CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 18134

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia
Interests: CFD; RANS and hybrid RANS-LES turbulence modelling; computational aerodynamics; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energetics and Mechanics, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Cali 760030, Colombia
Interests: CFD; numerical methods; turbulence; two-phase flow; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Renewable energy systems play a major role in the solution to global problems such as the energy crisis and climate change. The need for better and more efficient renewable energy systems requires state-of-the-art techniques and tools for their design and analysis. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is one of those tools that have become a standard in the design process of thermal fluid systems. This Special Issue is focused on the application of CFD to the design, analysis, and optimization of renewable energy systems. The following topics are of interest for this Special Issue (but are not limited to them):

Wind energy:

  • Wind turbine (WT) aerodynamics.
  • WT aerodynamics and control.
  • WT aeroelasticity.
  • WT aeroacoustics.
  • Wind farm modeling.
  • Modeling of wake dynamics.
  • Reduced-order models for WT aerodynamics.
  • Multiscale modeling and coupling for WT aerodynamics.

Hydrogen:

  • Generation (electrolysis) modeling.
  • Compression and storage modeling.
  • Transport modeling.
  • Fuel cell modeling.
  • Combustion modeling.

Hydropower:

  • Turbine modeling.
  • Pump modeling.
  • Cavitation modeling.

Ocean energy:

  • Turbine for tidal energy modeling.
  • Wave energy converter modeling
  • Unsteady flow modeling.
  • Cavitation modeling.

Solar energy:

  • Solar radiation modeling.
  • Solar collector modeling.
  • Photovoltaic and thermal systems modeling.

Bioenergy:

  • Biomass combustion modeling.
  • Pyrolysis processes modeling.
  • Gasification modeling.
  • Chemical kinetics coupling and modeling.

Dr. Omar Dario Lopez Mejia
Prof. Dr. Santiago Lain
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • renewable energy system simulation and modeling
  • computational fluid dynamics
  • unsteady flow and system simulation
  • solar radiation modeling
  • turbulence modeling
  • biomass combustion modeling
  • hydrogen combustion modeling
  • hydrogen production and use modeling

