Why?
The moisture content of woodchips plays a decisive role when used as biomass for district heating systems. This project aims to describe the physical diffusion process of confined water in wood. The project focuses on the three-dimensional finite element modelling (FEM) of the diffusion process in wood during drying using the actual microstructure of wood based on X-ray computed tomography scans. The thesis is part of a twin project at the UiT Arctic University of Norway. There, the master student will determine diffusion coefficients during drying based on a non-destructive technique called NMR. The determined diffusion coefficient will be used in the current project as material input parameters.
Aim and objective:
The main objective is to describe the transport of moisture through the cellular structure of wood during drying by the means of implementing a FEM model of a realistic wood microstructure in a Multiphysics diffusion simulation.
Methodology:
1. Perform a literature survey.
2. Create a 3D finite element model using tomograms of the wood’s microstructure.
3. Simulate and analyse moisture diffusion through wood with FEM using COMSOL®.
Prerequisites
We are looking for a motivated student, preferably with knowledge in solid and/or fluid mechanics and experience with finite element modelling. The project can be performed in pair.
Project start:
January 2024 or according to agreement.
Contact details:
Supervisors:
Sara Florisson
Malin Wohlert
Espen Johannessen
