Research
Current projects
Kassel's water supply currently covers the needs of 240,000 people as well as numerous industrial and commercial enterprises via a diversified system of spring water, deep wells and a groundwater recharge system along the Fulda. This mix basically makes it possible to use the available resources flexibly. However, increasing periods of drought mean that the spring areas and rivers carry less water. At the same time, however, consumption is rising sharply, especially in the summer months. In addition, heavy rainfall events are impacting water quality due to the introduction of turbidity, meaning that some spring water cannot be used for supply purposes.
The aim of the Flexilienz joint project is to develop new technologies and operating concepts in order to minimize the energy and resource requirements of the water supply. The focus is on the following three main topics:
- Increasing the availability and quality of spring water (WP1)
- Development of resource-saving and grid-friendly hydrogen infrastructures(WP2 and WP3)
- Development of grid-friendly operation of water management systems through load management and consumption forecasts (WP4)
These technologies and operating concepts are to be tested in practice in the Kassel real-world laboratory. Through the targeted integration of existing infrastructures and the use of renewable resources, sustainable structures are to be created that can be applied nationwide.
Duration: 01.03.2025 - 28.02.2028
Project partner: Städtische Werke Netz + Service GmbH (NGS)
TZW - DVGW Water Technology Center
Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology
EnWaT GmbH - Energy and water technology
Oppermann GmbH - Engineering office - Consulting engineers
Funding: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space - BMFTR
Project Leader: Dr.-Ing. Philipp Otter / Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Morck
The potential study KlärWP.Hessen shows that if the heat supply is converted from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas to renewable energies, treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants can also be used to provide heat in the future: Around 5 % to 6 % of building-related heat consumption could be generated annually using heat pumps from Hessian wastewater treatment plants.
The WQ.Hessen potential study is based on this, in which the potential for heat supply in Hessian municipalities from flowing water, smaller sewage treatment plants and waste heat from thermal waste treatment is examined. The Urban Water Management department focuses on wastewater treatment plants of size classes 2 and 3 and examines in detail the influence of extraneous water on the wastewater heat potential. The aim of the study is to gain in-depth insights into seasonal fluctuations in wastewater heat potential.
Duration: 01.08.2024 - 28.02.2025
Project partner: University of Kassel:
Department of Urban Water Management
Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management
Department of Resource Management and Waste Technology
Department of Solar and Systems Engineering
Funding: LEA LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen GmbH
Project Leader: apl. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Jordan
Phosphorus inputs into Hessian watercourses are calculated by modeling with the "Model for the determination of phosphorus loads from diffuse and point sources" (MEPhos, developed by Forschungszentrum Jülich). In total, MEPhos calculates the phosphorus inputs from 11 input paths, differentiated by area. The three largest shares of phosphorus inputs are therefore the input paths of sewage treatment plants, water erosion from agriculture and combined sewer overflows. The inputs as a result of combined sewer overflows are subject to very high temporal and spatial variability, which is why the accuracy of the determination of the hydraulic conditions is of great importance. In order to determine the average P inputs, the average concentration of total phosphorus in the mixed water during heavy rainfall must also be known. These concentration values are usually taken from the literature, unless the results of regional studies in the catchment area under consideration are available. Within the scope of this project, the quality of the hydraulic input data from the data collection in the specialist information system "Hessische Abwasseranlagen" (FIS HAA) is to be investigated, checked for plausibility and optimized in order to be able to describe the actual mixed water discharge quantities at the Hessian rainwater overflows more precisely with regard to frequency, duration and quantity. The final objective of the study to be awarded is to create a data set from the available measurements for the MEPhos modeling of combined sewer overflows, which can be used for the calibration/validation of the simulated phosphorus inputs from combined sewer overflows.
Duration: 04/2024 - 09/2025
Funding: Hessian State Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG)
Project Leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Morck
The KA4H2 project has an ambitious goal: to create optimal conditions for the production of hydrogen from treated wastewater in wastewater treatment plants. This initiative aims to simplify approval procedures and install hydrogen electrolysers at wastewater treatment plants.
Wastewater treatment plants offer ideal conditions for hydrogen production. Not only is the (waste) water available for electrolysis, but the by-products such as oxygen and waste heat can also be used on site. These plants could also play a key role in the load management of electricity grids by converting surplus electricity into green hydrogen. This can be stored, used directly on site or converted back into electricity.
The Urban Water Management department is taking on the following tasks as part of the KA4H2 project:
- Evaluating the technical possibilities for hydrogen production, storage and use directly at wastewater treatment plants.
