Dr.-Ing. Nicole Vorhauer-Huget
Dr.-Ing. Nicole Vorhauer-Huget
Chair of Thermal Process Engineering
University Education
2002 – 2007
Dipl.-Ing. Process Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
Research Degree
Since September 2018
Postdoc with the aim of habilitation, Head of Group Transport in Porous Media
September 2018
Dr.-Ing. (Cotutelle de Thèse), Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, France and Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
Doctoral thesis: Experiment based development of a non-isothermal pore network model with secondary capillary invasion https://doi.org/10.25673/13461
Teaching Activities
Since 2007
Lectures, seminars, laboratory work (German and English) in
- Thermal Process Engineering
- Bioseparation
- Product Quality
- Drying Technology
- Digital Engineering of Process Engineering Applications
Committees
- Senate
- Climate commission
- Commission for dealing with scientific misconduct
- Committee to regulate the procedure in cases of violence, threats and sexual harassment by students
Organization of the Ladies Night for Women Engineering Sciences
Ladies Night for Women Engineering Sciences more
2025
Peer-reviewed journal article
Investigation on the intra-particle anisotropic transport properties of a beech wood particle during pyrolysis
Dernbecher, Andrea; Bhaskaran, Supriya; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Seidenbecher, Jakob; Gopalkrishna, Suresh; Briest, Lucas; Dieguez-Alonso, Alba
In: Particuology - Amsterdam : Elsevier, Bd. 98 (2025), S. 172-190
Use of reconstructed pore networks for determination of effective transport parameters of commercial Ti-Felt PTLs
Altaf, Haashir; Milicic, Tamara; Faber, Felix; Vidakovic-Koch, Tanja; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: Processes - Basel : MDPI, Bd. 13 (2025), Heft 4, insges. 24 S.
Pore-scale study of coupled heat and mass transfer during primary freeze-drying using an irregular pore network model
Faber, Felix; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Thomik, Maximilian; Gruber, Sebastian; Först, Petra; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa. : Taylor & Francis, Bd. 43 (2025), Heft 1-2, S. 162-182
2024
Peer-reviewed journal article
Model PEM water electrolyzer cell for studies of periodically alternating drainage/imbibition cycles
Bhaskaran, Supriya; Miličić, Tamara; Vidaković-Koch, Tanja; Surasani, Vikranth Kumar; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: International journal of hydrogen energy - New York, NY [u.a.] : Elsevier, Bd. 77 (2024), S. 1432-1442
Pore shape matters - in-situ investigation of freeze-drying kinetics by 4D XCT methods
Gruber, Sebastian; Greiner, Joshua; Eppink, Alexander; Thomik, Maximilian; Coppens, Frederik; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Foerst, Petra
In: Food research international - New York, NY [u.a.] : Elsevier, Bd. 193 (2024), Artikel 114837, insges. 13 S.
