Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPMThe »Thermal Energy Converters« department, headed by Dr Olaf Schäfer-Welsen, researches technology for pumping, converting, transferring and controlling heat. We develop, design and assemble efficient thermal energy conversion systems, including caloric heat pumps and cooling systems based on magnetocaloric, electrocaloric or elastocaloric materials and thermoelectric modules and systems which use waste heat.
Moreover, we are conducting research on novel designs for efficient heat transfer based on heat pipes and heat pipe-based thermal switches for regulating heat flows.