Perform research and development in alternative energy technologies using numerical modelling and experimental facilities. Research focus is in the area of understanding and predicting icing on wind turbine blades; modelling and development of high velocity kinetic turbines; developing a numerical model for a swine anaerobic digester and developing a low cost lagoon-type digester for cold climates, and biomass conversion technologies for distributed power generation. Current research activities include:
- Wind Icing: perform experimental investigation in icing tunnel using PIC and force balance to understand the mechanism of icing on wind turbine blades; determine ways to mitigate the icing issues using scale models of wind turbines.
- Kinetic Turbines: develop numerical models to predict the behaviour of high kinetic turbine; use experimental data from water tunnel to validate model; use numerical tools to develop low cost kinetic turbine for velocities above 3 m/s.
- Anaerobic Digesters: develop numerical anaerobic digester model to predict the flow and digestion of swine manures to maximize higher heating value of biogas for cold weather applications.
- Lug-in Hybrid Vehicles: developing simulator of alternative energy vehicles to predict component behaviour and system performance and retrofit systems to convert vehicles to PHEV
- Distributed biopower systems: developed with collaborator two new distributed power technologies to significantly reduce size and cost of distributed biopower and heat recovery of systems for application below 5 MWe. Focus is on integrating heat and power application as part of overall design. Investigating the use of biopower to remove phosphor from Lake Winnipeg by harvesting cattails.
- Optimization of Distributed Renewable Energy Systems: A crucial aspect of renewable energy systems is the integration of low density renewable energy sources and the optimal utilization of conversion and storage technologies.
1. Wang X., Bibeau E.L. and visit website Naterer G.F., visit website"Experimental correlation of forced convection heat transfer from a NACA airfoil," Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Manuscript accepted for publication.
2. visit website Wu B. and Bibeau E.L., "Development of 3-D Anaerobic Digester Heat Transfer Model for Cold Weather Applications," American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 49 (3), p 749-757, May/June, 2006.
3. visit website Cicek, visit website S. Lambert, H.D. Venema, K.R. Snelgrove, E.L. Bibeau and R. Grosshans, "Nutrient removal and bio-energy production from Netley-Libau Marsh at Lake Winnipeg through annual biomass harvesting", Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 30, Issue 6, p 529-536, June 2006.
4. Yuan J., Stropky D., Bibeau E.L., "Using process modelling to improve lime kiln operations," Pulp and Paper Canada, 104 (11), p 41-44, November, 2003.
5. Statie E., Salcudean M., Gartshore I. and Bibeau E.L., "A computational study of particle separation in hydrocyclones," Journal of Pulp and Paper Science, 28 (3), p 84-92, March 2002.
6. Bibeau E.L. and Salcudean M., "Subcooled void growth mechanisms and prediction at low pressure and low velocity", Int. J. of Multiphase Flow, 20 (5), p 837-863, 1994.
7. Bibeau E.L. and Salcudean M., "A study of bubble ebullition in forced convective subcooled nucleate boiling at low pressure", Int. J. of Heat and Mass Transfer, 37 (15), p 2245-2259, 1994.
8. Bibeau E.L. and Salcudean M., "The effect of flow direction on void growth at low velocities and low pressures," International Communication in Heat Mass Transfer, 17, p 19-25, 1990.