The InnoSyn “Innovative synthesis processes for producing chemical energy carriers from green hydrogen in bubble column reactors with flexible loads” project was launched on 1 March. The project is coordinated by the DVGW Research Centre at the Engler-Bunte-Institut. Together with the Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e. V., the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Johannes Kepler University Linz (associated partners), this project will develop two innovative synthesis methods:

• LOHC-supported methanation (LOHC: Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier)
• Direct CO₂ Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (CO₂-FTS)

This method converts green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into climate-neutral chemical energy carriers as part of a PtX process chain. Gaseous as well as liquid end products are possible. These can be used for various applications as a substitute for petroleum-based hydrocarbons, especially in the mobility sector (e.g. LNG or FT diesel in heavy-goods transport, kerosene in air traffic) or in the chemicals industry. Suspension bubble column reactors will be used for both methods. These are perfectly suited for exothermal synthesis reactions as well as for the dynamic operating conditions with flexible loads as required for PtX processes.

At the DVGW Research Centre, the focus is on the fundamental investigation of the hydrodynamics in bubble flows. The aim is to increase the reliability of the fluid-dynamic design of a bubble column reactor. This requires the description of the local processes (e.g. bubble rising and interaction) and the interaction of the hydrodynamics and substance transport. To better understand the local processes in the bubble flow, in the InnoSyn project the DVGW Research Centre is using various measurement methods to investigate the hydrodynamics of bubble flows.