Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies
Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies
Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies

Konrad Koschnick

PhD student

Co-operative doctorate with TU Darmstadt

ORCID Research Gate LinkedIn

konrad.koschnick@h-da.de

konrad.koschnick@h-da.de

Development of measurement technology for the diagnosis of sustainable, industrial catalysis processes

MOTIVATION

The international chemical industry is still largely based on fossil raw materials and is the industrial sector with the highest energy consumption worldwide. For this reason, it is important to investigate alternative synthesis processes that are based on renewable raw materials and are more energy-efficient. One such process is the oxidative dehydration of (bio)ethanol to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a so-called chemical "feedstock", i.e. an intermediate product of the chemical industry, of which around 1.5 million tonnes are produced every year, trends rising. Acetaldehyde is currently obtained from ethylene (a product of natural gas steam cracking) in the Wacker Höchst process. An expensive and toxic palladium chloride catalyst is used in the process. The oxidative dehydration of (bio)ethanol therefore has two major advantages: it uses a renewable raw material and the catalyst, iron oxide with a low molybdenum content, is cheap and not harmful to the environment.

Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies

CAD Rendering des Dual-Track Raman Spectrometers (DTRS)

METHOD

Before novel synthesis processes can be implemented in the chemical industry, they must be analysed for various properties. The coupling of the flow in the gas phase (mass and heat transport) with the reaction on the surface plays an important role here. Using spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, we measure gas concentrations and temperatures in the gas phase without contact while the process is taking place. We have developed a new type of Raman spectrometer, the DTRS, which allows us to measure both parameters with high spatial resolution and in close proximity to the catalyst surface. The catalyst itself is integrated into an optically accessible and temperature-controlled flow channel, which was developed in student projects.

 

Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies

2D Concentration distribution of the product acetaldehyde during the oxidative dehydration of ethanol. The position of the catalyst is shown in orange.

Journal Publications

K. Koschnick et al. (2024): Dual-Track Spectrometer Design for 1D Gas-Phase Raman Spectroscopy. In: Opt. Express. DOI: 10.1364/OE.523437.

Conference contributions

K. Koschnick et al. (2022): Development of a 1D Raman Spectrometer for the Diagnosis of Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes. Work in Progress Poster at the 39th International Symposium on Combustion, 24-29 July 2022 in Vancouver, Canada

K. Koschnick et al. (2023): Operando Gas-Phase Raman Spectroscopy in an Optically Accessible Catalytic Channel. Poster contribution at the Gordon Research Conference on Laser Diagnostics in Energy and Combustion Science, 9-14 July 2023 in Newry, Maine, USA.

Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies

Konrad Koschnick

PhD student

Co-operative doctorate with TU Darmstadt

ORCID Research Gate LinkedIn

konrad.koschnick@h-da.de

konrad.koschnick@h-da.de

MOTIVATION

The international chemical industry is still largely based on fossil raw materials and is the industrial sector with the highest energy consumption worldwide. For this reason, it is important to investigate alternative synthesis processes that are based on renewable raw materials and are more energy-efficient. One such process is the oxidative dehydration of (bio)ethanol to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a so-called chemical "feedstock", i.e. an intermediate product of the chemical industry, of which around 1.5 million tonnes are produced every year, trends rising. Acetaldehyde is currently obtained from ethylene (a product of natural gas steam cracking) in the Wacker Höchst process. An expensive and toxic palladium chloride catalyst is used in the process. The oxidative dehydration of (bio)ethanol therefore has two major advantages: it uses a renewable raw material and the catalyst, iron oxide with a low molybdenum content, is cheap and not harmful to the environment.

Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies

METHOD

Before novel synthesis processes can be implemented in the chemical industry, they must be analysed for various properties. The coupling of the flow in the gas phase (mass and heat transport) with the reaction on the surface plays an important role here. Using spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, we measure gas concentrations and temperatures in the gas phase without contact while the process is taking place. We have developed a new type of Raman spectrometer, the DTRS, which allows us to measure both parameters with high spatial resolution and in close proximity to the catalyst surface. The catalyst itself is integrated into an optically accessible and temperature-controlled flow channel, which was developed in student projects.

 

Optical Diagnostics and Renewable Energies

Journal Publications

K. Koschnick et al. (2024): Dual-Track Spectrometer Design for 1D Gas-Phase Raman Spectroscopy. In: Opt. Express. DOI: 10.1364/OE.523437.

Conference contributions

K. Koschnick et al. (2022): Development of a 1D Raman Spectrometer for the Diagnosis of Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes. Work in Progress Poster at the 39th International Symposium on Combustion, 24-29 July 2022 in Vancouver, Canada

K. Koschnick et al. (2023): Operando Gas-Phase Raman Spectroscopy in an Optically Accessible Catalytic Channel. Poster contribution at the Gordon Research Conference on Laser Diagnostics in Energy and Combustion Science, 9-14 July 2023 in Newry, Maine, USA.