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 5645 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation of Sediment’s Promoting Effect on Cavitation Based on Flow Field Analysis
by Zeyuan Yang, Gang Yu and Qin Zhao
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051299 - 24 Apr 2025
Abstract
Sediment-laden water significantly exacerbates the cavitation damage in hydraulic machinery compared to clear water, underscoring the importance of investigating the effects of sediment on cavitation. This study examines cavitation in sediment-laden water using a Venturi flow channel and a high-speed camera system. Natural [...] Read more.
Sediment-laden water significantly exacerbates the cavitation damage in hydraulic machinery compared to clear water, underscoring the importance of investigating the effects of sediment on cavitation. This study examines cavitation in sediment-laden water using a Venturi flow channel and a high-speed camera system. Natural river sand samples with a median diameter of 0.05, 0.07, and 0.09 mm are selected, and sediment-laden water with a concentration of 10, 30, and 50 g/L is prepared. The results indicate that increasing the sediment concentration or reducing the sediment size intensifies cavitation, and the influence of the sediment concentration is significantly greater than that of the sediment size. Meanwhile, the numerical simulation is conducted based on a gas–liquid–solid phase mixing model. The findings indicate that a higher sediment concentration corresponds to a greater shearing effect near the wall, which raises the drag on the attached sheet-like cavitation clouds and enhances the re-entrant jet which can intensify the shedding of cavitation clouds. Furthermore, sediment particles contribute to more vortices. Therefore, for hydraulic machinery operating in sediment-laden water of high concentration, the relative velocity should be reduced to mitigate the shearing effect, thereby weakening the synergy of cavitation and sediment erosion at the turbine runner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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29 pages, 22366 KiB  
Article
A CFD Study of Thermodynamics and Efficiency Metrics in a Hydrogen-Fueled Micro Planar Combustor Housing Dual Heat-Recirculating Cylindrical Combustors for MTPV Applications
by Faisal Almutairi
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041142 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 239
Abstract
The micro combustor is the energy source of micro-thermophotovoltaic systems; thus, optimizing its design is one of the key parameters that lead to an increase in output energy. Therefore, to enhance the system’s overall efficiency, this numerical work introduces a new design configuration [...] Read more.
The micro combustor is the energy source of micro-thermophotovoltaic systems; thus, optimizing its design is one of the key parameters that lead to an increase in output energy. Therefore, to enhance the system’s overall efficiency, this numerical work introduces a new design configuration for parallel-flow (PF) and counter-flow (CF) hydrogen-fueled micro cylindrical combustors integrated into a micro planar combustor. To overcome the short residence time in micro combustor applications causing high heat dissipation, the micro cylindrical combustors house heat-recirculating channels to allow more heat to transfer to the external walls. In pursuit of this target, simulations are carried out to analyze the thermodynamic and system efficiency parameters. In addition, different initial operating conditions are varied to optimize the system, including inlet velocity and equivalence ratio. The results reveal that the PF and CF structures result in significantly higher wall temperatures and more uniform wall temperature variations than the conventional design (CD). Despite the high entropy generations, the exhaust gas temperatures of the PF and CF are 591 K and 580 K lower than the CD, respectively, and both the PF and CF result in 14% increases in radiation efficiency. Increasing the inlet velocity improves the key thermal parameters in the new designs; however, the system efficiency experiences a drastic reduction. The power output density highlights the unity equivalence ratio as optimal. The PF and CF designs yield roughly identical findings, but the CF exhibits more uniform wall temperatures in most cases due to the equal thermal energy from opposite sides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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23 pages, 5071 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Voltage Frequencies of Plasma Actuators on Wind Turbine Blade Lift and Rudder Efficiency
by Junjie Xu, Jian Zhao and Jianlong Chang
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041032 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 228
Abstract
In the field of renewable energy, wind power generation is developing rapidly. How to effectively improve the lift performance of wind turbine blades has become an urgent problem. For this reason, a plasma actuator is introduced in this paper to enhance the lift [...] Read more.