Multi-point temperature measurements in packed beds using phosphor thermometry and ray tracing simulations
Xuan, Guangtao; Ebert, Mirko; Rodrigues, Simson Julian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Lessig, Christian; Fond, Benoît
In: Particuology - Amsterdam : Elsevier, Bd. 85 (2024), S. 77-88
Dielectric and physico-chemical behavior of single thermally thick wood blocks under microwave assisted pyrolysis
Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Seidenbecher, Jakob; Bhaskaran, Supriya; Schenkel, Fancesca; Briest, Laura; Gopalkrishna, Suresh; Barowski, Jan; Dernbecher, Andrea; Hilfert, Liane; Rolfes, Ilona; Dieguez-Alonso, Alba
In: Particuology - Amsterdam : Elsevier, Bd. 86 (2024), S. 291-303
2023
Book chapter
Pore network simulation of heat and mass transfer during freeze-drying of porous media
Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Thomik, Maximilian; Gruber, Sebastian; Först, Petra; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: EuroDrying 2023 - Lodz ; Musielak, Grzegorz, S. 451-457 [Konferenz: 8th European Drying Conference, EuroDrying 2023, Lodz, 04. - 07. July 2023]
Microwave heating as a possible route for the defossilization of green brick drying
Briest, Lucas; Dharmananda, Prajwal; Tretau, Anne; Wagner, Ralf; Thomik, Maximilian; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: EuroDrying 2023 - Lodz ; Musielak, Grzegorz, S. 58-64 [Konferenz: 8th European Drying Conference, EuroDrying 2023, Lodz, 04. - 07. July 2023]
In-situ analysis of the 3-D microstructure and its impact on the freeze-drying kinetics
Gruber, Sebastian; Thomik, Maximilian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Coppens, Frederik; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Först, Petra
In: EuroDrying 2023 - Lodz ; Musielak, Grzegorz [Konferenz: 8th European Drying Conference, EuroDrying 2023, Lodz, 04. - 07. July 2023]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Prediction of effective thermal conductivity of packed beds of polyhedral particles
Rodrigues, Simson Julian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Powder technology - Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier Science, Bd. 430 (2023), Artikel 118997
A non-isothermal pore network model of primary freeze drying
Thomik, Maximilian; Faber, Felix; Gruber, Sebastian; Foerst, Petra; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: Pharmaceutics - Basel : MDPI, Bd. 15 (2023), Heft 8, Artikel 2131, insges. 25 S.
Influence of particle shape on tortuosity of non-spherical particle packed beds
Rodrigues, Simson Julian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Richter, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Processes - Basel : MDPI, Bd. 11 (2023), Heft 1, Artikel 3, insges. 16 S.
Neutron imaging experiments to study mass transport in commercial titanium felt porous transport layers
Altaf, H.; Milicic, T.; Vidakovic-Koch, T.; Tsotsas, E.; Tengattini, Alessandro; Kardjilov, N.; Arlt, T.; Manke, I.; Vorhauer-Huget, N.
In: Journal of the Electrochemical Society - Bristol : IOP Publishing, Bd. 170 (2023), Heft 6, insges. 11 S.
2022
Peer-reviewed journal article
Temperature distribution in granular assemblies using luminescence thermometry and radiative transfer simulation
Xuan, Guangtao; Ebert, Mirko; Rodrigues, Simson Julian; Lessig, Christian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Fond, Benoît
In: Conference proceedings from OSA Publishing/ Optical Society of America - Washington, DC . - 2022
LBM studies at pore scale for graded anodic porous transport layer (PTL) of PEM water electrolyzer
Bhaskaran, Supriya; Pandey, Divyansh; Surasani, Vikranth Kumar; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vidakovic-Koch, Tanja; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: International journal of hydrogen energy - New York, NY [u.a.]: Elsevier, Bd. 47 (2022), 74, S. 31551-31565
Effective thermal conductivity of packed beds made of cubical particles
Rodrigues, Simson Julian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: International journal of heat and mass transfer - Amsterdam [u.a.]: Elsevier, Bd. 194 (2022)
Modeling and analysis of mass transport losses of proton exchange membrane water electrolyer
Miličić, Tamara; Altaf, Haashir; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Živković, Luka A.; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vidaković-Koch, Tanja
In: Processes - Basel: MDPI, Bd. 10 (2022), 11, insges. 20 S.
Experimental study of the impact of pore structure on drying kinetics and sublimation front patterns
Thomik, Maximilian; Gruber, Sebastian; Kaestner, Anders; Foerst, Petra; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: Pharmaceutics - Basel : MDPI, Bd. 14 (2022), Heft 8, Artikel 1538, insges. 15 S.
Determination of 3D pore network structure of freeze-dried maltodextrin
Thomik, Maximilianvorhauer; Gruber, S.; Foerst, E.; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa.: Taylor & Francis, Bd. 40 (2022), 4, S. 748-766
30 Years of pore network modeling in drying
Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Shokri, N.
