Massively parallel computational methods for combined-modes heat transfer with applications to concentrated solar power technologies

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CONTEXT: The proposed research program is in the field of high-efficiency energy systems: in particular, solar-electricity production by thermo-mechanical conversion. The interest in the program is motivated by the fact that such technology, although mostly required, is currently limited to an average annual conversion efficiency of 15-18%. The cost of electricity thusly produced may be as much as three times that of electricity produced using conventional fossil fuels. A breakthrough in the competitiveness of solar-thermal plants will occur when the conversion efficiency will be significantly increased, and if this improved technology could still be simple, reliable and inexpensive. The desired breakthrough may reside in high-temperature (1,000°C or above) combined-cycle power plants, with gas and steam turbines operating in series, for which the conversion efficiency could reach 60% and the overall efficiency up to 30%. Providing solar heat at these temperatures would involve significant challenges, such as: designing materials for high temperatures, optimizing radiative and convective heat transfer in receivers and optics for high-concentration. OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of this research program are to: 1) study the fundamentals of the volumetric absorption of concentrated solar energy on porous materials, more specifically, semi-transparent reticulated ceramic materials subjected to high-pressure air flows, and then; 2) create “numerical” or virtual reticulated porous ceramics to be investigated by computational means, and simultaneously; 3) formulate, implement and validate a numerical method for fluid flow simulations in porous media, and simultaneously; 4) formulate, implement and validate a numerical method for combined-modes of heat transfer in porous media, and then; 5) combine both methods to investigate the above-mentioned virtual ceramics, and then; 6) experimentally test the conversion performances of real ceramics constructed according to the optimal design, and simultaneously; 7) reformulate parts of the main code based on Lattice Boltzmann methods, which in theory, are required to enhance computational time. OUTCOMES : Outcomes from this research will be a proper understanding of the key of optico-thermal conversion unit (the volumetric absorber) in the global technology. Our country, along with the rest of the world, will face an energy crisis in the decades to come; in this context, research in thermal-energy engineering could potentially lead to the development of new and vital energy and environmental technologies for Canada.