Stefano Passoni
PhD thesis title: Experimental and Numerical analysis of Compact Plate Heat Exchanger for modern Small Modular Reactors
Academic Tutor: Marco Enrico Ricotti
Academic Supervisors: Riccardo Mereu
PhD cycle: 36° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Energy engineering, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Energy engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Visiting PhD Researcher at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Cambridge, MA USA. February 2023 to October 2023. Research towards the development of an image segmentation platform powered by machine learning algorithms for the analysis of two-phase flows to pursue a new approach that aims at better exploiting the potential of digital imaging.
Progetto Roberto Rocca Visiting Student Fellowship
Thesis abstract
My research aims at studying the multiphase flow field inside compact plate heat exchangers by visualizing flow regimes, measuring pressure drops across the corrugated pattern and simulating the component with Computational Fluid Dynamic codes. For this purpose, I designed and realized an ad-hoc experimental facility that replicates the behavior of the corrugated plates and allow flow visualization. The data produced from the experiments include back-lit images and high-framerate videos at various operating conditions. I will also develop an image processing platform powered by machine learning algorithms to pursue a new approach that aims at better exploiting the potential of digital imaging.
Personal interest in my research theme
In the energy sector, multiphase flows play a vital role in the operation of almost every kind of power plants. A good understanding of multiphase flow and its influence on heat transfer mechanisms could improve process efficiency and safety. Clean energy sources are more and more sought nowadays to rebalance the European energy mix. Among those, new generation nuclear power plants are arguably among the most promising ones. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have indeed the potential to lower the levelized cost of energy produced by nuclear plants. With my research, I am making a step towards the licensing of this kind of technology.
