Project description
New research to reveal turbulent flow physics of supercritical fluids
Above their critical temperature and pressure, fluids act as highly compressed gases, combining properties of gases and liquids in an intriguing manner. Understanding rich flow physics at supercritical conditions (for instance, sharp variations in thermodynamic properties, or high optical densities of fluids) is of crucial importance for engineers in all fields. The EU-funded CRITICAL project aims to expand our understanding of turbulent flow physics of supercritical fluids. Researchers will focus on gaining more information on the process of a laminar flow becoming turbulent, or better identifying how compressible effects influence heat transfer in turbulent flows. Shedding light on these mechanisms will contribute to breakthroughs in diverse engineering applications including utility-scale concentrated solar power plants and efficient propulsion systems.
Objective
From concentrated solar power plants to rocket engines, energy conversion systems are continually re-engineered to perform ever better. Often this involves fluids being pushed into the supercritical region, where highly non-ideal thermodynamic effects are at play. Yet, our fundamental understanding of flow physics at such conditions lags behind to successfully realize these exciting engineering applications. Especially, the sharp variations in thermophysical properties and the high optical density at supercritical pressures lead to significantly richer flow physics and even more intricate phenomena in turbulence. In three work packages, I will (1) elucidate laminar-turbulent transition; (2) unravel compressible effects on turbulence; and (3) unveil turbulence-radiation interactions, ranging from the critical point to conditions far into the supercritical region of a fluid. Exploiting my recent achievements, I will perform the first study of its kind, combining advanced hydrodynamic stability analysis, novel multi-physics simulation tools, and original experiments with infrared thermography to identify and characterize new flow physics in the supercritical fluid region. The results will reveal how and when flows in the non-ideal region transition to turbulence, how strong compressibility affects turbulent heat transfer, and how the higher optical density of a fluid interacts with turbulence. Uncovering these mechanisms will actively contribute to a breakthrough in a wide range of emerging technologies, from utility-scale concentrated solar power plants to more powerful and efficient propulsion systems.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputational sciencemultiphysics
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyconcentrated solar power
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantHost institution
2628 CN Delft
Netherlands