Letter of intent signed between the DLR Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes and the Chair of Structural Mechanics and Vehicle Vibrational Technology

In January 2021, the DLR Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes signed a letter of intent on strategic cooperation with the Chair of Structural Mechanics and Vehicle Vibrational Technology (SMF). The focus of the DLR Institute, which was founded in 2019 and has sites in Cottbus and Zittau, is to answer questions on CO₂ reduction for industrial processes. The research needs for decarbonising energy-intensive industrial sectors, such as energy production in power plants or the chemical industry, which are particularly relevant for Brandenburg, will be addressed.
The signing was preceded by meetings at which the possible topics for cooperation were discussed.
In that process a great interest was identified on the part of both partners to cooperate in the field of developing high-temperature heat pumps. The letter of intent states:
"Close cooperation with the SMF chair at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is of great strategic importance for DLR, as it enables a close exchange between basic and applied research, especially in the field of machine and structural dynamics can be established. In particular, cooperation in the development and design of machine and system components, in the course of researching heat pumps for industrial processes, is of great interest to the DLR Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes."
Working on current issues relating to the energy transition - not least in the context of structural change in Lusatia - in conjunction with DLR is naturally also of great importance to the BTU. Particular mention should be made here of the opportunities for students and doctoral candidates to work on joint theses and dissertations in attractive and topical subject areas.
In the medium and long term, the collaboration should lead to joint research proposals on issues in the areas of mechanical simulation, vibration measurement technology and machine and structural dynamics of high-temperature heat pump components.