In the field of renewable energy, wind power generation is developing rapidly. How to effectively improve the lift performance of wind turbine blades has become an urgent problem. For this reason, a plasma actuator is introduced in this paper to enhance the lift of wind turbine blades, which opens up a new path to solve this dilemma. The impact of plasma actuators with different voltage frequencies on the lift and rudder efficiency of wind turbine blades are explored in this study. Then, the flow control implications of the actuators for the airflow near the rudder are analyzed in detail. It is found that when the plasma actuator is applied to the leading edge of the rudder, the lift and rudder efficiency of the blade improve at both 0° and 15° angles of attack with increasing voltage frequency, but the effects differ significantly. At 0°, the airflow is simpler, the actuator’s control effect is more pronounced, and the rudder efficiency shows a decreasing trend as the rudder reflection angle increases. In contrast, at 15°, due to complex airflow, the actuator’s control capability is weaker, leading to irregular changes in rudder efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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25 pages, 7996 KiB  
Article
Research on the Cavitation Characteristics of Pump Turbines Based on Mode Decomposition
by Jiaxing Lu, Jiarui Li, Chuan Zhang, Yuzhuo Zhou and Yanjun He
Processes 2025, 13(3), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13030732 - 3 Mar 2025
Viewed by 562
Abstract
The cavitation phenomenon significantly impacts the performance of pump turbines, necessitating in-depth research on their cavitation characteristics. This study investigates the performance characteristics of a pump turbine through experimental and numerical simulation methods, with consistent results verifying the accuracy of the numerical simulations. [...] Read more.
The cavitation phenomenon significantly impacts the performance of pump turbines, necessitating in-depth research on their cavitation characteristics. This study investigates the performance characteristics of a pump turbine through experimental and numerical simulation methods, with consistent results verifying the accuracy of the numerical simulations. The cavitation flow field is numerically analyzed to compare the cavitation distribution and velocity streamlines at different stages of cavitation development. The Q criterion and entropy production method are employed to identify vortex structures and energy loss regions, respectively, exploring the correlation between vortices and energy losses in the cavitation flow field under low-flow pump conditions. The results demonstrate that intensified cavitation generates more multi-scale vortices in the flow field, leading to increased entropy production and reduced energy efficiency. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) methods were subsequently applied to extract vorticity characteristics from transient cavitation flow fields, revealing primary energy loss regions and elucidating the evolution and distribution patterns of vortices. The POD analysis shows that low-order modes represent dominant vortex structures, while intensified cavitation increases both the quantity of vortices and their complexity in scale, distribution, and evolutionary frequency. The DMD results further indicate distinct evolutionary patterns for vortices of different scales. This research provides insights into the instability characteristics of cavitation flow fields in pump turbines under low-flow pump conditions and offers theoretical support for optimizing the design of pump turbines to expand their high-efficiency operational range. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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29 pages, 8308 KiB  
Article
Geometrical Evaluation of an Overtopping Wave Energy Converter Device Subject to Realistic Irregular Waves and Representative Regular Waves of the Sea State That Occurred in Rio Grande—RS
by Maycon da Silveira Paiva, Ana Paula Giussani Mocellin, Phelype Haron Oleinik, Elizaldo Domingues dos Santos, Luiz Alberto Oliveira Rocha, Liércio André Isoldi and Bianca Neves Machado
Processes 2025, 13(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13020335 - 25 Jan 2025
Viewed by 655
Abstract
Among the various potential renewable energy sources, sea waves offer significant potential, which can be harnessed using wave energy converter (WEC) devices such as overtopping converters. These devices operate by directing incident waves up a ramp into a reservoir. The water then passes [...] Read more.
Among the various potential renewable energy sources, sea waves offer significant potential, which can be harnessed using wave energy converter (WEC) devices such as overtopping converters. These devices operate by directing incident waves up a ramp into a reservoir. The water then passes through a turbine coupled with an electrical generator before returning to the ocean. Thus, the present study deals with the geometrical evaluation of an overtopping WEC, where the influence of the ratio between the height and length of the device ramp (H1/L1) on the amount of water mass (M) that enters the reservoir was investigated. Numerical simulations were performed using ANSYS-Fluent software, 22 R1 version, to generate and propagate realistic irregular (RI) waves and representative regular (RR) waves found in the coastal region of the municipality of Rio Grande, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Consequently, through constructal design, the optimal WEC geometry for both wave approaches were identified as the same, where (H1/L1)o=0.30. Thus, considering the RI waves, M= 200,820.77 kg was obtained, while, considering the RR waves, M= 144,054.72 kg was obtained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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29 pages, 21821 KiB  
Article
High-Precision Numerical Investigation of a VAWT Starting Process
by Ion Mălăel and Sergiu Strătilă
Processes 2024, 12(10), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12102263 - 17 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1150
Abstract
