Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations Seminar

Turbidity currents have been observed to propagate for very long distances, longer than one would expect based on the current knowledge of mixing and evolution of gravity currents. Recent DNS simulations suggest that when in steady state the gravity current presents a much more stable interface, potentially reducing the mixing with ambient waters and hence being able to survive and propagate for longer distances. We report experiments that investigate experimentally gravity currents that have reached a statistically steady state and compare the results to DNS and extended shallow water models that track the profile evolution.

Energy storage is a crucial technology for our future. Legacy approaches to generating and delivering power, with load continuously matched to supply, are beginning to fail under a diverse set of pressures: climate induced power losses, growth of variable renewables on the grid, and new and very different load profiles from EV charging. We need a way to store energy effectively and then discharge it when needed. Lithium ion batteries have been the go-to solution for stationary chemical storage in the past decade, and while they will continue to play important roles, they are also facing headwinds. Flow batteries are an alternative approach to storing energy, which is particularly interesting as we look for long duration storage solutions (e.g., 12 hours of storage). These systems are rich physical problems, with aspects of chemistry, electro and magnetohydrodynamics, and fluid-structure interactions. Here, we talk in particular about hydrogen-bromine flow batteries. We discuss aspects of their fluid dynamics, chemistry, and tools for solving problems in this space with emphasis on novel applications of the Dedalus framework. We also discuss what it takes to launch an energy storage startup company and pathways for initial funding.