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

1132383 Abraham该奖项支持合作研究访问，使印第安纳州普渡大学的John Abraham教授能够与澳大利亚阿德莱德大学能源技术中心（CET）主任Graham Nathan教授会面。 研究人员将开始计划一个合作项目，通过先进的激光诊断和建模的新应用，开发一个两相太阳能反应堆。 他们将开发一种优化的气化工艺，利用太阳辐射作为热源，从碳原料中生产合成气。 气化碳原料以产生合成气已被证明是利用煤和生物质的清洁且有效的方式。 在其中发生气化的反应器的性能的改进可以增加系统的总效率。 在反应器内存在最佳的压力和温度条件、流动和传热条件以及停留时间要求，其可以使合成气的产量最大化。 在CET反应器中，采用集中的太阳辐射来启动气化过程。 CET开发了独特而先进的光学诊断技术，以进行基础实验研究，以实现这一改进的理解。 然而，单靠拟议的实验无法提供全面了解反应堆物理特性所需的信息。 还需要先进的计算建模，美国研究人员将通过开发适用于紧凑型直接热交换太阳能反应堆的可靠计算流体动力学模型来提供。 美国和澳大利亚的研究人员之间有足够的利益重叠，表明他们可以成功地开展所提出的活动，并且这种互动将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而使双方受益。 美国和澳大利亚都拥有丰富的煤炭资源。 先进的煤炭气化炉将大大加快这些国家清洁煤炭技术的发展，这将有助于减少碳排放。 对煤炭等国内能源资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。 该项目将为学生提供额外的学术和文化经验，以及在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.