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa.: Taylor & Francis, Bd. 40 (2022), 4, S. 689-690
Study on film effects during isothermal drying of square capillary tube using Lattice Boltzmann method
Bhaskaran, Supriya; Pandey, Divyansh; Panda, Debashis; Paliwal, Shubhani; Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Surasani, Vikranth Kumar
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa. : Taylor & Francis, Bd. 40 (2022), Heft 4, S. 735-747
Non-peer-reviewed journal article
Einsatz von Mikrowellenerwärmung zur Elektrifizierung der Ziegelrohlingstrocknung
Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Briest, Lucas; Wagner, R.; Tretau, A.; Rahimi, A.; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Ziegelindustrie international - Gütersloh : Bauverl. . - 2022, Heft 3, S. 8-24
2021
Book chapter
3D animation of single stage batch distillation for distance learning
Vorhauer, Nicole; Mathew, P.; Gunasekaran, H.; Do, M.; Thalakkotoor, S.; Jayanand, V.; Dhanasekaran, P.; Hegde, C.; Kochupurakkal, B.; Broneske, David
In: EDULEARN21 - [Valencia, Spain] : IATED Academy ; Gómez Chova, Luis . - 2021, S. 476-483 [Konferenz: 13th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, EDULEARN21, Online, 5-6 July, 2021]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Lattice Boltzmann method to study the water-oxygen distributions in porous transport layer (PTL) of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser
Paliwal, Shubhani; Panda, Debashis; Bhaskaran, Supriya; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Surasani, Vikranth Kumar
In: International journal of hydrogen energy: official journal of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy - New York, NY [u.a.]: Elsevier - official journal of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, Bd. 46 (2021), 44, S. 22747-22762
Porosity and pore size distribution of beds composed by sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran for solid-state cultivation
Canedo, Marianny Silva; Figueiredo, Maria Fernanda Santos; Thomik, Maximilian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Thoméo, João Cláudio
In: Powder technology: an international journal on the science and technology of wet and dry particulate systems - Amsterdam [u.a.]: Elsevier Science, Bd. 386 (2021), S. 166-175
Microwave-assisted drying of clay roof tiles
Briest, L.; Wagner, R.; Tretau, A.; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, N.
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa. : Taylor & Francis, Bd. 40 (2022), Heft 9, S. 1804-1818
In situ micro-computed tomography to study microstructure and sublimation front during freeze-drying
Gruber, Sebastian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Foerst, Petra
In: Food structure - Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, Bd. 29 (2021), insges. 8 S.
Experimentelle Untersuchung der Mikrowellentrocknung von Sanitärkeramiken
Briest, Lucas; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole
In: Keramische Zeitschrift - Wiesbaden : Springer Vieweg, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, Bd. 2 (2021), S. 36-42
Non-peer-reviewed journal article
Beschreibung der Sublimationsfront in Schüttgütern mittels Neutronenradiografie und -tomografie
Gruber, Sebastian; Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Schulz, Michael; Hilmer, Mathias; Peters, Jürgen; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Foerst, Petra
In: Die pharmazeutische Industrie - Aulendorf : ECV, Editio-Cantor-Verl., Bd. 83 (2021), Heft 5, insges. 12 S.
