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Revolutionary compressed air technology: Save with new nanomaterial!
The CAU Kiel presents innovative compressed air technology: Energy-efficient methods from aerographite for industrial optimization.
Revolutionary compressed air technology: Save with new nanomaterial!
On April 3, 2025, the research community will present a significant advance in compressed air technology, made by the Working Group for Functional Nanomaterials at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel (CAU), under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Rainer Adelung, was made possible. This newly developed method of generating compressed air could have far-reaching consequences for various production processes, especially in high-tech bakeries that rely on compressed air technology.
The importance of compressed air technology is undeniable: around 10% of industrial electricity consumption comes from the production of compressed air. In order to reduce this high energy requirement, the working group has developed a novel process that is not only energy efficient, but also reliable and low-wear. A pneumatic piston was presented at the Hanover Trade Fair that is considered an innovative highlight.
Sustainability and efficiency
The new process is characterized by the absence of traditional components such as compressors, hoses or valves. Instead, the compressed air is generated directly in the piston by applying voltage. This technology is based on aerographite, an ultra-light nanomaterial that consists of 99.9% air and whose carbon struts not only conduct electricity but can also heat up extremely quickly. Within a thousandth of a second, temperature increases of several hundred degrees are possible, which leads to an explosive expansion of the air in the cavities.
This efficiency could not only simplify the design of gripper arms and production lines, but also significantly reduce costs. In addition, the researchers have already attracted the first investors and are planning to found a start-up to further develop this promising technology.
Future applications
The applications of this new compressed air technology are almost unlimited. Future developments could include, among other things, novel loudspeakers that could be integrated into hearing aids. Such innovations are particularly relevant in the context of global primary energy demand, which is expected to increase significantly in the near future.
The need to find new ways to ensure social, environmental and economic sustainability is becoming increasingly urgent. Scarcity of resources and the environmental problem of climate change represent significant challenges, and the reduction of CO2 emissions has so far been achieved primarily by reducing fossil fuels. Compressed air technology is a widespread cross-sectional technology in industry and could play a key role in improving energy efficiency.
By combining innovative research and practical applications, newly developed compressed air technology can contribute to a more sustainable industrial future. As can be seen from the results of a comprehensive study, the focus is on researching and developing alternative methods for the energy-efficient production of industrial compressed air, which could be used in a wide variety of areas. Further details can be found at TUprints and TUprints_Study.