Article
Energy & Fuels
Cindy Dianita, Ratchanon Piemjaiswang, Benjapon Chalermsinsuwan
Summary: The application of core annular flow (CAF) in transporting heavy oil through pipelines has shown potential in reducing energy consumption and improving cost efficiency. However, the presence of hydraulic fittings and the instability of CAF pose challenges. This study investigated the energy-saving potential of CAF in a horizontal T-pipe with symmetrical flow and proposed a strategy for maintaining CAF during oil transportation. The results showed significant energy reduction and pressure drop with CAF compared to traditional single phase oil flow. The modified T-pipe with additional water injection improved the stability of CAF and further reduced pressure drop and power consumption.
Article
Mechanics
Santanu Kumar Sahoo, Hrishikesh Gadgil
Summary: Gas-liquid coaxial injectors involve a shear layer between a gas stream and a liquid stream, resulting in self-pulsation of the spray. By applying acoustic forcing to the gas jet and analyzing the response, we can gain insights into the dynamics of atomization and potentially control it.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Kirti Chandra Sahu
Summary: The linear stability characteristics of pressure-driven core-annular pipe flow of two immiscible fluids were investigated, revealing the effects of density and viscosity ratios on the emergence of a new interfacial mode. The dominance of corkscrew and axisymmetric perturbations in liquid-liquid systems, as well as the dominance of axisymmetric perturbations in gas-liquid systems, were observed. Interfacial tension in gas-liquid systems stabilizes short-wave perturbations and destabilizes long-wave perturbations.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhiyong Xie
Summary: This paper theoretically investigates the electrokinetic energy conversion of core-annular flow in a slippery nanotube. The results show that the conversion efficiency can be significantly enhanced by altering the fluid properties.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nele Wenck, Samuel J. Jackson, Sojwal Manoorkar, Ann Muggeridge, Samuel Krevor
Summary: The study evaluated a workflow for characterizing capillary heterogeneities in complex rocks and found that the success of the workflow is primarily determined by the resolution of heterogeneous structures in X-ray imagery. The performance of the workflow systematically improved with increasing characteristic length scales of heterogeneities. The findings showed non-monotonic behavior in upscaled relative permeability due to isotropic heterogeneity in carbonate samples that initially increased and subsequently decreased with increasing flow rate.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Mathematics
Saliha Nouri, Zouhaier Hafsia, Salah Mahmoud Boulaaras, Ali Allahem, Salem Alkhalaf, Baowei Feng
Summary: This study numerically investigated the three-dimensional turbulent core annular flow (CAF) regime and compared two different inlet configurations, showing that the T-junction (3D-T) configuration gave more appropriate results.
JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICS
(2021)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Chidambaram Narayanan, Emeline Beltjens, Rita Szijarto, