Spotlight - SME-Net C Project HyDress
Totally under the sign of resource and energy efficiency is the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the framework of the program KMU NetC funded Composite project HydRess , which deals with the development of innovative circulation pumps. But why pumps in particular?
The HydRess collaborative project focuses on the development of innovative circulating pumps. (Photo credit: HydRess) Circulation pumps are used in particular in residential, office and commercial buildings for the transport of drinking, heating or even cooling water. The number of pumps operated in Europe is enormous: it is estimated that more than 140 million circulators are in use every day and offer by this amount an enormous leverage in terms of resource conservation and sustainability. Resource-saving design in material efficiency and an increase in energy efficiency can therefore contribute to an improved environmental balance.
Circulating pumps are used especially in residential, office and commercial buildings for transporting drinking, heating or even cooling water. (Picture credits: KSB SE & Co. KGaA)
HydRess - Developing circulators with improved environmental balance
HydRess stands for the "development of new concepts for hydromechatronic aggregates to significantly increase resource efficiency. The aim of the HydRess joint project is to find new technological approaches to develop a pump that conserves resources while maintaining high energy efficiency. The aim is to miniaturize the pumps while maintaining at least the same, and ideally even increasing, performance. Furthermore, the aim is to make the production process more efficient and to use sustainable materials in order to be able to dispense with materials such as rare earths.
Live technology transfer - SMEs and universities work together
The SMEs and universities involved in the research project are working hand in hand to optimize a circulator pump that meets the following requirements:
- Increasing energy efficiency
- Omission of critical materials in manufacturing
- Efficiency of the manufacturing process
- Reduction of the use of resources in construction and operation
That this cooperation is goal-oriented and the path taken is the right one was also evident at the milestone meeting this year. Here, the project partners presented their results to the project commission VDI and received very positive feedback all around.
Spotlight HyDress - New column for information from the project
We also want to take this as an opportunity to report at regular intervals on the results and progress from HyDress. Be it to the rotor, stator or the electric drive or also the companies involved. Today we want to start with a short presentation of the respective roles of our project partners:
Injection molding of soft magnetic material
The Schliessmeyer GmbH is developing a suitable process for injection molding of soft magnetic material.
Sealing the motor winding
CirComp GmbH is focused on the hermetic sealing of the motor winding against the pumped medium using alternative materials made of plastic or magnetic compounds.
Fast-Rotating Electric Motors
The Chair of Electrotechnical Systems of Mechatronics at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences is researching high-speed electric motors.
Investigating interdependencies
The Chair of Plastics Engineering at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg is investigating cause-effect relationships on the overall system using new and plastic-based materials.
Initiating contact and submitting an application
The KSB SE & Co. KGaA is involved in the project as an associated partner. As a member of the Cluster Neue Werkstoffe , it played a key role in helping to establish contact between the partners and in the application.
