Experiments in complex fluids for industrial flow systems

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This program maintains continuity with my ongoing long term objective to provide practical experimental solutions and well trained engineers and scientists for complex multiphase fluid dynamics problems of interest to the Canadian economy in industries related to resource extraction and energy production. During the proposed five year program, my short term goal is to continue to enhance knowledge and innovation using my experimental platforms. I will continue to characterise bubbly duct flow which is of direct application to industrial effervescent atomization, explore more drag reduction modalities using my unique Taylor-Couette complex fluid testing rig and I will add an innovative long aspect ratio flow rig for understanding flow geometries applicable to underground drilling. These results will be novel, relevant with both fundamental and applied value. I will use fluids which include shear thinning polymers, liquid-solid suspensions, liquid-liquid colloids and liquid-surfactant solutions. They will be tested to understand the bulk engineering behaviour as well as detailed instantaneous velocity, Reynolds stresses and turbulent fluid structures. The experiments will be performed using laser and optical diagnostic tools such as phase Doppler particle anemometry (PDPA or PDA), laser Doppler anemometry (LDA), particle image velocimetry and high speed photography and image processing. The well controlled experiments will provide a wealth of exciting and interesting novel results. These results will be useful for fundamental understanding of complex fluids in turbulent flows and will be immediately useful in Canada's energy industry which regularly requires detailed understanding of multiphase and non-Newtonian physics. This will be applicable to drilling, hydrodynamic fracking, slurry transport and wear and waste fluid handling. In this proposed program I follow lines of previous success with experiments on drag reducing polymers and multiphase mixtures to cover fluids with even greater physical complexity. Then I will investigate psuedoplastic yield power law fluids with emphasis on understanding the turbulent stresses in the near wall region and how complex stress-strain relationships affect flow structure and form. The outcomes will be 1) Parametric mapping of flow regimes for bubbly injection in crossflow with focus on the effect of non-Newtonian fluids. 2) Turbulent drag characterization in yield power law fluids additives and suspended particles typical in industrial flows; testing of fluids with rheology dependent on control parameters such as temperature 3) fabrication of a unique long aspect ratio flow rig to fully explore qualitative and quantitative flow regimes in vertical, horizontal and tilted concentric cylinder geometry with both rotation and co-flow. Experiments will all be informed by my industry collaborations and be shared in journals and engineering reports. This program will have both fundamental and applied value.