Skype Meeting CEMI /CASPEO

November 10th 2016

 Purpose of the meeting

1/ Solar engineering

Presentation of the expertise developed by CASPEO in the frame of the

BISIGODOS project

Perspectives

1/ FluidFlow software

Main functionalities

Opportunities in Brazil
1/ Solar engineering

Context : the BISIGODOS project

European collaborative research project

Objective : develop algae-based refinery to

produce high value-added molecules

Role of CASPEO : simulation-based optimization

of the production of microalgae
1/ Solar engineering

Outdoor microalgae photobioreactors

Microalgae need solar radiation to grow

But culture temperature must be regulated (heated in

winter, cooled in summer)

Culture temperature evolution is governed by solar

radiation, convection and conduction

How can we predict the evolution of temperature and

the power consumption as a function of weather
contidions?
 1/ Solar engineering

Outdoor microalgae photobioreactors

Dynamic mathematical model of the evolution of culture temperature

Sun

direct
Solar radiation

Convection +
conduction
Evaporation
diffuse

air

reflected Thermal radiation

PBR culture

ground
 1/ Solar engineering

Outdoor microalgae photobioreactors

Dynamic mathematical model of the evolution of culture temperature :

= ,
+ ,
+ ,
Sext(Text-Tair) + ,
Sint(Text-Tair) +

Solar radiation Thermal External Internal Evaporation

radiation convection convection

Depends on the 3D geometry of the photobioreactor and on the

continuously changing weather conditions
1/ Solar engineering

Solar radiation calculation: methodology

3D modelling of the structure in Rhino 5

Calculation of hourly solar radiation in Grasshopperfor Rhino (Ladybug plugin)

Integration of the whole dynamic thermal balance in Grasshopper

Result: prediction of hourly values of culture temperature and power consumption

 1/ Solar engineering

Photobioreactor simulation tool

All these calculations

performed in a single tool
developed in
Rhino/Grasshopper
 1/ Solar engineering

Perspectives in the field of algae production

Feasibility studies

Benefits: experimentally validated model, precise predictions based on extensive research results
Applications: open ponds, plate or tubular photobioreactors
Example: I would like to produce microalgae in Brazil with tubular photobioreactors:
What productivity can I expect?
What will be the cost of temperature regulation?
What would be the best place?
 1/ Solar engineering

Perspectives in other fields

Our research effort on photobioreactors enabled us to transfer our
know-how to any system based on solar radiation.

3D analysis of direct, diffuse and reflected solar radiation

Dynamic energy balance including solar radiation, convection and

conduction, based on the resolution of ordinary differential
equations, implemented in Rhino/Grasshopper 3D simulation tool
 1/ Solar engineering

Perspectives in other fields

Benefits: advanced, customized and user-friendly dynamic simulator of your system
Applications: buildings, solar collectors, solar panels, photobioreactors, greenhouses
Examples: What is the most efficient way of reducing building power consumption (shape,
materials…)?
2/ FluidFlow software

Context

Pressure drop software developed by Flite Software

Caspeo distributor for France and French-speaking African

countries

Main asset to mineral processing : the most advanced pipe flow

software for non-Newtonian fluids and slurries (solid/liquid)

Demo…
Contact

3, avenue Claude Guillemin

BP 36009
45060 Orléans cedex 2, France
+33(0) 238 64 31 89
info@caspeo.net