Smart batch processes in the energy system of the future

Accounting for 11% of electricity demand, the process industry is one of the central consumers of electrical energy in Germany. The switch to a regenerative power supply is therefore of decisive importance for the success of the energy turnaround. Whereas up to now electricity demand has been met on the basis of demand, a variable regenerative electricity supply requires processes to be flexibly adapted to the electricity supply. To achieve this, fundamentally new methods and processes must be developed and tested in real applications.

In the project, a special focus is placed on batch processes and DC-based supply networks. DC-based supply networks are particularly advantageous for linking electricity-based production processes with renewable generators and storage facilities. Batch or batch processes are widespread in both medium-sized and large companies and thus contribute significantly to electricity demand. In contrast to continuous processes, batch processes are still largely unexplored in terms of flexibilization. They are characterized by the fact that various units (stirrers, pumps, electric heaters, etc.) are started up and shut down in the course of a cycle in order to carry out different process steps one after the other.

Batch-based production processes and DC-based supply networks are set up and investigated on a laboratory scale in demonstrators. The project is accompanied by an industry advisory board in order to incorporate the concerns of practical applications at an early stage.

In addition to making processes more flexible and developing efficient and flexible DC-based energy systems, the project objective is to digitize the industry, i. e. to develop modern process analysis concepts as well as energy and thermal management strategies and to establish sustainable and energy-optimized production processes.