Forschung – TinniT Technologies GmbH

Research and Development

The challenges associated with climate change and the energy crisis require immense efforts…

Brine Desalination

In typical reverse osmosis systems used for seawater desalination, the maximum salt concentration that can be removed is approximately 200 g/l. Higher concentrations lead to membrane fouling issues. The resulting brine, or waste, from the process is usually discharged back into the sea. The high salt concentration can cause the death of fish and marine plants. As part of a research project, TinniT has developed an innovative brine desalination plant as a pilot facility, which will enter a testing phase in 2023 at a location in the Mediterranean region. With this novel technology, the brine can be completely desalinated, resulting in the continuous production of salt as a solid by product.

Water Harvesting from Mist

Water pollution and high water consumption are increasingly causing severe water supply shortages worldwide. In some regions, the population’s access to drinking water depends partly on water imports or redistribution measures. Even deep aquifers are increasingly at risk as large quantities of water are pumped out for agricultural use. Therefore, alternative water sources such as the patented system developed by TinniT for harvesting water from the atmosphere’s mist are of great interest for agricultural water supply. The mist harvesting system is based on textile separation zones that selectively capture droplets. The collected water is stored in cisterns and can be further treated if necessary. Up to 20 liters per square meter per day can be harvested, with the basic module of the fog collector covering an area of approximately 60 square meters. Are you interested in this technology? For more information, please visit WaterFromFog

Active Body Cooling

Extreme climatic conditions require active body cooling systems during intense work activities. TinniT is currently researching active and portable cooling systems to prevent overheating and dehydration. In collaboration with both domestically and internationally research institutes, TinniT is developing novel textile composites and multifunctional jackets for this purpose. Digital body models and digital cellular structures, partly generated by algorithms, are used and produced through 3D printing. Extensive experimental and numerical methods are employed to qualify the designs for active body cooling through conditioned airflow to enhance evaporation.

Phase Change Energy Storage for Residential Use

This new storage technology can be utilized for heat from various heat sources, including solar thermal systems, combined heat and power plants, geothermal sources, and traditional condensing boilers. Conventional storage systems use water as the storage medium, whereas the new phase change energy storage system employs paraffin, resulting in approximately 2.5 times higher storage density and enabling a smaller footprint. The developed storage concept can also be applied as a high-temperature storage system by replacing the paraffin with a solid material. The storage concept has been validated through experimental investigations and numerical analyses. To enhance effective thermal conductivity, metal foams and metallic interlocking structures made of aluminum are combined with the paraffin.

Phase Change Energy Storage for Cooling Electronic Components

Electronic components require thermal stabilization to avoid damage. In inverters for solar panels or other large-scale electronic installations, waste heat is generated, which can lead to temperature increase in without conditioned rooms or poorly ventilated enclosures. TinniT utilizes a specially developed phase change energy storage system for cooling such electronic components. The waste heat is transported into the phase change material, within the latent heat storage, allowing the heat to be stored by utilizing the heat of fusion. This enables the air used for cooling the electronics to be thermally stabilized and further cooled. The notable features of the developed phase change energy storage system are its scalability and fast charging and discharging times. The temperature level can be adjusted by the melting point of the paraffin.

Ground Heat Exchanger for Building Cooling/Heating

TinniT offers an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to air conditioning with the Air-Ground Heat Exchanger (AGHE). An industrial fan draws in ambient air and passes it through a network of pipes buried 2-5 meters below the ground. The cool temperatures of the earth cause the air to be cooled by approximately 10°C. The cooled air can be used to climatize buildings, production facilities, and systems. The unique aspect of the system is that the heat stored in the ground during summer can be extracted as heating energy in winter, making it a seasonal heat storage concept. For more information, please visit Undergroundcooler.