59th Annual Report on Research 2014

1. Specific objectives during this reporting period:Experimental analysis of vortex flow interaction with porous media structure, dissemination of the results and also training the research group involved with this activity.

 2. Research Summary and Significant Results:After finishing the construction of the experimental setup, we successfully obtained high resolution images of airflow patterns passing through a porous medium by a CCD camera. The custom-made, high-precision vortex generator is capable of providing a variety of velocity profiles. The porous screens are constructed out of acrylic rods with various orientations and porosities via rod separation. The experimental results during this reporting period show the effect of porosity and air injection velocity (Reynolds number) on the behavior of air flow (separation, accumulation), and the transport phenomena of vortex flow while interacting with a porous medium. The flow trajectory lines in different injection velocities (Reynolds number) and media porosities are mapped through processing captured close-up images. During this reporting period, a journal paper from the experimental results of air flow through one porous screen is accepted to be published in Special Topics and Reviews in Porous Media. The experimental setup is designed in a way that addition of porous screens is possible to form a 3D cubical porous medium.

In parallel to the improvement of our experimental setup, a PhD student conducted a CFD simulation study to validate the obtained experimental results. This study presents a numerical analysis of a three-dimensional vortical air flow propagating through a porous medium. All the physical parameters in the CFD simulation are matched with the experimental setup for accurate validation. A journal paper is under preparation out of this numerical study. 3. The impact on physical resources that form infrastructure: The developed experimental setup and the computer program funded partially by this grant, are major assets in the PI's lab, assisting in the production of preliminary results for other proposals, and are expected to continue operation in the PI’s lab after the conclusion of the period of the proposed activity.

4. Dissemination of Research Findings: Dr. Hassanipour (PI) presented the results from the above experimental investigation in the “Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Porous Media and its Applications in Science and Engineering ICPM5 in June 22-27, 2014 in Kona, Hawaii". One PhD student, supported by an additional funding, presented the results of his work on this project in “Proceedings of the ASME 2014 4th Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting and 11th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels (FEDSM2014) in August 3-7, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois."

5. Educational Activities: A PhD student supported by NSF has played a key role in experimental study as well as CFD simulation A full time master degree student was supported by this grant, who participated in the construction of experimental setup and collecting high resolution images. One female undergraduate student was supported by this grant to help with the experimental study of this project. One high school student from Plano Independent School District worked on this project during summer 2014.

6. Additional Support: The PI supported a PhD student, and purchased required materials and equipment by an additional support from National Science Foundation during this reporting period.