermal subsurface properties (undisturbed ground temperature, thermal conductivity of the subsurface, thermal borehole resistance)
Application: Coaxial probes, single, and double U-probes, each between 30 and 200 m in length
Testing device for TRT instruments
Climatic chamber with artificial snowmaking
Snowing of areas up to 1 m2
Conditioning of large parts down to -20 °C
Thermal conductivity measurement
Thermal imaging camera
Systems Engineering – SYS
Software for the dynamic simulation of buildings and plants (TRNSYS) as well as in-house developed software and add-ons.
System simulations using, among others, Dymola, Simulink, Matlab
Monitoring software for large data volumes
Benchmarking solutions
Simulation of district heat networks (STANET) and geographic information systems
Groundwater flow models (FeFlow)
Engineering software, e.g. EES
Mobile measuring devices for on-site assessment of room comfort, plant and building technology: thermal imaging cameras, room climate sensors, CO2 sensors, lux meters, heat and cold meters, electricity meters, data loggers
Triaxial cell test rigs for measuring the hydraulic conductivity of geothermal probes
Testing rig for measurement of district heating transfer stations, residential transfer stations, and fresh water stations
Testing rig for measuring the thermal conductivity of building materials
Particulate matter measurement and exhaust gas analysis
Hot gas/thermal oil test heat exchanger
Thermal Analysis – THA
Stationary guarded hot plate apparatus for determination of thermal conductivity
Hot wire apparatus for determination of thermal conductivity
Laser flash apparatus for determination of thermal diffusivity
Heat flow meter for determination of thermal conductivity
Cut-bar apparatus for determination of thermal conductivity of highly conductive and hard samples
Hot-box apparatus for determination of the U-value of large samples
Contactless determination of the thermal conductivity of fibres and foils
DSC/MDSC for determination of specific heat capacity
STA/TG for simultaneous determination of the absorbed amount of heat and change in weight
Dilatometer for determination of linear expansion coefficient
Heating microscope for in-situ observation of heating processes
Thermal Energy Storage – TES
Calorimetry: DSC, STA, Calvet and T-History calorimeters
Temperature range from -80 to 1,500 °C
Sample sizes from about 5 mg to 30 g
Measurements according to the guidelines of RAL-PCM Guetegemeinschaft
PCM e. V.
Cycling apparatus for solid-liquid PCM
Temperature range from -40 to 200 °C
Sample size of about 60 ml
2 to 3 thermal cycles per day
Testing rigs for characterisation of heat exchangers and latent heat storages
Temperature range from -10 to 95 °C
Volume flow up to 3 m3/h
Thermal power up to 25 kW heating/cooling
Polarisation microscope
Programmable heating and cooling stage for measurements from -190 to 400 °C
Microbalance for determination of the water absorption capacity of solid
sorbents
Temperature range from 20 to 350 °C with -15 to 80 °C dew point temperature
Sample size: several grams
Self-developed testing rigs for determination of the water absorption capacity
of solid sorbents
Dew point temperatures from 5 to 70 °C
Ambient air temperature up to 300 °C
Sample size in kilogram range
Testing rig for mass transfer surfaces for liquid sorbents
Cycling apparatus for solid sorbents
Dew point temperatures from 5 to 70 °C
Ambient air temperature up to 300 °C
Sample size of several hundred grams
Adaptations to real process conditions possible
ZAE Bayern
We conduct applied research at the interface between basic science and industrial application. Our methods and systems aim to achieve CO2 neutrality and thereby counteract climate change through the intelligent and efficient use of renewable energies.