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 (1,000C 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.**