Introductory lecture on heat pumpsHeiner Dintera
Fig. 1: Introductory lecture on heat pumps
Industrial excursion to Ilmenau heat supply plantHeiner Dintera
Fig. 2: Industrial excursion to Ilmenau heat supply plant
practical trainingHeiner Dintera
Fig. 3: Practical training
Practical trainingHeiner Dintera
Fig. 4: Practical training
Interactive poster sessionHeiner Dintera
Fig. 5: Interactive poster session

Last week, TU Ilmenau hosted about 25 international students and lecturers of several European partner universities on the occasion of the SUSEE Winter on School on “Energy and Well-Being”. Our group contributed to the school by offering a case study on heat pumps. Within this case study, the participants were instructed in all engineering aspects of this sustainable energy conversion device that provides emission-free and resource-saving supply of heat for both industrial processes and residential applications.

In more detail, the participants in the case study went through the following interrelated and complementary educational steps.

1. An introductory lecture providing the theoretical background based on the fundamental laws of thermodynamics (Fig. 1)

2. An industrial excursion to biomass cogeneration and heat supply plant Ilmenau (Fig. 2)

3. A practical training on an educational heat pump system to see, touch, and sense the process, as well as to measure the coefficient of performance under various operating conditions (Figs. 3 + 4)

4. Self-guided group work by designing a scientific poster and defending it during an interactive research session (Fig. 5)

All students were rewarded with 2 ECTS points. Hopefully, this case study will further motivate the students to continue their studies in engineering from the perspective of responsible sustainable action. The case study was prepared and supervised by our colleague Christian Karcher, assisted by master’s students Tim Essebier and Laura Wittmann.