High-Speed Irregular Particle Flow Diagnostic System

• Subject Area: Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 408308656

The requested system „High­Speed Irregular Particle Flow Diagnostics System“ will enable to determine the complete, three­dimensional behaviour of irregularly shaped particles in turbulent flows. Knowledge of the dynamics of particles in flows has a great importance for the successful design and determining the optimum operating conditions of numerous industrial applications, e.g. pneumatic transport, cyclone separators, fluidised beds, dust collectors, and pulverised­coal combustors to name a few. So far, the majority of studies involving gas­particle flows assume that particles are perfect spheres. This assumption is very convenient, but in most cases unrealistic. Predicting the motion of general non­spherical particles is a non-trivial task that is exacerbated by the discrete temporal and strongly non-linear nature of non­spherical particles and the complex nature of the interaction with the fluid phase. Hence, there are a very few theoretical studies on the behaviour of non­spherical particles. The applicant (Prof. B. van Wachem) has pioneered research work on the behaviour of irregularly shaped particles in complex and realistic situations. There are currently no experimental studies elucidating the three­dimensional behaviour of non­spherical particles in flows. The requested system will be the first in its kind and will be used to: a) validate the theoretical frameworks, b) gain new insights in the behaviour of irregularly shaped particles in fluid flow, and c) study other multiphase systems, such as falling liquid films. The system will be part of a highly equipped and modern laboratory at OVGU in Magdeburg.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: High-Speed Irregular Particle Flow Diagnostic System
• Instrumentation Group: 5430 Hochgeschwindigkeits-Kameras (ab 100 Bilder/Sek)
• Applicant Institution: Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Berend van Wachem