On the high performance computing application as a tool for developing next

generation systems in wind and solar thermal energy

www.cit.upc.edu

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A new concept for optimizing renewable applications is needed!

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• A real world machine is a system where multiple scales and physics are dynamically interacting and not a stand alone steady element!

• Turbulent and multi-phase flow solvers • Radiation solvers • Structural and heat conduction solvers • Environmental modeling interaction • Different physical elements interacting

• A new framework for numerical simulations and R&D optimization is required where the frontier between isolated elements and the overall systems is blurred

NEST: High level numerical tool for renewable applications

NEST applied to CSP • All the elements of the CSP plant are modeled using the common

interface of NEST framework in a single supercomuter • More than 500 cpus are used in the combined simulation!

3D ray-tracing

3D transient radiation and conduction simulation

3D LES

3D multi-fase simulation

NEST applied to wind energy

3D LES

• All the elements of the wind farm are modeled using the common interface of NEST framework

• Not all the physics can be joined in a single simulation

• More computational power is needed to achieve our vision

• The most critical parts of the system can be simulated with advanced models taking to account interactions with the rest of the elements by means of reduced models

NEST applied to industry

3D LES

• NEST technology applied for the optimal design of the PS20 solar receivers 1. High fidelity CFD simulations of the tower and its interaction with the wind 2. Multi-physics simulation of the reviver including the steam generation coupled

with the plant dynamics

NEST applied to industry

3D LES

• Thermal and fluid dynamic optimization of the ECO-100 wind turbine

• All the nacelle elements are modeled by means of reduced models except the air inside the nacelle modeled using 3D LES.

• LES simulation of dedicated wind turbine profiles

• Optimal results for stall regimes • Dynamic stall also well predicted • Good accuracy even for thick profiles

NEST applied to innovation

3D LES

• TESCONSOL project: Two different products to be brought to market by TF(2014):

• STES : CDF tool for sensible storage (double tank, foundation ventilation, etc.)

• LTES : CFD tool for latent storage(PCM, thermocline, hybrid, etc.)

• OFFWINDTECH project: • NEST software used to simulate 5

MW offshore wind turbines and wind farms interactions