U.S.-Australia Catalyzing New International Collaboration: Two-Phase Solar Reactor Development by the Novel Application of Advanced Laser Diagnostics and Modeling

该奖项支持合作研究访问，使印第安纳州西拉斐特普渡大学的约翰·亚伯拉罕教授能够与澳大利亚阿德莱德大学能源技术中心（CET）主任格雷厄姆·内森教授会面。研究人员将开始计划一个合作项目，通过先进激光诊断和建模的新应用来开发两阶段太阳能反应堆。他们将开发一种优化的气化工艺，利用太阳辐射作为热源，从碳原料生产合成气。碳原料气化生产合成气已被证明是一种清洁有效的利用煤和生物质的方法。改善气化发生的反应器的性能可以提高系统的整体效率。反应器内存在最佳压力和温度条件、流量和传热条件以及停留时间要求，可使合成气产量最大化。在CET反应器中，集中的太阳辐射被用来启动气化过程。CET已经开发了独特和先进的光学诊断技术来进行基础实验研究，以实现这一改进的理解。然而，拟议中的实验本身并不能提供完全了解反应堆物理特性所需的信息。先进的计算模型也是必需的，美国研究人员将通过开发适用于紧凑、直接热交换太阳能反应堆的可靠的计算流体动力学模型来提供这些模型。美国和澳大利亚的研究人员之间有足够的兴趣重叠，表明他们可以成功地开展所提议的活动，并且通过发展开发用于碳原料气化的高效反应器所需的基本理解，这种互动将使双方受益。美国和澳大利亚都拥有大量的煤炭储量。先进的煤气化炉将大大加速这些国家清洁煤技术的发展，这将有助于减少碳排放。对煤炭等国内能源的依赖也将加强两国的能源安全。一名美国研究生将参加这次访问。这个项目将为学生提供额外的学术和文化体验，以及研究的各个方面的经验。预计该学生将与澳大利亚合作者保持联系，以便在未来进行更多的研究项目。

1132383AbrahamThis award supports a collaborative research visit to enable Professor John Abraham at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana to meet with Professors Graham Nathan, Director of the Centre for Energy Technology (CET) at the University of Adelaide in Australia. The researchers will begin planning a collaborative project on a two-phase solar reactor development by the novel application of advanced laser diagnostics and modeling. They will develop an optimization gasification process for production of syngas from carbon feedstocks using solar radiation as the heat source. Gasification of carbon feedstocks to produce syngas has been shown to be a clean and efficient way to utilize coal and biomass. Improvements in the performance of the reactor in which the gasification occurs can increase the overall efficiency of the system. There are optimum pressure and temperature conditions, flow and heat transfer conditions, and residence time requirements within the reactor which can maximize the production of syngas. At the CET reactor, concentrated solar radiation is employed to initiate the gasification process. The CET has developed unique and advanced optical diagnostic techniques to carry out fundamental experimental studies to achieve this improved understanding. However, the proposed experiments alone cannot provide the information needed to achieve a complete understanding of the physics in the reactor. Advanced computational modeling is also required and will be provided by the U.S. researchers by developing a reliable computational fluid dynamics model suitable for compact, direct heat-exchange solar reactors. There is sufficient overlap of interests between researchers in the U.S and Australia to indicate that they can successfully pursue the activities proposed, and that the interaction will benefit both sides by developing the fundamental understanding needed to develop highly-efficient reactors for gasification of carbon feedstocks. Both the U.S. and Australia possess large coal reserves. Advanced coal gasifiers will significantly accelerate the development of clean coal technologies in these countries and this will help in the reduction of carbon emissions. Dependence on domestic energy resources, such as coal, will also strengthen the energy security of both countries. A U.S. graduate student will be taking part in this visit. This project will provide the student with additional academic and cultural experiences, as well as experience in all aspects of the research. It is anticipated that the student will maintain contact with the Australian collaborators for additional research projects in the future.