Research at the CSE institute
Innovation through research
We create safety for the processes and plants of tomorrow !
The Center of Safety Excellence stands for research and innovation in process and plant safety. Safety is dynamic. Current findings and requirements for safe plants in the chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries as well as in the oil and gas sector must be continuously included. This requires innovative solutions.
The Center of Safety Excellence aims to develop the most innovative safety concepts in the area of conflict between maximum safety for technical plants and the greatest possible benefit of technologies for the public. People and the environment must be protected in the best possible way without disproportionately restricting industrial needs.
The unique mix of young academics from a wide range of disciplines, the active involvement of industry, and years of experience and contribution in the field of safety technology guarantee the claim of “Leadership in Process and Plant Safety”.
Innovation, promotion of young talent and maintenance of competence can only be achieved sustainably through research and development.
Research focus
Research foci at the CSE Institute are initiated by the Scientific Advisory Board. They are multi-year in nature, usually in the range of 6-8 years. The foci set the framework for the research projects, e.g. PhDs
For your information, select a focus area of your choice from the menu or get inspired by scrolling through the page.
Green Safety
CeSaRE
Smart Safety
Risk Management
Plant Security
Research focus
Green Safety
Zero Emission.
No more releases of hazardous substances – that is the future. Today, plant malfunctions and leaks are often the cause of such releases. Environmental damage, toxic poisoning, fires and explosions are possible effects. This costs companies a lot of money and damages their image.
Innovative protection concepts are required!
Technical plants must be brought to a safe state even before a release is imminent. At the latest, however, when a small leak occurs.
Green Safety is the challenge for an even safer future!
Early detection of leaks depends on the substance and the current operating and environmental conditions (e.g. weather) of a plant. There are numerous challenges: buried pipelines for gas transport, heat-insulated reactors in the chemical industry, large containers in petrochemical plants, or inaccessible machinery.
CSE is developing sensors and safety concepts for a ZERO emission future.
CSE builds models for reliable release predictions
CSE researches methods for the detection of leakages
CSE is a thought leader in the field of economic safety. The processes and plants of the future will be cleaner, safer and more economical at the same time!
Research focus
Smart Safety
Safe and more economical.
Is that possible? But yes! Because intelligent protective devices will adapt to processes, procedures, current design limits, environmental requirements, etc. in the future.
The time of static safety concepts is coming to an end.
CSE develops safety devices with which the current safety margins can be maintained, but also economically exploited.
Materials change strength with environmental conditions. Allowable strength limits apply to worst-case conditions – in practice, these conditions are rarely reached. Why are strength limits not dynamic?
Economic Safety is the future of process and plant safety!
Safety devices are designed for a worst case scenario. Among all fault conditions, this is the most critical scenario. Why are protective devices not adapted to the current safety margins of a pressure vessel, its contents and its current operating conditions?
From an economic point of view, processes and plants can usually be utilized much better. This saves time and costs. This is possible with innovative safety concepts.
The CSE develops innovative Smart Protection Devices
The CSE combines Artificial Intelligence and Functional Safety
The CSE researches modular concepts for safety engineering
The CSE automates safety-related methods
In the future, safety devices will be intelligent, modular and adapted to processes.
Research focus
Technology is in a state of flux. That harbors dangers. What energies will drive processes and plants tomorrow? What safety concepts are needed to make the changeover sustainable and climate-neutral? Are there new dangers from the changes or climate change?
The integrity of processes and plants must be guaranteed, even with the latest energies and technologies. Hazards are sometimes difficult to detect, or are detected only at a late stage. That is why a leap in innovation is also necessary in safety technology.
Green hydrogen instead of natural gas, coal or nuclear power. Perhaps with an intermediate solution via ammonia. This will only work if production and transport succeed safely and the pipelines and plants of the various industries are converted safely to the new energy. Are the existing materials, lubricants, seals, etc. suitable? What are the effects of disruptions and releases? Safety concepts must be rethought. Integrity management must be expanded. Hazards such as sabotage and terror are more intensively included.
Every change in technology harbors dangers. Early detection and avoidance – that’s what research can do.
CSE researches safety concepts for the safe conversion of plants and pipelines to sustainable production and renewable energies
CSE is investigating the impact of climate change and resulting natech events on the safety of facilities and pipelines
CSE develops risk and integrity management systems using artificial intelligence methods
CSE automates digital, quantitative risk analysis for dense settlements
Research focus
Plant Security
Security integrated in Safety.
Processes and plants are increasingly monitored and safeguarded with PCE devices. This opens up the risk of such safety systems being modified or switched off by cyber-physical attacks. And beyond that, scenarios are conceivable that are reasonably excluded in the event of technical malfunctions.
Cyber attacks on technical equipment are current threats!
Digitalization and automation have significantly changed safety concepts in recent years. Thousands of sensors and circuits have been integrated into plants via functional safety. Zoning, management of change, inspection and maintenance of electronic, operational or safety instrumented systems (SIS) have become part of safety concepts.
It is no longer sufficient to consider technical faults and random failures of electrical systems. Security must be integrated into the classic safety analysis.
The CSE develops integrated safety & security protection concepts for plants
CSE conducts research on defense and early detection strategies for sabotage and terrorism
CSE investigates the resilience of security systems
CSE combines methods from safety and security
Research focus
Risk Management
We need to become even safer!
The safety of production plants, pipelines and machines is based on the trust of the public. It relies on safety concepts being up-to-date and applied at the highest level. People and the environment must not be endangered.
Developing new safety concepts and expanding existing concepts is the mission of the Center of Safety Excellence.
Environmental hazards, fires, explosions during malfunctions and damage due to technical failure, human error or external influences cannot be ruled out. However, these events must always remain rare. Through scientific research, safety must be continuously increased. This includes technical and organizational measures. Standstill is regression. This is proactive risk management.
Die Kommunikation mit der Öffentlichkeit über Risiken von technischen Anlagen wird zunehmend wichtiger (Risk Communication). Das Vertrauen in die Betreiber von Anlagen muss täglich neu erarbeitet werden.
The industry needs the trust of the public. It needs the “SOCIAL LICENCE TO OPERATE”.
CSE conducts innovative research and increases the safety of technical systems
The CSE educates young professionals
The CSE actively communicates about risks and benefits
The CSE builds trust
Today’s safety concepts will no longer be acceptable tomorrow. Security is a process, not a state. Research promotes security.
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