For both conventional and renewable energy conversion processes, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to address more energy-related challenges in recent decades. Using CFD to investigate vertical-axis wind turbines has become more common in recent years. The main goals of this application [...] Read more.
For both conventional and renewable energy conversion processes, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to address more energy-related challenges in recent decades. Using CFD to investigate vertical-axis wind turbines has become more common in recent years. The main goals of this application have been to more accurately predict the turbine’s performance and to comprehend the complicated nature of the complex turbulent flow. The vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) simulation for energy-generating applications has several intricate components. One of them is the study of the chaotic flow that occurs during the first stages of the starting process, and which greatly influences overall effectiveness. In this article, the performance of the wind turbine was increased using a passive flow control approach. The numerical research was carried out using Large Eddy Simulation for four alternative tip speed ratios in both cases, the classic and the optimized case, equipped with a vortex trap on the extrados of the blades. The power and torque coefficient variations, as well as the velocity magnitude contours, show that the starting process may begin with a significant improvement in efficiency when flow control is used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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20 pages, 8404 KiB  
Article
CFD Analysis of Counter-Rotating Impeller Performance in Mixed-Flow Pumps
by Edwar L. Pérez, Miguel Asuaje and Nicolas Ratkovich
Processes 2024, 12(10), 2163; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12102163 - 4 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1084
Abstract
This study presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the performance of counter-rotating impeller systems in mixed-flow pumps. The analysis evaluates the impact of varying rotor velocity ratios and blade geometry on head rise, efficiency, and hydraulic losses. Through detailed CFD simulations, [...] Read more.
This study presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the performance of counter-rotating impeller systems in mixed-flow pumps. The analysis evaluates the impact of varying rotor velocity ratios and blade geometry on head rise, efficiency, and hydraulic losses. Through detailed CFD simulations, the counter-rotating system demonstrates significant improvements in head and efficiency at low flow rates, with model B achieving up to 20% higher efficiency near the best efficiency point (BEP). However, increased hydraulic losses offset efficiency gains at higher flow rates. While the findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the design of counter-rotating systems in mixed-flow pumps, experimental validation is needed to confirm the results and ensure real-world applicability. The study lays the groundwork for future work in refining counter-rotating pump designs to minimize hydraulic losses and slippage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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15 pages, 3326 KiB  
Article
Study on Oxidation Activity of Hydrogenated Biodiesel–Ethanol–Diesel Blends
by Jianbo Zhou, Lyu Chen, Rui Zhang and Weidong Zhao
Processes 2024, 12(3), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12030462 - 24 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1115
Abstract
In the pursuit of understanding the oxidation mechanisms of hydrogenated biodiesel fuels and elucidating the combustion behavior of biomass fuels when blended with diesel, this study presents a comprehensive investigation into the reaction mechanism of hydrogenated biodiesel–ethanol–diesel mixtures. We develop a comprehensive reaction [...] Read more.
In the pursuit of understanding the oxidation mechanisms of hydrogenated biodiesel fuels and elucidating the combustion behavior of biomass fuels when blended with diesel, this study presents a comprehensive investigation into the reaction mechanism of hydrogenated biodiesel–ethanol–diesel mixtures. We develop a comprehensive reaction mechanism encompassing 187 components and 735 reactions for hydrogenated biodiesel–ethanol–diesel mixtures. Through kinetics analysis under varied conditions, including 1.0 MPa pressure, an equivalence ratio of 1.0, and temperatures of 900 K and 1400 K, we explore the impact of cross-reactions and changing fuel blend ratios on low- and high-temperature oxidation. Our findings indicate that oleic and stearic acid methyl esters serve as better substitutes for representing hydrogenated biodiesel kinetics than methyl decanoate. At lower temperatures, increased hydrogenated biodiesel and ethanol content leads to reduced OH generation, impacting reactivity. Conversely, higher temperatures result in enhanced OH production with increased hydrogenated biodiesel and ethanol concentrations, promoting reactivity. A cross-reaction analysis reveals CH2O as a prominent product, with the CH2O→HCO→CO pathway playing a pivotal role. In summary, our research unveils the intricate oxidation mechanisms of hydrogenated biodiesel–ethanol–diesel mixtures, providing insights into their combustion characteristics and offering implications for optimizing fuel blends for cleaner and more efficient energy solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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29 pages, 16874 KiB  
Article
Influence of Surface Roughness Modeling on the Aerodynamics of an Iced Wind Turbine S809 Airfoil
by Leidy Tatiana Contreras Montoya, Adrian Ilinca and Santiago Lain
