Using the high-performance computing capabilities of National Laboratory partners, the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) has developed various numerical modeling approaches that demonstrate biomass flow. In addition, FCIC researchers have developed preprocessing procedures to perform equipment wear modeling.
Biomass Flow Modeling
Through the FCIC, researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) use high-performance computing (HPC) to develop various numerical modeling approaches that either model individual particle motion or treat the bulk solid material as a continuum.
INL and NREL researchers have expertise in both discrete element method and finite-element and finite-volume methods modeling. These models are readily applicable to granular biomass particles that have complicated macro- and micro-structures, e.g., different particle sizes and shapes as well as variations of individual particle mechanical properties.
Learn more about NREL’s HPC capabilities and INL’s HPC capabilities.
Equipment Wear Modeling
Argonne National Laboratory’s (ANL’s) Tribology group has developed procedures to perform equipment wear modeling using analytical modeling of tribological failure mechanisms. These procedures include a validated predictive model for scuffing initiation in severe lubricated contacts based on the observed mechanism of adiabatic plastic shear instability. This model is now part of a design guide for heavily loaded gear systems and bearings by industrial partners.
Learn more about ANL’s Tribology Laboratory.
Contact
For more information, contact the FCIC.
Other FCIC Research and Capabilities
Learn about all of FCIC’s research areas and capabilities/facilities.