2020
Peer-reviewed journal article
Freeze-drying with structured sublimation fronts - visualization with neutron imaging
Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Mannes, David; Hilmer, Mathias; Gruber, Sebastian; Strobl, Markus; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Foerst, Petra
In: Processes - Basel : MDPI - Vol. 8 (2020), 9, Artikelnr. 1091, insgesamt 12 Seiten
Characterization of lyophilization of frozen bulky solids
Foerst, Petra; Gruber, Sebastian; Schulz, Michael; Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Chemical engineering & technology - Weinheim : Wiley-VCH Verl.-Ges., Bd. 43 (2020), Heft 5, S. 789-796
Development of an experimental setup for in situ visualization of lyophilization using neutron radiography and computed tomography
Hilmer, Mathias; Peters, Jürgen; Schulz, Michaela; Gruber, Sebastian; Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Foerst, Petra
In: Review of scientific instruments - [S.l.] : American Institute of Physics - Vol. 91 (2020), 1, Artikelnr. 014102, insgesamt 6 Seiten
Estimation of the local sublimation front velocities from neutron radiography and tomography of particulate matter
Gruber, Sebastian; Vorhauer, Nicole; Schulz, Michael; Hilmer, Matthias; Peters, Jürgen; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Foerst, Petra
In: Chemical engineering science - Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier Science - Vol. 211 (2020), Artikelnr. 115268, insgesamt 11 Seiten
Computational optimization of porous structures for electrochemical processes
Vorhauer-Huget, Nicole; Altaf, Haashir; Dürr, Robert; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vidaković-Koch, Tanja
In: Processes - Basel : MDPI - Vol. 8 (2020), 10, Artikelnr. 1205, insgesamt 21 Seiten
2019
Book chapter
Freeze drying behavior of spray frozen and pelletized materials by neutron radiography and tomography
Först, Petra; Gruber, Sebastian; Hilmer, Mathias; Vorhauer, Nicole; Schulz, Michael; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: EuroDrying'2019 - Torino - Paper 035, Seite 180-186 [Konferenz: EuroDrying 2019, Torino, 10-12 July 2019]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Microwave drying of wet clay with intermittent heating
Vorhauer, Nicole; Tretau, Anne; Bück, Andreas; Prat, Marc
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa : Taylor & Francis, Bd. 37 (2019), Heft 5, S. 664-678 [Special Issue celebrating the 60th birthday of Prof. Evangelos Tsotsas]
Pore network simulation of gas-liquid distribution in porous transport layers
Vorhauer, Nicole; Altaf, Haashir; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Vidaković-Koch, Tanja
In: Processes - Basel : MDPI - Volume 7 (2019), 9, Artikel 558, insgesamt 23 Seiten
Evaporation study based on micromodel experiments - comparison of theory and experiment
Geistlinger, Helmut; Ding, Yi; Apelt, Bernd; Schlüter, Steffen; Küchler, Matthias; Reuter, Danny; Vorhauer, Nicole; Vogel, Hans-Jörg
In: Water resources research - [New York] : Wiley, Bd. 55 (2019), Heft 7, insges. 20 S.
2018
Book chapter
Pore network model of primary freeze drying
Vorhauer, Nicole; Först, Petra; Schuchmann, Harald; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: IDS 2018 - València, Spain : Universitat ; International Dryign Symposium (21.:.2018), S. 221-228 [Konferenz: IDS 2018]
Virtual reality-based training system for complex engineering processes on the example of a fractionating column
Mencke, Nicole; Vorndran, Markus; Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: EDULEARN18 - [Valencia, Spain] : IATED Academy ; EDULEARN (10.:2018), insges. 10 S. [Konferenz: EDULEARN18]
Peer-reviewed journal article
Temperature gradient induced double stabilization of the evaporation front within a drying porous medium
Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: Physical review fluids - College Park, MD : APS - Vol. 3.2018, 11, Artikel 114201, insgesamt 24 Seiten
Drying of thin porous disks from pore network simulations
Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa : Taylor & Francis, Bd. 36 (2018), Heft 6, S. 651-663
Dissertation
Experiment based development of a non-isothermal pore network model with secondary capillary invasion
Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Barleben: docupoint Verlag, 2019, Dissertation Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Fakultät für Verfahrens- und Systemtechnik 2018 Dissertation Université de Toulouse 2018, xviii, 300 Seiten - (Micro-macro transactions; Volume 33), ISBN: 978-3-86912-156-7
2017
Book chapter
Combined convectice and microwave drying of wet clay
Vorhauer, Nicole; Mirsadraee, N.; Tretau, Anne; Bück, Andreas; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: Second Nordic Baltic Drying Conference - Hamburg . - 2017, insges. 15 S.