Processes 2023, 11(12), 3371; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11123371 - 5 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2985
Abstract
Ice formation on structures like wind turbine blade airfoils significantly reduces their aerodynamic efficiency. The presence of ice on airfoils causes deformation in their geometry and an increase in their surface roughness, enhancing turbulence, particularly on the suction side of the airfoil at [...] Read more.
Ice formation on structures like wind turbine blade airfoils significantly reduces their aerodynamic efficiency. The presence of ice on airfoils causes deformation in their geometry and an increase in their surface roughness, enhancing turbulence, particularly on the suction side of the airfoil at high angles of attack. An approach for understanding this phenomenon and assessing its impact on wind turbine operation is modeling and simulation. In this contribution, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study is conducted using FENSAP-ICE 2022 R1 software available in the ANSYS package. The objective was to evaluate the influence of surface roughness modeling (Shin et al. and beading models) in combination with different turbulence models (Spalart–Allmaras and k-ω shear stress transport) on the estimation of the aerodynamic performance losses of wind turbine airfoils not only under rime ice conditions but also considering the less studied case of glaze ice. Moreover, the behavior of the commonly less explored pressure and skin friction coefficients is examined in the clean and iced airfoil scenarios. As a result, the iced profile experiences higher drag and lower lift than in the no-ice conditions, which is explained by modifying skin friction and pressure coefficients by ice. Overall, the outcomes of both turbulence models are similar, showing maximum differences not higher than 10% in the simulations for both ice regimes. However, it is demonstrated that the influence of blade roughness was critical and cannot be disregarded in ice accretion simulations on wind turbine blades. In this context, the beading model has demonstrated an excellent ability to manage changes in roughness throughout the ice accretion process. On the other hand, the widely used roughness model of Shin et al. could underestimate the lift and overestimate the drag coefficients of the wind turbine airfoil in icy conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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17 pages, 8987 KiB  
Article
A Database Extension for a Safety Evaluation of a Hydrogen Refueling Station with a Barrier Using a CFD Analysis and a Machine Learning Method
by Hyung-Seok Kang, Ji-Won Hwang and Chul-Hee Yu
Processes 2023, 11(10), 3025; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11103025 - 20 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1669
Abstract
A methodology is proposed to extend datasets in a database suitable for use as a reference tool to support an evaluation of damage mitigation by a barrier wall in a hydrogen refueling station (HRS) during a vapor cloud explosion (VCE) accident. This is [...] Read more.
A methodology is proposed to extend datasets in a database suitable for use as a reference tool to support an evaluation of damage mitigation by a barrier wall in a hydrogen refueling station (HRS) during a vapor cloud explosion (VCE) accident. This is realized with a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis and machine learning (ML) technology because measured data from hydrogen explosion tests with various installed barrier models usually require considerable amounts of time, a secured space, and precise measurements. A CFD sensitivity calculation was conducted using the radXiFoam v1.0 code and the established analysis methodology with an error range of approximately ±30% while changing the barrier height from that was used in an experiment conducted by the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) to investigate the effect of the barrier height on the reduction in peak overpressures from an explosion site to far fields in an open space. The radXiFoam code was developed based on the open-source CFD software OpenFOAM-v2112 to simulate a VCE accident in a humid air environment at a compressed gaseous or liquefied HRS. We attempted to extend the number of datasets in the VCE database through the use of the ML method on the basis of pressure data predicted by a CFD sensitivity calculation, also uncovering the possibility of utilizing the ML method to extend the VCE database. The data produced by the CFD sensitivity calculation and the ML method will be examined to confirm their validity and applicability to hypothetical VCE accident simulations if the related test data can be produced during experimental research. The database constructed using core data from the experiment and extended data from the CFD analysis and the ML method will be used to increase the credibility of radXiFoam analysis results for VCE accident scenarios at HRSs, ultimately contributing to safety assurances of HRSs in Republic of Korea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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48 pages, 32536 KiB  
Article
Design, Multi-Perspective Computational Investigations, and Experimental Correlational Studies on Conventional and Advanced Design Profile Modified Hybrid Wells Turbines Patched with Piezoelectric Vibrational Energy Harvester Devices for Coastal Regions
by Janani Thangaraj, Senthil Kumar Madasamy, Parvathy Rajendran, Safiah Zulkifli, Rajkumar Rajapandi, Hussein A. Z. AL-bonsrulah, Beena Stanislaus Arputharaj, Hari Prasath Jeyaraj and Vijayanandh Raja
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2625; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092625 - 2 Sep 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1666
