Mixing in complex fluids: modeling and experiments

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Various processes in nature and industry involve fluids with unusual mechanical responses. Process engineering in industries that involve mixing of such complex fluids, e.g., petroleum, cementing and wastewater, have remained largely empirical due a lack of scientific knowledge and advanced technological models. These processes are often governed by (bio)chemical, mechanical and thermal interaction of different phases. Technological advances in these industries rely on a better understanding of the multi-disciplinary and multi-scale underlying phenomena. This 5-year program proposes a multidisciplinary approach to address this gap. Theoretical and experimental research methodologies will be used systematically to investigate free and forced mixing in complex fluids. The novelty of the proposed program is in incorporating (i) heterogeneous complex fluid features and (ii) unsteady fluid dynamics in characterizing mixing flows. Models of mixing of complex fluids will be developed and validated against experiments. Critical limits where advection is suppressed by fluid rheology and the primary instability modes will be studied using numerical and mathematical analysis. Systematic numerical studies will reveal flow development trends for different fluid properties and initial configurations. Complementary experimental studies will be conducted to characterize flow development trends, reveal underlying physics and identify dominant rheological features. Experimental studies will demonstrate evolution of forced mixing flows. Dimensionless analysis of the experiments will establish the effect of fluids' rheology, initial condition and stirrer configuration. Engineering models will be developed to predict mixing efficiency and inform best design practices and operation protocols. Over 150 billion liters of undertreated wastewater (sewage) is dumped into Canadian waterways every year. Aside from the formidable environmental and economical costs and the associated health concerns, the discarded sewage is a significant source of biogas that has been largely overlooked. The fundamental knowledge produced in this program will be leveraged to develop hydrodynamic models of sewage treatment. This modeling tool allows assessment of the current designs and practices and conception and comparison of novel technologies.The overarching perspective is to advance the fundamental understanding of multiphase flow of complex fluids, pioneer optimal engineering models and contribute to innovative clean-energy practices. The tools and models are transferrable to many other applications in oil recovery, cementing, and manufacturing industry. The program has a significant potential for economical and environmental impact on energy and wastewater industries and trains HQP with competitive expertise for oil, cement, cosmetics, food and bioenergy industries.