Pore scale investigation of drying under periodic temperature variation
Vorhauer, Nicole; Ahmad, Faeez; Tretau, Anne; Bück, Andreas; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: EuroDrying'2017 - Liège : University - 2017, Poster 7, insgesamt 8 Seiten
2016
Article in conference proceedings
Feedback control of microwave drying of solids
Bück, Andreas; Dürr, Robert; Vorhauer, Nicole; Friese, Larissa; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: IDS 2016 - Gifu ; International Dryign Symposium (20.:.2016) - 2016, Art. C-5-3, insgesamt 7 S.
Non-isothermal drying of thin porous disks
Vorhauer, Nicole; Rahimi, Arman; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: IDS 2016 - Gifu ; International Dryign Symposium (20.:.2016) - 2016, Art. P2-1, insgesamt 9 S.
2015
Peer-reviewed journal article
Drying with formation of capillary rings in a model porous medium
Vorhauer, Nicole; Wang, Yujing; Kharaghani, Abdolreza; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: Transport in porous media - Dordrecht [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V, Bd. 110 (2015), Heft 2, S. 197-223
2014
Book chapter
Isothermal drying in the presence of capillary liquid films - comparison of experiments with pore network simulations in a model system
Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: IDS 2014 - Les Ulis : EDP Sciences, insges. 7 S. Kongress: IDS 2014 19 Lyon, France 2014.08.24-27
2013
Peer-reviewed journal article
Experimental investigation of drying in a model porous medium - influence of thermal gradients
Vorhauer, Nicole; Tran, Q. T.; Metzger, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: Drying technology - Philadelphia, Pa : Taylor & Francis, Bd. 31 (2013), Heft 8, S. 920-929
2012
Peer-reviewed journal article
Fractal phase distribution and drying - impact on two-phase zone scaling and drying time scale dependence
Prat, Marc; Veran-Tissoires, Stéphanie; Vorhauer, Nicole; Metzger, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Drying technology - New York, NY [u.a.] : Dekker, Bd. 30 (2012), Heft 11/12, S. 1129-1135 [Special Issue to Commemorate 30 Years of Drying Technology]
Article in conference proceedings
Experimental investigation of drying by pore networks - influence of pore size distribution and temperature
Vorhauer, Nicole; Metzger, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos; Prat, Marc
In: Fourth international conference on porous media and its applications in science, engineering, and industry - Potsdam . - 2012, insges. 6 S. Kongress: International Conference on Porous Media and Its Applications in Science, Engineering and Industry 4 Potsdam 2012.06.17-22
2011
Book chapter
On the influence ot temperature gradients on drying of pore networks
Vorhauer, Nicole; Metzger, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: EuroDrying'2011 - [Palma (Illes Balears)] : [Universitat de les Illes Balears] ; European Drying Conference (3.:2011), insges. 3 S.
2010
Book chapter
Extraction of effective parameters for continuous drying model from discrete pore network model
Vorhauer, Nicole; Metzger, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Drying 2010 Vol. A - Barleben-Magdeburg : Docupoint GmbH, S. 415-422 Kongress: IDS 17 Magdeburg 2010.10.03-06
Article in conference proceedings
Drying of porous media - a comparison of discrete and continuous models
Vorhauer, Nicole; Metzger, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Third Internatinal Conference on Porous Media and its Applications in Science, Engineering and Industry - Montecatini . - 2010, insges. 9 S. Kongress: ICPM 3 Montecatini, Italy 2010.06.20-25
Original article in peer-reviewed international journal
Empirical macroscopic model for drying of porous media based on pore networks and scaling theory
Vorhauer, Nicole; Metzger, Thomas; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Drying technology - New York, NY [u.a.] : Dekker, Bd. 28 (2010), Heft 8, S. 991-1000 [Special Issue: Mathematical Modeling of Drying]
2008
Book chapter
Use of pore networks for macroscopic modelling of drying
Metzger, Thomas; Vorhauer, Nicole; Tsotsas, Evangelos
In: Drying 2008 - Mumbai : Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Mumbai ; Thorat, Bhaskar N. Vol. A, S. 242-249 Kongress: IDS 2008 16 Hyderabad, India 2008.11.09-12
Current projects
Computational and experimental investigation of biotechnological production of biopolymers in porous media
Duration: 01.07.2025 to 30.06.2028
Renewable resources can be used to produce biodegradable polymers using various microorganisms. To intensify biopolymer production processes, novel and competitive reactor concepts such as biofilm reactors can be developed. Such a development requires a strong fundamental scientific base, for which we aim at powerful mathematical models.
