Descripción del proyecto
Un nuevo método para mejorar la producción de energía solar térmica
El equipo del proyecto ONESTEP, financiado por las acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, pretende mejorar la generación de energía fototérmica en los países del norte de Europa que carecen de luz solar constante. El equipo de ONESTEP mejorará la comprensión de la ebullición inducida por la radiación solar en nanofluidos. Se trata de un factor clave para la generación de vapor mediante energía fototérmica, ya que facilita una tecnología de colectores solares más eficiente. Los investigadores caracterizarán dos nuevos nanofluidos y desarrollarán nuevas técnicas de medición. Gracias a la realización de pruebas de ebullición y la ampliación de los modelos existentes, el equipo de ONESTEP proporcionará nuevas metodologías de investigación, dotando a los investigadores de competencias para la investigación industrial.
Objetivo
As part of its Green Deal, the EU aims to decarbonize energy production by 55% compared to 1990 levels and must turn to renewable energy sources. While the northern European countries have some access to these sources, they do not have consistent amounts of sunlight for photothermal energy (PE) generation. Novel approaches are under development to allow these regions to benefit from solar resources. Solar radiation-induced boiling in nanofluids can be used for PE steam generation as it facilitates more efficient solar collector technology. However, knowledge of the mechanisms behind this boiling is severely lacking because the methods to measure these systems are inaccurate at scale and cannot be used for practical, opaque nanofluids, limiting the focus to macroscopic properties. Understanding these mechanisms is the key to advancing PE technologies. Therefore, this project endeavours to develop and use new methods to qualify and quantify the photothermal boiling process in nanofluids at the microscale. I will move from Canada to Europe to complete this ambitious project with three specific aims. First, I will characterize two novel candidate nanofluids: plasma-functionalized graphene and carbon nanofibers (mass-produced by the project exploitation partner). Second, I will develop new, distinct measurement techniques that separate this study from existing ones which only measure temperature and steam flow rate. One method will use bubble bursting acoustics to quantity the number and size of bubbles. The other will use a medical X-ray technique, computed tomography, to image photothermal boiling for the first time. Finally, I will perform boiling tests to determine potential mechanisms and extend the existing models. With these objectives fulfilled, new information and methodologies will be developed for future research, I will gain new skills and competencies to prepare me for a future in industrial research, and Europe will be ONESTEP closer to a greener future.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinador
5020 Bergen
Noruega