Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics

DLR is the national aeronautics and space research center of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. In addition to its own research, as Germany’s space agency, DLR has approximately 8000 employees at 16 locations in Germany: Cologne (headquarters), Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Goettingen, Hamburg, Juelich, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Stade, Stuttgart, Trauen, and Weilheim. DLR also has offices in Brussels, Paris, Tokyo and Washington D.C.

The DLR-Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics is active in the fields of renewable energy research and technology development for efficient and low emission energy conversion and utilization with two sections and around 75 persons. The Department of Computational Electrochemistry (CEC) has strong expertise in modelling and simulation of batteries (Lithium-ion, Metal-Sulfur and Metal-air batteries) and fuel cells (SOFC, PEFC and DMFC ). 16 researchers are working in the field of batteries, mainly in the field of Lithium Ion, Metal-sulfur and Metal-air batteries. The battery modelling activity of CEC is integrated in the Helmholtz Institute Ulm for Electrochemical Energy Storage, a joint-venture of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of Ulm, Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg, and the German Aerospace Center. The division is modeling physico-chemical processes inside batteries – from the nanoscale to the macroscale making use of rigorous methods from non-equilibrium thermodynamics, electrochemistry, statistical mechanics and numerical mathematics. We model degradation effects in state-of-the-art Lithium batteries and are committed to the optimization and understanding of next-generation batteries with various electrolytes and electrode designs.  DLR has been active in European Framework actions and is involved in Horizon 2020 activities.