Drag Reduction by High Molecular Weight Polymers

Simple dimensional analysis anticipates difference in observable statistical properties of turbulent flows and viscous and viscoelastic fluids, but it does not explain the significant reduction in drag caused by a few parts per million of a high molecular weight polymer added to a fully developed turbulent flow of a Newtonian fluid. The phenomenon is being investigated in our laboratory both experimentally and theoretically. We have recently developed a statistical theory which shows many of the qualitative features characteristic of this phenomenon. Experiments are under way to verify these new findings.

Effects of Polymer Additives on Hydrocyclone Performance

Exploring the possibility of using polymers high in molecular weight to improve either the thickening or the classifying performance of hydrocyclones is the objective of current research. Three complementary problems are being studied which should yield new insights into the underlying mechanism for solid-liquid separation in hydrocyclones and should provide quantitative information regarding specific flow structures that cause inefficiencies in performance. Separation experiments in 10 mm and 3 in. hydrocyclones are being conducted using glass beads and kaolinite clays. High-molecular-weight polymers that show a significant drag reduction in pipe flow are being used to alter important internal flow structures affecting solid-liquid separation. A quantitative study of mean velocity field within a hydrocyclone with and without polymer additives is being made using laser doppler anemometry. The velocity data are being used to test the basis for theoretical particle trajectory calculations in hydrocyclones and to model two distinct swirling flows responsible for the "short circuit" boundary layer or the vortex finder wall and the outer wall boundary layer directed toward the underflow.

Hydrocyclone Research Laboratory

The cyclone unit operation has been employed for both the separation and classification of multiphase flows for over 100 years. The Hydrocyclone Research Laboratory (HRL) at Michigan State University was created in order to study liquid-based separations, with the focus being oil-in-water suspensions typically found in the process streams of offshore oil platforms. Current research activities at the HRL include the experimental characterization of various multiphase flow systems and the theoretical modeling of turbulent swirling flows.

Relaxation Models for Turbulent Mass Transfer Near Free and Rigid Interfaces

The relationship between the statistical coherent structures of turbulent flows near interfaces and turbulent transport phenomena is currently being investigated by using a novel statistical approach to the convective diffusion equation. A set of integro-differential equations relate the mean concentration field to the underlying space-time structure of the velocity field and a mean Green's function. Problems being studied using this methodology include: mass transfer at high Schmidt numbers near rigid and free interfaces; deposition of fine particles in filter beds; and physicochemical absorption.

Reviewed Journal Publications

Petty, C.A.; Parks, S.M. "Flow Structures within Miniature Hydrocyclones", Minerals Engineering, 17(5), 615-624, 2004.

Satyadev, C.N.; Jayaraman, K.; Petty, C.A.; Losure, N.S., "Stability of Polymerizing Liquid Flow in Porous Media," Polymer Reaction Engineering 8 (2), 167-197 (2000)

Conference Proceedings

Liping, L.; Benard, A.; Petty, C. "Motion of a Slightly Deformed Sphere with Slip Surface in Creeping Flows," 9th International Symposium on Liquid-Solid Flows, Session 9-3: Liquid-Particle-Wall Interactions, Proceedings of the ASME Fluids Engineering Summer Conference, Houston, TX, June 19-23, ASME: New York, NY, (2005).

Mandal, D.; Benard, A.; Petty, C.A. "Flow Induced Orientation of Fibers in Couette Flow Between Eccentric Cylinders", Advances in Fluid Mechanics V, Editors: Brebbia, C.A.; Mendes, A.C.; Rahman, M.; WIT Press, UK., 289-296, 2004.

Eldin, D.; Parks, S.; Petty, C.A.; Benard, A. "Simulation of flow in a Pulsed-Jet Mixer Using a Volume-of-Fluid Model", Advances in Fluid Mechanics V, Editors: Brebbia, C.A.; Mendes, A.C.; Rahman, M., WIT Press, UK. 297-306, 2004.

Kini, H.; Kim, Y.C.; Nguyen, C.T.; Benard, A.; Petty, C.A. "Flow Induced Microstructure in Composite Materials", 2003 Proceedings of 14th International Conference on Composite Materials,ICCM14, CD-ROM, San Diego, July 14-18, (2003).

Other Works

Petty, C.A. "2004 Annual Report on NSF/ECC 0331977: Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Multiphase Transport Phenomena", Director and Principal Investigator, Michigan State University. 41p, 2004.

Petty, C.A. "Final Report on NSF 0245644: Planning Grant for I/UCRC on Experimental, Theoretical, and Computational Analysis of Multiphase Phenomena", Principal Investigator, Michigan State University. 49p, 2004.

Petty, C.A.; "Final Report on NSF/CTS- 9986878: Flow-Induced Alignment of Dispersed Particles, Closure Model for Particle-Fluid Interactions", (PI) and A. Bénard (co-PI), Michigan State University. 9p, 2004.

Petty, Charles A. "Final Report on NSF/CRCD 9980325: Multiphase Transport Phenomena Curriculum Development", Principal Investigator, Michigan State University (Lead University) in cooperation with The University of Akron, The University of Tulsa, submitted to NSF FastLane and posted on NSF/CRCD preview site http://vu.msu.edu/preview/eng-mtp (2003).