Numerical resolution of heat transfer phenomena in high temperature solar thermal power applications

The main topic of this thesis work is the resolution of fluid mechanics phenomena via numerical methods. It is intended to use the knowledge acquired in the resolution of transfer phenomena for concrete applications in the solar energy sector, specifically, Concentrated Solar Power installations. The first part of the work lists motivations behind the use of renewables and the different alternatives and configurations in solar thermal energy generation. In the numerical resolution section, the governing equations describing flow motion are listed and described: continuity, momentum and energy. These equations are thoroughly analyzed and solved via a set of exercises comprising: heat conduction, convection-diffusion given a flow field, lid driven cavity problem and finally a natural convection exercise. Each section presents the discretization method, integration technique, numerical parameters, grid geometry and benchmark comparison. Additionally, the procedure to solving problems with unstructured grids is presented via a new discretization formulation. Finally in the Turbulence insights section, some topics regarding this chaotic phenomenon are described