A price tag for turning waste into treasure
- Beschreibung
Introduction:
Hydrothermal carbonization is a promising technology that can transform residual biomass into valuable products such as carbon-rich solids (hydrochar) and phosphorus-based fertilizers. These products play an important role in the transition toward a sustainable, circular bioeconomy. While the science behind hydrothermal processes is well studied, one question often remains unanswered: what would it actually cost to build such a system in practice?
In this research, you will take a closer look at the “hidden bill” of waste-to-value technologies. Based on a biorefinery process flow diagram provided by the supervisor, the task is to identify the major equipment units and estimate their investment costs. To do this, you will combine information provided in the process diagram with research in literature, cost databases, and even direct contact with equipment suppliers via email or phone.
By completing the project, you will gain hands-on experience in cost analysis and technical communication, and the results will provide a first glimpse into the economics of hydrothermal technologies.
Estimated working plan:
- Task 1: Equipment mapping
Analyze the process diagram to identify the main equipment units required for the system and create an initial equipment list with basic descriptions.
- Task 2 – Cost research
Collect purchase cost data for the listed equipment from literature, online databases, and suppliers (via e-mail or phone). An installation factor will be applied to approximate installed costs.
- Task 3 – Results and communication
Organize all findings in a transparent spreadsheet with documented sources. Compare values, highlight differences, and present conclusions according to Humboldt Reloaded requirements.
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2025/2026
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 13. bis 27.10.2025
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
- The report/abstract/presentation can be done in German. The spoken language between the supervisor and the students would be English.
- The project schedule and implementation will be adapted according to the student's availability.
- Studienfach
- offen für alle Studienfächer
- Betreuende
- Leiddi Leal, Dr. Gero Becker, Prof. Dr. Andrea Kruse
- Institut
- Institut für Agrartechnik (440) (Conversion Technologies of Biobased Resources)
- Sprache
- deutsch/englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 3
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 180 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 6
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist kein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- theoretisch/nicht experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
In this project, the participants will learn to:
- Understand the basics of techno-economic assessment in process engineering.
- Learn how to extract and interpret process information from a flowsheet.
- Gain experience in collecting cost data from literature and real suppliers.
- Develop skills in structuring data in spreadsheets and comparing different sources.
- Improve communication skills through reporting and presentation of technical results.
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
For further questions regarding the project, contact me via email: leiddi.leal@uni-hohenheim.de.
- Schlagworte
- Techno-economic analysis;, biorefinery;, hydrothermal carbonization;, biomass;, waste-to-value;, sustainability.