- Determination of the potential of hydrogen electrolysis based on the DWA performance record for municipal wastewater treatment plants in Baden-Württemberg.
- Development of framework conditions for the safe production of green hydrogen from wastewater treatment plant effluents to minimize the environmental impact on water bodies.
- Exemplary scaling of hydrogen technologies at a wastewater treatment plant and development of key figures for transferability to other sites.
The KA4H2 project focuses on the formulation of these framework conditions and the preparation of pilot projects. Wastewater treatment plants could thus make an important contribution to decentralized energy supply and hydrogen infrastructures in the future, which would represent a significant step towards climate protection in Germany.
Project partners: DVGW - Research Center at the Engler-Bunte-Institute (EBI) of the KIT, Karlsruhe
Umwelttechnik BW GmbH, Stuttgart
Duration: 01.12.2023 - 30.11.2025
Funding: Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Württemberg
Project Leader: Dr.-Ing. Philipp Otter / Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Morck
The KIkKa research project is making an important contribution to the "race to zero" in wastewater treatment by helping to reduce climate-relevant emissions, with a particular focus on the formation and emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) within biological wastewater treatment. Nitrous oxide is particularly relevant as it has a global warming potential 273 times higher than carbon dioxide. KIkKa is researching ways to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and the energy requirements of a wastewater treatment plant at the same time by combining innovative measurement methods and AI approaches. The use of AI helps to identify patterns in the relationships between control and target variables in the biological processes of wastewater treatment. This enables the development of concrete reduction measures in real plant operation, which represents an important contribution to avoiding direct emissions from wastewater treatment.
Project partners: University of Kassel (FG SWW)
Variolytics GmbH (network coordination)
Göppingen municipal drainage (SEG)
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB)
Duration: 01.01.2023 - 30.06.2025
Funding: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)
Project Leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Morck / Malte Thormann, M.Sc.
As part of the SDG graduate program CirCles, the potential of innovative recycling paths for urban biowaste is being investigated in collaboration with the departments of Sustainable Marketing, Resource Management and Waste Technology as well as Grassland Science and Renewable Resources. The inter- and transdisciplinary project aims to close urban carbon cycles by providing biowaste free of foreign substances, processing it in a targeted manner and recycling it sustainably.
Currently, activated carbons based on hard coal or coconut are mainly used for the targeted removal of organic trace substances from wastewater matrices. Alternatively, biowaste can be used to produce bio-based activated carbons in order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful effects. As part of CirCles, the Department of Urban Water Management is researching the substitution of fossil additives in advanced wastewater treatment with bio-based activated carbons and investigating their real sustainability potential. Particular attention is paid to the influence of various process parameters in activated carbon production on the achievable adsorption performance and the simulation-based description of the adsorption processes on bio-based activated carbons.
Project partner: University of Kassel:
Department of Urban Water Management
Department of Sustainable Marketing
Department of Resource Management and Waste Technology
Department of Grassland Sciences and Renewable Resources
Associated partners:Stadtreiniger Kassel
Waste disposal district of Kassel
KASSELWASSER
Environmental and Garden Office of the City of Kassel
Duration: 09/2022 - 02/2026
Sponsorship: University of Kassel
Own funds Departments
Links: Project homepage CirCles
The submerged membrane processes currently used for wastewater treatment are mainly static processes. The membrane fibers or plates are bundled in a rack, which in turn is permanently installed in the reactor. The overflow required to control the surface layer is mainly achieved by introducing air. For this reason, submerged membrane systems require significantly more aeration energy compared to conventional systems and also require considerably more cleaning and maintenance.
As part of the research work, a new type of membrane development is being investigated with the aim of significantly increasing the flux and solids content of currently used systems by means of a new design with short membrane fibers and by rotating the fibers. This is to be achieved with simultaneously lower backwash intervals and air volumes.
Project partner: University of Kassel (FG SWW)
Funding: Own funds
At the Achern wastewater treatment plant, powdered activated carbon is simultaneously dosed into the biological stage of the wastewater treatment plant for further elimination of trace substances. In addition to demonstrating the simple implementation of the process, the project will develop operating settings that can be transferred to other wastewater treatment plants to ensure that the process functions efficiently and economically. This is supported by a simulation-based description of the relevant processes. The project is divided into two phases. In phase 1, preliminary investigations are carried out in the laboratory and on a semi-industrial scale in order to gain insights into the design of the large-scale implementation of the project. A semi-industrial test plant will be used in particular to investigate questions relating to the powdered activated carbon requirement, the dosing strategy and the effects on the capacity reserves of the biological stage. Phase 2 will examine the extent to which the findings can be verified on an industrial scale. In addition, the operating mode will be optimized in this phase. The two phases are separated in time by the construction and installation of the technical plant components for the expansion of the Achern wastewater treatment plant to include the process of simultaneous dosing of powdered activated carbon.
