energy supply. Presently, steam and gas turbine power plants with an electrical power output up to 1700 MW and 340 MW, respectively, are used. Turbomachines become increasingly important regarding mobile applications in ships, railway and automotive vehicles in the huge range from 1000 kW to 50 MW. In mobile applications jet engines are dominating aircraft propulsion since years. Turbochargers being used for charging Diesel and SI engines, and thus increasing the efficiency of these engines distinctly, represent another important design of turbomachines.

In spite of considerable progress during the past years further increase of efficiency and reduction of pollutant and noise emissions will be the major targets in research and development within future decades. Regarding all of the scenarios concerning future energy supply and mobility discussed today thermal turbomachines will play a decisive role.

The Institute of Thermal Turbomachines deals with the variety of issues arising from the thermodynamic process of gas turbines with its high pressures and temperatures. The key aspects of research activities are strongly associated with gas turbine components such as combustion chamber, turbine, rotor and bearing chamber. Thus, in a broader sense, they are concerned with flows in complex geometries taking especially into account the phenomena of two phase flow, chemical reaction, turbulent mixing, wall cooling methods and heat transfer as well as the interaction of flow and structure. In this regard new numerical and theoretical approaches are developed and sophisticated experimental investigations are carried out. The results obtained enter directly into new designs.

The lectures at the Institute of Thermal Turbomachines deal with all aspects of thermal turbomachines. Renowned representatives of industry and research discuss current issues and new developments in seminars.