High-Fidelity Numerical Modeling Support at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Facility Overview
PNNL utilizes a combination of in-house, open-source, and commercial software, alongside high-performance computing capabilities, to solve complex flow physics problems. With extensive experience in computational flow investigations, PNNL has studied both the flow characteristics and environmental impacts of hydraulic turbines. This expertise spans both experimental research and modeling support across the design, development, and deployment stages. PNNL’s multi-physics modeling capabilities integrate flow simulations using commercial CFD software, such as STAR-CCM+, with structural analysis tools like ANSYS, ABAQUS, or LS-Dyna. These advanced platforms allow for the simulation of both static and dynamic loads, as well as the resulting stresses on turbine components, ensuring reliable and efficient designs. Such capabilities are particularly valuable for analyzing how current and wave energy converters interact with their environments, aiding in the optimal design of systems for enhanced performance and durability. Numerical studies employ virtual experiments to investigate diverse hydrodynamic scenarios. Moreover, coupled hydrodynamic and structural simulation tools enable detailed fluid-structure interaction analyses, providing insights into complex phenomena such as structural responses to fluid-induced forces.
