Suspension transport in bifurcating channels by Prof. Anugrah Singh | Department of Energy Science and Engineering

Location and Date:

Thursday, November 29, 2018, 4:30 pm, F-24 Mechanical Engineering

Abstract:

Transport of fluid-particle suspensions through bifurcating channels is commonly encountered in nature and industrial settings. We report numerical simulations and experimental studies to understand the partitioning of particles between the downstream branches. Effect of channel geometry, relative flow rate, particle concentration, size distribution as well as rheology of carrier fluid were studied for symmetric as well as asymmetric bifurcation channels. Experiments to understand the velocity and concentration field were carried out using combination of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) techniques. The diffusive flux model for particle migration was used in the numerical simulations. These studies have helped us to understand why there is unequal flow and particle partitioning during flow of suspension in asymmetric bifurcating channels, and how these results can be used to design an efficient separation device.