The design process of cooling systems relies heavily on numerical and empirical methods. In the current state, experimental methods for the determination of the convective heat transport are used only in the late design process, since common methods are associated with high costs in terms of time and money. In contrast, the extremely fast MRI measurement process produces data sets with millions of velocity and temperature measurement points in just a few hours. Furthermore, because no optical access is required, models can be made quickly and inexpensively using rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing methods. MRI measurements could thus be integrated in the early stage of the development process, which can significantly improve the prediction accuracy of the designs. For the examinations, the Institute of Fluid Mechanics owns a MRI laboratory, which is specially designed for flow measurements in the context of engineering.

The fundamental feasibility of quantitatively measuring three-dimensional temperature fields in flows using MRI measurement techniques has already been demonstrated in preliminary studies. In this project, the measurement process will now be optimized and error influences will be minimized in order to advance the further development of measurement technology right up to industrial maturity. In particular, it is investigated how this methodology can be applied to the design of turbine blade cooling systems for aircraft engines.