Numerical methods and optimization

To maximize energy production and streamline operations, operators are designing wind farms that incorporate an increasing number of turbines. However, under certain wind conditions, wind turbines frequently interact through what is known as the wake effect. The wake is created behind the rotor as it intercepts the wind's kinetic energy to convert it into electricity. Due to the conservation of energy, a zone of low wind speed develops, accompanied by increased turbulence.

The increase in the number of electric vehicles requires the rapid and efficient deployment of EV charging stations (EVCS), since drivers are reluctant to “take the plunge” while the charging network is seen as being inadequate. At the same time, operators are unwilling to invest without a guaranteed financial return. Yet the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, along with the need to balance supply and demand, requires that charging stations be strategically located, particularly along major highways.

The European HIPERWIND project has ollowed to gain a better understanding of the complex physics influencing the design and operation of large offshore wind farms with a view to enabling substantial cost savings for their owners and, ultimately, for electricity consumers.

The purpose of the CIROQUO consortium, bringing together academic and technological partners, is to solve problems related to the use of numerical simulators that deal with complex phenomena, with computation times that can extend over several hours or days.

The flow of liquid films on complex surfaces is a configuration commonly found in chemical engineering equipment, but also in energy systems. Understanding and modeling the behavior of these flowing liquid films is crucial if we are to better analyze the phenomena at work and optimize the various systems involved.

Karst formations are complex networks of underground passages resulting from the dissolution of rock, which can extend for hundreds of kilometers. Their reaction to climate change is crucial given their importance in freshwater supply, but also their role as a buffer against extreme weather events, which are set to become more frequent.

When wind turbines are assembled on a wind farm, under certain wind conditions they may interact with each other through what is known as the wake effect. When a wind turbine captures the kinetic energy contained in the wind, due to the conservation of energy, the wind flow downstream experiences a decrease in speed and an increase in turbulence. As a result, wind turbines located in this wake see their electricity production fall significantly, while also undergoing increased mechanical fatigue. These wake effects cause annual production losses of as much as 20%.

[ Simulation for the mastery of physical phenomena ] Compared with conventional stirred reactors, microfluidic systems are of great interest for process intensification, combining low reagent requirements with better performance in terms of mass and heat transfer. In this type of micro-reactor, segmented flows in micro-tubes (also known as Taylor flows) have, for example, been successfully tested at IFPEN to intensify the ethylene oligomerization reaction.

[ DIGITALIZATION AND IA - 2/2 ] One of IFPEN's main areas of research concerns processes and catalysts for the production of bio-based fuels. This is reflected in a large number of experimental projects, the results of which generate knowledge that is then harnessed to develop models. However, this modeling requires the acquisition of large sets of experimental data, which are costly in terms of both time and resources.

Contribution to the study of couplings in interfaces, polymers and porous materials The work of Laurent Cangémi relates to the field of modeling and concerns the formulation of multiphysical couplings in materials. It applies to all porous media exposed to the effects of mass transfer, heat, plasticity or damage, such as catalyst supports or natural underground environments.