| 1968-1974 | Chemical Engineering, University of Technology Graz, Austria |
| 1976 | Institute for Apparatus Design, University of Technology Graz, Austria |
| 1976-1980 | Senior Engineer at University of Essen, Institute of Apparatus Design |
| 1984 | Habilitation, University of Essen |
| 1980-1993 | Bayer AG, Central research and Development, since 1984 in the Synthetic Rubber Division |
| 1993-1999 | Professor for Mechanical Process Engineering at the University of Essen |
| 1999-2014 | Full Professor in the Department BCI of TU Dortmund |
Projects on sprays are dealing with the fundamentals of drop formation and the design of improved nozzle and atomizer equipment. Spraying devices are applied mainly in spray driers, scrubbers and coating systems. One of the objectives is to simultaneously provide robust devices anyhow capable to produce sprays with narrow drop size distributions. Our lab has been working on several DFG (German Research Community) funded projects in this field for the past ten years, and has carried out many projects for industrial partners
Experiments and DEM simulations are conducted explaining the behavior of granular materials on vibrating conveyors and in rotary drums. Color-selective concentration measurement are applied to read the local concentrations and the transient state of mixing even in the depth of larger quantities of bulk solids. Particle segregation can be utilized for classing or sorting. Different types of equipment and concepts are pursued for that purpose.
Improved design of electrostatic filter rearranging the flow pattern reduces the residual dust content of the scrubbed gas and increases the effectiveness of the separators. Modified and improved methods to measure the electrical conductivity of dusts allows for voltage control and to avoid back-sparking together with re-dispersion of deposited particles. Our work also focuses on combinations of spray scrubbers and electrostatic filters which are jointly optimized particularly for unsteady running conditions.
The production of dispersions with uniform and small drop sizes can also be achieved in laminar flows, i.e. viscous media, by using appropriate nozzle geometries applying the Rayleigh break-up to liquid threads significantly elongated before breakup.
Low-frequency, i.e. f < 200 Hz pulsations, superimposed to laminar duct flows can be maintained even within long channels. They lead to high wall shear on smooth walls preventing the deposition of particles as on filter layers. Inserts with extensions perpendicular to the main flow give rise to
intensive local mixing, disturbing the boundary layer and contributing to significant increase in transport processes across membranes and heat exchanger surfaces. The basics for increased transport coefficients are being developed.