Aerodynamic wind loads & aeroelastic instabilities of a novel Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC)
Are you ready to be part of a scale-up company that is driving the future of sustainable energy?
At Suncom Energy we are developing concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems that can deliver industrial heat up to 475ºC. At the core of these systems is the SunArc, Suncom’s parabolic trough collector (PTC). The SunArc uses curved mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a heat receiver located at the focal point, allowing renewable thermal energy to be generated close to end-users such as industrial food and beverage manufacturers.
One of the main challenges in designing PTCs is managing wind loads. Because the mirrors have a large surface area, they catch a lot of wind, much like a sail. As a result, wind forces strongly shape the structural design, affecting material choices, stability, and overall cost. Accurately understanding these wind loads is essential for building collectors that are safe, reliable, and cost-effective.
Summary
Suncom Energy is looking for an entrepreneurial and enthusiastic MSc student with a strong interest in aerodynamics and structural design. The project aims to gain a solid understanding of wind loads on Suncom’s Parabolic Trough Collector (SunArc) by determining its aerodynamic characteristics through wind tunnel testing and advanced simulation methods such as CFD or dynamic Finite Element (FE) analysis. Based on these insights, you will develop a calculation framework that supports optimized collector design, balancing safety, performance, and cost.
What we offer
- Work in a mission-driven scale-up which is decarbonizing the world’s energy supply.
- Hands-on experience with cutting-edge renewable energy technology and structural design challenges.
- A flexible work environment with a lot of responsibility and ownership.
- Internship compensation of €500.
- Opportunity to join the team long-term after your internship, with the possibility of become co-owner of Suncom.
Project goals
- Determine aerodynamic shape coefficients (thrust, lift, moment) for Suncom’s PTC via wind tunnel tests.
- Explore CFD or dynamic FE simulations to extend experimental results into useful insights.
- Use aerodynamic insights to optimize solar field configuration and layout.
- Apply aerodynamic insights to optimize solar field configuration and layout.
- Apply aerodynamic insights in framework to generate load cases for static FE collector design.
- Investigate aero-elastic instabilities (torsional divergence, vortex-induced vibrations) and critical wind conditions.
- Validate and refine dynamic response predictions, including Dynamic Amplification Factors, through wind tunnel experiments and/or simulations.
- Propose design improvements for Suncom’s PTC and plan layout based on aerodynamic and dynamic insights.
