COMETE — Next-Generation Computational Methods for Enhanced Multiphase Flow Processes

Results in brief

Next-Generation Computational Methods for Enhanced Multiphase Flow Processes

COMETE aims at building a computational framework and a network of competence to extend the applicability of state-of-the-art software tools to industrially relevant multi-phase turbulent flows. The importance and the impact of these type of flows for society has become clear to the general public during the Covid-19 pandemic, since airborne contagion by respiratory droplets is an example of multi-phase flow. Availability of simulation tools that can perform beyond classic academic problems is crucial for any EU industrial sector to gain a competitive edge in nowadays global market. The applications targeted by COMETE are more industrially-oriented but are also characterized by the transport of particles/droplets. We examine this transport in two-phase flows with gas-liquid or liquid-liquid deformable interfaces, which are ubiquitous in process, chemical, and power engineering. These applications are at the crossroads between academic research and practical concerns and their modelling in an industrial context represents a major challenge. This is due to the complexity arising from the coexistence of different phases, but also to a lack of cross-fertilization between academia and industry. The new framework leverages on emerging complementary methods and aim at extending their applicability to industrial contexts. Another objective is to exploit the complementary expertise of the industrial and academic partners to ensure successful combination of technology-driven objectives and original research developments. This is achieved by putting forward synchronized training-through-research and training-on-the-job activities. Upon delivering such innovative modellng and simulation framework, the project facilitates integration across disciplines (e.g. engineering, physics, mathematics and computer science), provides doctoral-level researchers with proper understanding of multi-phase flows, equipping them with all the professional skills required to master next-generation scientific methodologies for complex industrial applications of multiphase flow technology.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

In this project, we aim at building a computational framework and a network of competence to extend the applicability of state-of-the-art formulations to industrially-relevant multiphase turbulent flows. We focus on applications characterized by the transport of particles/droplets in two-phase flows with gas-liquid or liquid-liquid deformable interfaces, which are ubiquitous in process, chemical, and power engineering. The targeted applications are at the crossroads between academic research and practical concerns (e.g. particle deposition in boiling flows, droplet coalescence/breakup in emulsions, freezing/defreezing in heat pipes or changes in two-phase flow patterns) and their modeling in an industrial context represents a major challenge. This is due to the complexity arising from the co-existence of different phases, but also to a lack of cross-fertilization between academia and industry: Several methods and ideas exist but their application is often limited to flows of academic interest, with scarce transfer of skills, poor experimental validation and, most importantly, no unified framework into which existing methods could be cast. This represents a serious obstacle to industrial developments since engineers and practitioners can be unaware of which method to use and in need of support. To build the new framework, we consider emerging complementary methods, including Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Phase Field.COMETE leverages on the complementary expertise of the industrial and academic partners to ensure successful combination of technology-driven objectives and original research developments. To this aim, we will build an international network of excellence by putting forward synchronized training-through-research and training-on-the-job activities, and we will form PhD students fully capable of mastering the next-generation scientific methodologies for complex industrial applications of multiphase flow technology.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI UDINE · UdineCoordinatorItaly
ESTECO SPA · TriesteItaly
EURO HEAT PIPES SA · NivellesBelgium
INSTYTUT MASZYN PRZEPLYWOWYCH IM ROBERTA SZEWALSKIEGO POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK - IMP PAN · GdanskPoland
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria

COMETE · Next-Generation Computational Methods for Enhanced Multiphase Flow Processes

Results in brief

Next-Generation Computational Methods for Enhanced Multiphase Flow Processes

Project objective

Participants

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