The research group Process Machines at the Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics (MVM) deals with processes of particle generation and particle processing in liquid phase. The focus of the work is on filtration and centrifugation as well as mixing technology or agglomeration. Extensive experience is available in all areas due to the fact that MVM has already been in existence for more than 50 years. In addition to the characterization of dispersity properties, modeling and simulation of multiphase flows on the micro and macro scale, the development of digital twins and battery simulation a further research focus. Additionally, the direct recycling of battery materials has also been a new focus of research at MVM for several years.

Within the competence cluster greenBatt, KIT-MVM is involved in the subproject HydroLIBRec. The main task of KIT-MVM within the project is the experimental investigation and implementation of direct recycling by means of continuous fractionation of black mass in decanter centrifuges.  Furthermore, based on the gained knowledge during experimental investigation, the development of a digital twin for the description of the continuous fractionation in decanter centrifuges is another focus of this subproject. At the end, a continuous process will be available that allows the fractionation of active materials while maintaining a high degree of purity.

Project participation

The working group Thin Film Technology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has many years of experience in the model description of drying of thin films. On the basis of extensive experimental investigations with various experimental setups developed in the working group, new model approaches were established and validated. Starting from work on phase equilibrium and film drying, the work has been extended to porous and non-porous particle-filled systems. One focus of the work is in the area of battery electrode research. In its coating and printing laboratory at KIT Campus North, the working group has state-of-the-art equipment for researching coating and drying processes of battery electrodes

For the investigation of film drying processes, the measurement with Inverse Micro Raman Spectroscopy was established at the institute. In addition, various specially designed systems are available for drying investigations, which allow different drying conditions relevant to industry to be set and the processes to be investigated in detail. Within the framework of BMBF-funded projects in the ProZell consortium, investigations were carried out on the influence of drying processes on the structure and properties of high-capacity electrodes in their manufacturing. Part of a continuing project is to investigate the mass transport of the solvent NMP in battery electrodes and their materials. In addition, modeling of roll-to-roll infrared and vacuum drying processes based on investigations of the phase equilibrium of water in electrodes, their individual components and in separators was carried out in a BMBF project and a BMWi-AiF project.

Project participation