In-situ determination of heating and phase changes in microwave heated packed bed reactor
Duration: 01.07.2024 to 30.06.2028
The project B05N In-situ determination of heating and phase changes in microwave heated packed bed reactor (Barowski/Vorhauer-Huget) considers electromagnetic wave propagation with material-dependent reflection, transmission and absorption in cases of strongly coupled changes of dielectric properties with temperature and composition. For this purpose, a novel radar-based measurement setup will be developed in cooperation with B01 for processes up to max. 1000°C. The significant novelty of this measurement technique will be the ability to use it in-situ under high-temperature conditions inside the microwave reactor built in FP1. The detected dielectric changes will provide time-resolved correlations for local temperature and composition changes. Its functionality will be demonstrated for phase changes in wood together with B04. The impact of internal heat sources (direct volumetric heating by microwaves) on heat transfer coefficients will be investigated together with B02.
Assessing terpene productivity of Methanosarcina acetivorans biofilms in porous substrata using a mathematical-physiological approach
Duration: 01.04.2025 to 31.03.2028
This project will contribute to an SPP by developing a sound basis for the design of scalable bio-rector technologies involving porous structures for the immobilization of productive biofilms. The high surface-to-volume ratio realized in such reactors will be key to yield competitive space-time yields. The methodology will be established for anaerobic carbon monoxide fermentation employing Methanosarcina acetivorans, a genetically tractable microorganism with proven potential for industrial synthesis of chemicals, including terpenes. A reliably predictable process will be achieved by combining transcriptomic analysis and genetic manipulation, on the one hand, with process engineering methods for monitoring thermodynamic and structural data, on the other hand. The measurements will be consolidated by a scalable 3D numerical approach, involving a computationally efficient pore network model of coupled transport and growth that will be built on the realistic structure of the porous bio-reactors as well as on the physiology of M. acetivorans. Model development will be part of the project and include experiments with continuous flow through microfluidic platforms, enabling the imaging of M. acetivorans growth under well-controlled process conditions inside of a small-scale reactor as well as determination of required model input parameters. The project aims at maximizing terpene productivity of M. acetivorans biofilms by regulation of biofilm architecture, thickness and turnover rate. This will be realized by adjustment of process settings, involving flow rates, concentration profiles, and spatial and temporal variation of temperature, employing the predictive model. Optimal structure of the substratum, selected based on model predictions as well, will yield high pore utility and long-running maximal biofilm productivity. As reactor packing material we will initially consider polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which has already proven suitability for M. acetivorans biofilm formation under batch conditions. The biocatalyst adaption to the variation of spatiotemporal conditions will be accessible by reasonably joining experimental and in-silico data, enabling integration of biological regulator routines to the specific identified needs. Finally, M. acetivorans biofilms will be cultivated in a specifically tailored porous plug flow bio-reactor (PFBR). Growth will be imaged by X-ray tomography and productivity will be assessed by downstream sample analysis of dissolved and gaseous metabolites as well as by probing of cells from distinct regions of the reactor after the process. These experiments will guide transitioning from closed-vessel to continuous production conditions. The results will be valuable for validation of the model-assisted approach as well as for the conceptualization of an upscaling strategy for terpene production of M. acetivorans.