Abstract
This work primarily investigates the performance and structural integrity of the Wells turbines for power production in coastal locations and their associated unmanned vehicles. An innovative design procedure is imposed on the design stage of the Wells turbine and thus so seven different [...] Read more.
This work primarily investigates the performance and structural integrity of the Wells turbines for power production in coastal locations and their associated unmanned vehicles. An innovative design procedure is imposed on the design stage of the Wells turbine and thus so seven different models are generated. In the first comprehensive investigation, these seven models underwent computational hydrodynamic analysis using ANSYS Fluent 17.2 for various coastal working environments such as hydro-fluid speeds of 0.34 m/s, 1.54 m/s, 12 m/s, and 23 m/s. After this primary investigation, the best-performing Wells turbine model has been imposed as the second comprehensive computational investigation for three unique design profiles. The imposed unique design profile is capable of enhancing the hydro-power by 15.19%. Two detailed, comprehensive investigations suggest the best Wells turbine for coastal location-based applications. Since the working environments are complicated, additional advanced computational investigations are also implemented on the best Wells turbine. The structural withstanding capability of this best Wells turbine model has been tested through coupled computational hydro-structural analysis for various lightweight materials. This best Wells turbine also enforces the vibrational failure factors such as modal and harmonic vibrational analyses. Finally, advanced and validated coupled engineering approaches are proposed as good methodology for coastal location-based hydropower applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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27 pages, 12009 KiB  
Article
Thermal Performance Evaluation for Two Designs of Flat-Plate Solar Air Heater: An Experimental and CFD Investigations
by Mahmoud S. El-Sebaey, Asko Ellman, Sh. Shams El-Din and Fadl A. Essa
Processes 2023, 11(4), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11041227 - 16 Apr 2023
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2358
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to create two different configurations of a flat-plate solar air heater, namely, Conventional-Case A and Modified-Case B, and develop a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model using ANSYS R15.0. The purpose of the CFD model was [...] Read more.
The main objective of this research was to create two different configurations of a flat-plate solar air heater, namely, Conventional-Case A and Modified-Case B, and develop a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model using ANSYS R15.0. The purpose of the CFD model was to simulate the heat transfer behavior of the proposed solar air heaters under unsteady conditions. The RNG k-ε turbulence model was employed for this CFD study. The experiments were conducted on sunny days, under the same conditions as the Egyptian climate. The results of the experiments show that the simulated CFD model and the measured outlet airflow temperatures, relative humidity, and velocities of the two tested solar air heaters were compared. The developed model made very satisfactory predictions. Moreover, the deviations between the average CFD outlet air temperatures and the experimental results were 7% and 7.8% for Case B and Case A, respectively. The CFD-simulated average relative humidity was reduced by 31.6% when using Case B compared with Case A, and it was reduced by 28.8% when comparing the experimental data to Case B. Additionally, the average CFD thermal efficiencies obtained for Case B and Case A were 28.7% and 21.6%, respectively, while the average experimental thermal efficiencies for the cases were 26.4% and 18.2%, respectively. The proposed model can be used to design and simulate other solar air heater designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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16 pages, 6763 KiB  
Article
Particle Deposition Pattern on an Automotive Diesel Filter Using an Eulerian Probability Density Function Method
by Luis Valiño, Radu Mustata, Juan Hierro, Juan Luis Hernández, María José García, Carlos Blasco, Yi-Tung Chen, Lung-Wen Chen and Prosun Roy
Processes 2023, 11(4), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11041100 - 4 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1583
Abstract
A full 3D numerical simulation of the two-phase flow made up of (bio)diesel and particles, has been carried out to reproduce the deposition pattern of particles in a BOSCH automotive filter. From a probability density function (PDF), a simple Eulerian-Eulerian two-phase model is [...] Read more.
A full 3D numerical simulation of the two-phase flow made up of (bio)diesel and particles, has been carried out to reproduce the deposition pattern of particles in a BOSCH automotive filter. From a probability density function (PDF), a simple Eulerian-Eulerian two-phase model is proposed for diesel and particles. The proposed formulation allows for a detailed description of the relationship between the velocity and size of the particles. A Brinkman-Darcy approximation has been considered for the flow through the filtering paper and is proved to be sufficient for the typical filter working conditions. The new tool is able to reproduce the deposition pattern shown by the used filters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CFD Applications in Renewable Energy Systems)
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