Project partners:University of Kassel (FG SWW)
City of Achern
Weber-Ingenieure GmbH
Duration: 09/2019 - 06/2023
Funding: Baden-Württemberg state funding
Project Leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Morck
Completed projects
Even in the cold winter months, municipal wastewater has a relatively high temperature compared to the outside air and is therefore a valuable source of heat, especially during the heating period. Because sewage treatment plants can be found in almost all larger municipalities, it makes sense to make use of this heat source. As part of municipal heat planning, which will be mandatory for larger municipalities in Hesse from 2024, wastewater heat should therefore be given special consideration.
Against this background, the KlärWP.Hessen study provides a valuable basis for local authorities. It helps to identify suitable areas for the construction of new heating networks and aims to simplify the associated planning effort.
Both the heat demand of municipalities and the heat supply potential of the wastewater produced are subject to seasonal fluctuations. A key aspect of this study is therefore the intersection of the variable annual profiles and the development of the resulting coverage rates. For this purpose, standardized annual profiles of the wastewater heat potential are being developed at the Department of Urban Water Management as part of KlärWP.Hessen.
Project partner: University of Kassel:
Department of Urban Water Management
Department of Solar and Systems Engineering
Duration: 01.08.2023 - 29.02.2024
Funding: LEA LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen GmbH
Project Leader: apl. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Jordan
RoKKa - Sewage sludge as a source of raw materials and climate protection at sewage treatment plants
Recovering raw materials from wastewater and promoting climate protection: That is the aim of the RoKKa research project.
To this end, we are investigating the various processes of targeted phosphorus elimination from wastewater at the Urban Water Management research group with the new objective of developing a local phosphorus source for microalgae for the production of beta-glucans as a plant biostimulant and for fertilizer production. We are also looking at the climate compatibility of the bioeconomic production processes from wastewater investigated in RoKKa. Nitrous oxide (N2O) plays a key role here, as one gram of N2Ocontributes 265 times more to the greenhouse effect in 100 years than one gram ofCO2. Direct nitrous oxide emissions are produced during wastewater treatment as intermediate and by-products of biological nitrogen elimination. Innovative separation and utilization of nitrogen from wastewater therefore also holds great potential for climate protection.
Project partners:University of Kassel (FG SWW)
Umwelttechnik BW GmbH (project coordinator)
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB
University of Stuttgart (IGVP)
TU Kaiserslautern (FG rewa)
SolarSpring GmbH
Deukum GmbH
Nanoscience for life GmbH
City of Erbach
Steinhäule wastewater treatment plant association
Duration: 08.11.2021 - 31.03.2024
Funding:Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Württemberg
European Union
Project Leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Morck
Links: https://www.pure-bw.de/de/rokka-rohstoffquelle-klaeranlage
The DecS project pursues the vision of removing organic trace substances from wastewater streams in as targeted a manner as possible and reducing the necessary use of resources from the available technologies (ozone, PAH, GAC). DecS uses the driver of digitalization by intelligently processing continuously recorded measurement data from a new online sensor system and linking it with digital model images. DecS investigates the real sustainability potential of digitized trace substance elimination and answers general questions on simulation-supported process optimization in water management plants. The feasibility of large-scale implementation is being tested in digital real laboratories (Dülmen wastewater treatment plant, Bad Sassendorf wastewater treatment plant) in order to gain concrete experience in the interaction of digital instruments in the sense of a proof of concept.
Project partners:University of Kassel (FG SWW, network coordination)
UNISENSOR Sensorsysteme GmbH
ifak e.V. Magdeburg
Lippeverband (EGLV)
Weber-Ingenieure GmbH
Duration: 04/2021 - 10/2023
Funded by:Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Digital GreenTech - Environmental technology meets digitalization
Project Leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Morck / Janna Parniske, M.Sc.
Links: Project homepage DecS
As part of PAKauf, an adsorption stage with powdered activated carbon in dedusting operation (PAK-SBR) is being tested in semi-industrial trials for the further elimination of trace substances. The investigations are supported by a simulation-based description of the process in order to be able to answer questions about the optimization of the cycle phases, among other things.
Project partners:University of Kassel (FG SWW)
AZV Unteres Sulmtal
Weber-Ingenieure GmbH
Competence Center for Trace Substances Baden-Württemberg (KomS)
Duration: 03/2021 - 02/2022
Funding: State funding Baden-Württemberg