Acoustics and sustainable innovations in energy systems

Dr. Davy Brouzet

Postdoctoral fellow, Stanford University

Abstract: The two main paths forward to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from conventional energy systems are 1) to devise fuel-efficient and less polluting combustion technologies and 2) to use alternative renewable fuels. However, these innovations can negatively impact the sound levels generated by these devices and can be detrimental to their safe use when thermo-acoustic instabilities occur. In this talk, I will delve into fundamental mechanisms and practical solutions related to acoustics and sustainable solutions in diverse energy systems.

First, I will show how various post-processing methods enable us to paint a comprehensive picture of the sound generated by turbulent flames, from large-scale flame oscillations to small and non-linear flame interactions. Then, the acoustic impact of novel designs and sustainable fuels will be discussed in the context of next-generation aircraft engines, showing how significant reductions in acoustic levels can be achieved. Finally, the benefits of advanced technologies and alternative fuels will be demonstrated in a diesel engine configuration. Specifically, the use of ‘ducted fuel injection’ and ammonia is investigated through high-fidelity numerical simulations to show how these innovations result in unusual physics and lower GHG emissions.

Bio: Dr. Davy Brouzet has been a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Center for Turbulence Research since 2020, currently contributing to the Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program directed by Prof. Gianluca Iaccarino. He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute in Lausanne (EPFL) in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Then, he pursued his PhD at the University of Melbourne under the supervision of Prof. Michael Brear and Prof. Mohsen Talei, studying combustion noise in turbulent flames using numerical simulations. His postdoctoral years gave him the opportunity to focus on practical issues related to both sustainable energy systems and aerospace propulsion. His work was published in top-ranking journals, including NeurIPS, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Physics of Fluids, Combustion and Flame, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, and Political Research Quarterly. His current research interests include turbulent flows, sustainable combustion, acoustics, and machine learning for reacting flows.

Zoom Link:

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/j/92865812510?pwd%3Da2dscFBOcDJ5VjJUWElaTXE4YnhUZz09&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1711220020907018&usg=AOvVaw1TuXCfUaSxhWX5PFX28K12