Six FLOW researchers receive VR funding

Swedish Research Council (VR) recently published the list of this year’s awarded grants. This time 335 out of 1682 projects within the Natural and Engineering Sciences has been awarded (approval rate of 20%).

Six projects from FLOW researchers are among the awarded ones:

Outi Tammisola
This project will result in completely new understanding of complex fluids flow through porous media by fluid flow simulations using high-fidelity computation methods recently developed by the applicant. We aim to: i) reveal unique new insight of the transport and instabilities of complex fluids through porous media, and ii) develop novel analysis tools, and couplings between micro- and macrostructure, to enable controlled design of complex fluids processes in the future.

Luca Brandt
The aim of this project is to forge new fundamental understanding on the role of flow transport and chemical
reactions on heat- and mass-transfer across interfaces. Gas exchanges at a gas-liquid interface are relevant
during gaseous compound absorption and chemisorption by a liquid solvent, of main interest in CO2 capture and storage (CCS), and for gas exchanges between oceans and the atmosphere, a fundamental aspect in climate modelling.

Geert Brethouwer
In this project, surface roughness effects on turbulent flows with heat and mass transfer are studied in cases with buoyancy and rotation/streamline curvature effects by direct numerical simulations. The turbulent flow, heat/mass transfer and surface roughness are fully resolved in the simulations. Also engineering correlations are derived and data are produced for modelling purposes.

Ramis Örlü
The purpose of the CATERINA project is to conduct comprehensive experimental studies and direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the eccentric Taylor-Couette-Poiseuille (eTCP) and slender-cone flows. This will allow direct comparisons between experiments, simulations and also with theory for a better understanding of these centrifugally driven instabilities in flows in rotating configurations, particularly in the transitional and turbulent regimes.

Jens Fransson
The project addresses a long-standing problem on the effect of free-stream turbulence on the transition from laminar to turbulent boundary-layer flow. A unique experiment is proposed with an innovative experimental setup and state-of-the-art systems that includes the variation of the free-stream turbulence with downstream distance. The plan is to “listen to the flow” using more than 200 microphones simultaneously to determine the laminar or turbulent nature of the flow. The data will be valuable in developing predictive models for free-stream turbulence induced transitions, as well as laminar flow control techniques.

Daniel Söderberg
The project will study the self-organisation of cellulose nanofibres into sub-micrometre helical rope-like structures, which are believed to be one reason behind the high-performance filaments that can be fabricated using microfluidic flow-focusing spinning. Apart from explaining the details of the mechanical performance of spun nanocellulose filaments, the helical rope-like structures are believed to be present and an active building-bloc in plant fibres.