Completed projects
Development of a simulation tool for pore-scale calculation of energy dissipation during microwave heating
Duration: 01.04.2024 to 30.09.2024
In order to achieve the emission targets by 2045, adjustments and innovations to existing technologies and processes are necessary, particularly in the area of energy-intensive industrial processes, where thermal energy is currently mainly provided by the combustion of fossil fuels. One way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also reducing overall energy consumption is microwave heating, which enables complete electrification based on renewable energies. It can be used for a wide range of thermal processes, including those involving high temperatures (drying, crystallization, catalysis, melting, sintering, iron reduction, pyrolysis, evaporation, etc.), but in most process engineering applications it has a low level of technical development. In microwave heating, heat is dissipated in the product depending on the distribution of the electromagnetic field strength and the dielectric properties of the product. Energy dissipation is particularly efficient in products with high dielectric loss factors, e.g., water-containing materials. In thermally thick materials, in which water can also be distributed in a locally inhomogeneous manner, energy dissipation can lead to so-called hot spots. In these locally limited areas, the temperature can rise extremely quickly. This can be advantageous in processes such as pyrolysis. When drying mechanically demanding materials, however, this can lead to undesirable product damage. To date, no models have been described in the literature that take microwave heating at the pore scale into account. In order to generate a better understanding of the temperature distribution at the pore level, a non-isothermal 3D pore network model (PNM) with internal energy sources and sinks is to be created in MATLAB, which takes into account the product structure and the locally distributed water load.
In-situ investigation of the pyrolysis mechanisms (solid-phase) of biomass and plastics
Duration: 01.10.2022 to 31.12.2023
We will contribute to the elucidation of pyrolysis mechanisms of biomass and plastics by applying NMR and IR analytical techniques (responsible scientist: Dr. Liane Hilfert). Different plastic (wastes) and lignocellulosic biomass will be tested towards their pyrolysis. More importantly, different mixtures of plastics and biomass will then be investigated.
Intermittent microwave drying for the brick and tile industry
Duration: 01.01.2020 to 31.12.2022
Intermittent microwave drying is currently the only alternative process that can replace convective drying based purely on fossil fuels in the brick industry and contribute to a reduction in drying time while simultaneously optimizing the energy efficiency of the process. The energy input, which is many times more efficient than convective drying, enables very high evaporation rates and therefore requires well-optimized control. Otherwise, the high steam pressures would destroy the green bricks. The process control must be based on the time-varying and mutually coupled temperature and humidity profiles inside the bricks. However, there is currently no reliable data available to make this feasible. The aim of the project is to develop intermittent microwave drying on the basis of material properties and experiment-based calculation models to such an extent that it can be used as a process step for the brick industry and thus as an alternative drying process. Electrodynamic and thermodynamic models are to be formulated and coupled with each other to describe the drying process. Experiments will be carried out in a batch-operated microwave dryer for model formulation and validation. In addition, a complete characterization of both the brick blanks and the finished dried products is planned.
2024
2020
Maria-Weber-Grant of the Hans Böckler Foundation
2019
Max Buchner research grant (Max-Buchner-Forschungsstiftung, DECHEMA) for research project: Experimental and numerical study of the hydraulic connectivity of liquid films during drying of porous networks.
2017
Women in Drying Research Award of the University Liége, Belgium, Eurodrying, June 19-21
2015
Presentation Award of the German professional group on food process engineering (Process-Net, Dechema, VDI-GVC) Annual meeting of the German professional group on food process engineering, Magdeburg, Germany, March 16-18
2014
Project and exhibition 'MACHT MINT!' Travelling exhibition of the portraits of 11 selected researchers at the Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
- Pore network modeling of freeze-drying
- Modelling of heat and mass transfer in porous transport layers
- Microwave heating
- Pore scale modeling of mass transfer in biofilms
- Heat Transfer in packed beds