Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Objectives: i) The theoretical and experimental study of heat transfer and fluid mechanics problems involving conjugate heat transfer (natural and mixed convection, conduction and radiation) in closed and open cavities and fluid layers. In particular, determination of the optimum positions of discrete heat sources on enclosure walls with finite thickness and conductance, and instability in bioconvection and thermo-bioconvection in fluid layers. ii) The study of renewable energy and new technology systems and their analysis from the thermodynamics point of view; in particular, determination of their performance and optimum design conditions in hydrogen production. Scientific approach: i) Heat transfer-fluid mechanics: 1) we will solve the conservation equations using numerical methods (the finite difference - control volume methods); 2) we will solve the conservation equations for simple cases using analytical and numerical methods; 3) we will use linear and non-linear stability analyses to determine flow stability and bifurcation sequences; 4) to verify theoretical results, we will study certain aspects of the problems using experimental methods. ii) Thermodynamic studies: 1) we will use the exergy analysis method to evaluate their performance and to determine optimum conditions to maximize their performance and to provide design tools. Novelty and expected significance: i) Heat transfer-fluid mechanics: The applications are in renewable energy technologies, in electronic and energy storage systems, and in bio-reactors. In many applications, designers still use empirical relations since the optimum design conditions, stability of flow and bifurcation often are not known. Our results will be important contributions addressing these issues. ii) Thermodynamic studies: The renewable energy systems and the new energy technologies are identified as priority research areas. By analyzing and incorporating new ideas and solutions in solar - hydrogen production methods, we will be able to contribute towards the improvement of these systems.