GRK 2160:  Droplet Interaction Technologies (DROPIT)

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering ; Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
• Term: since 2016
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270852890

This International Research Training Group (IRTG) focuses on “Droplet Interaction Technologies”, which find application in a variety of industrial processes. Recent technological advances and the need to develop adequate design tools require, however, the inclusion of the interface kinetics and/or a detailed analysis of surface microstructures. Normally, complicated technical processes cover the underlying basic mechanisms. Thus, progress in the overall process modelling can hardly be gained.Therefore, this IRTG focuses on these underlying basic processes. This is done by investigating different spatial and/or temporal scales of the problem and by linking them through a multi-scale approach. DROPIT is organised in three thematic areas (TA): TA-A: Drop-Gas Interaction, TA-B: Drop-Wall Interaction, TA-C: Drop-Liquid Interaction. The research programme is extended in the second funding period (FP2) consequently to include multiple droplet interactions and extended physical phenomena, e.g. like heat transfer in TA-B. Theoretical and numerical studies are again supported by selected experimental work and the development of related new measurementtechniques for them. The topic of this IRTG is highly innovative! The three areas listed above are strongly interlinked with each other, which is very crucial for the exchange between the individual members of the IRTG.The qualification programme includes both specialised seminars and workshops, designed in such a way as to provide the doctoral researchers with the knowledge and skills to conduct independent research. The existing educational structures for doctoral researchers on both the Italian (ISA, DICAM) and the German side (GRADUS) will be used. This approach, which was also followed in the first funding period (FP1), has the advantage of minimising logistic and administrative work, while promoting synergies and interactions among the existing educational and research programmes at the participating universities. Two additional qualification measures are planned: a yearly international workshop and a three-yearly international summer school. These initiatives, organised by the doctoral researchers and the postdoctoral researcher, provide the doctoral fellows a platform to put all management, organisational, interdisciplinary and scientific competencies acquired through the course and seminar programme into practice.

• DFG Programme: International Research Training Groups
• International Connection: Italy
• Applicant Institution: Universität Stuttgart
• IRTG-Partner Institution: Università degli Studi di Bergamo; Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Scienze Applicate; Università degli Studi di Trento
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Weigand
• IRTG-Partner: Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Gianpietro Elvio Cossali
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Andrea D. Beck; Professorin Carina Bringedal, Ph.D., until 9/2022; Professor Dr. Thomas Ertl; Professor Dr.-Ing. Stefanos Fasoulas; Professor Dr.-Ing. Rainer Helmig; Dr.-Ing. Grazia Lamanna; Professor Dr. Claus-Dieter Munz; Professor Dr. Christian Rohde; Dr.-Ing. Kathrin Schulte; Professor Dr. Daniel Weiskopf