Prof. Zigan's group teaches and conducts research in the field of energy engineering especially in thermodynamics as well as heat and mass transfer, focusing in particular on the development and application of optical diagnostics.
Lars Zigan studied automotive engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau and mechanical engineering at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). In his doctoral thesis at FAU, he focused on the influence of alternative fuels on IC engine injection and was awarded IAV GmbH's Hermann Appel Prize for the dissertation. In his habilitation thesis, he developed laser-based imaging techniques for the simultaneous determination of temperature, concentration and velocity fields in reactive flows. He received the Wilhelm-Jost-Preis 2019 of the German Section of the Combustion Institute for his outstanding achievements in the field of combustion research.
Planned work at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich at the Institute of Thermodynamics addresses the increase in efficiency and reduction of CO2 and pollutant emissions from processes in energy engineering and propulsion technology. The focus is on the synthesis and use of alternative energy carriers such as hydrogen and hydrogen carriers as well as synthetic and biogenic liquid fuels. Other focal points are investigations of spray and combustion processes as well as the optimization of cooling in combustion chambers and of electronic components in electrified drives. The optical measurement techniques developed for this purpose will also be used in interdisciplinary joint projects at UniBw M, in larger research associations, and in international teams. Here, industrial cooperations will also play an important role.