Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lab for Fluid Mechanics "MRI Flow Lab"

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics ; Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology ; Hydraulic and Turbo Engines and Piston Engines
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 501287926

The core facility "MRI Flow Lab", which is to be founded, is a laboratory for magnetic resonance velocimetry (MRV) and operates a clinical whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at the University of Rostock. Magnetic resonance tomography is a non-invasive measuring method that works without optical access. With the help of magnetic field gradients and electromagnetic pulses, various physical quantities (e.g. density, temperature, quantum mechanical quantities and the velocity) can be captured spatially resolved in three dimensions in the measurement volume. In addition to its use in medicine, the measurement process has also been used and further developed in process engineering for many years to measure transport and chemical processes in flowing media. For some years now, the measurement method has also become more popular in mechanical engineering, especially in fluid mechanics, and is used for problems in which higher flow velocities, turbulent flows and larger geometries are relevant. Usually larger models and measurement volumes are required for this than smaller MRI scanners can provide. The large full-body scanner in the MRI Flow Lab offers valuable and rarely available capacities for this purpose. With the aim of opening the MRI Flow Lab to other interested parties, in particular from the field of fluid mechanics, a core facility is to be established for shared use. The purpose of the core facility is to offer other researchers the opportunity to use the laboratory's resources, to increase the capacity of the laboratory and to find new interdisciplinary research approaches that are not possible in MRI laboratories with a clinical/ medical background. During the funding period, the research infrastructure is to be professionalized in order to be able to efficiently prepare and carry out experiments for and with external scientists on a larger scale. Potential users should be advised and supported in the development of the research project in the laboratory. This includes the establishment of an effective organizational structure, a consistent model for access to the laboratory, a transparent and customizable fee schedule and a sound technical and scientific user support. Furthermore, concepts for training courses for potential users are created, and knowledge transfer is promoted through the organization of workshops and conferences.

• DFG Programme: Core Facilities
• Applicant Institution: Universität Rostock
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Sven Grundmann