Resource-efficient use of large-scale scientific equipment – Success for two TUD projects the German Research Foundation's (DFG) funding call

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding a total of nine projects with around EUR 5.5 million as part of a nationwide ideas competition for the more resource-efficient use of large scientific equipment. TUD Dresden University of Technology is playing a key role in two of these projects: a Germany-wide project to increase resource efficiency in light microscopy and a development project for a novel liquid helium transfer system at TUD.

By participating in two of the nine projects selected by the DFG, TUD is making a visible contribution to the more ecologically and economically sustainable use of large-scale scientific equipment in Germany – from light microscopy in the life sciences to cryogenic cooling for cutting-edge research in physics, materials science, and energy technology.

Both of these projects fit seamlessly into TUD's strategic focus on combining research excellence with responsible and prudent use of resources – while also opening up prospects for transferable technical solutions and standards that can benefit universities and research institutions nationwide.

Quality standards for more sustainable light microscopy
As part of the project “Increasing resource efficiency in light microscopy through quality control and standards,” TUD is collaborating with German BioImaging – Gesellschaft für Mikroskopie und Bildanalyse (German BioImaging – Society for Microscopy and Image Analysis - GerBI-GMB) and the University of Freiburg.
The project will be funded for 36 months and will finance three staff positions.

The objective of the project is to increase the resource efficiency of light microscopes through systematic quality control, standardization, and uniform performance monitoring procedures. Based on the internationally recognized QUAREP-LiMi (Quality Assessment and Reproducibility for Instruments and Images in Light Microscopy) initiative, standards are to be established that

• improve measurement quality and reproducibility
• reduce downtime of microscope systems,
• extend the service life of the devices, and
• make the existing infrastructure more sustainable.

TUD is contributing the expertise and infrastructure of the CMCB technology platform “Light Microscopy Facility” and is centrally involved in the design and implementation via Dr. Hella Hartmann.

TurboHeTra: More efficient liquid helium for cutting-edge research
TUD is also represented with its own large-scale equipment project, “TurboHeTra – Dual-flow cryogenic transfer system with pump for loss-reduced liquid helium supply.”

The Schaufler Chair of Refrigeration, Cryogenics and Compressor Technology at TUD operates the central helium liquefaction plant. Liquid helium (LHe) at 4 K (-269 °C) is a critical resource for numerous research applications – for example, in superconductivity, high-field magnets, NMR systems, particle accelerators, and in basic and materials research.

Until now, the transfer of liquid helium into transport containers has resulted in considerable ullage: Approximately 30 percent of the initial quantity evaporates and must be liquefied again in energy- and cost-intensive processes.

In a previous project at TUD, a dual-flow prototype with a cryogenic turbo pump was demonstrated that can reduce these losses to around four percent. In the newly funded DFG project,

• the design of the dual-flow transfer line will be simplified and made more compact,
• the helium feed pump will be optimized with the aid of simulations and manufactured as an improved prototype,
• and the cavitation and long-term behavior of the pump will be investigated in detail.

Furthermore, a new system control is to enable the technology to be used in different helium systems with varying operating conditions.

The project will run from January 2026 to December 2028 and is expected to have a major impact on energy and resource efficiency: Existing helium systems will be able to operate with significantly lower losses, increasing the supply capacity for liquid helium by around a third – without the need for additional large-scale investment.

Background
The DFG launched the ideas competition in 2023 with the aim of identifying new ways to use resource-intensive large-scale equipment more efficiently, sustainably, and for longer. Of the 75 concepts submitted, 15 were invited to apply for funding, and nine projects have now been approved.

Contact TU Dresden – Light Microscopy Project
Dr. Hella Hartmann
TU Dresden, CMCB Technology Platform, Light Microscopy Facility
Email:

Contact TU Dresden – TurboHeTra Project
Institute of Power Engineering, Schaufler Chair of Refrigeration, Cryogenics and Compressor Technology
Prof. Christoph Haberstroh
(https://tu-dresden.de/ing/maschinenwesen/iet/kkt/die-professur/Mitarbeiter/haberstroh/index)

Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Doll
(https://tu-dresden.de/ing/maschinenwesen/iet/kkt/die-professur/Mitarbeiter/johannes-doll/johannes-doll)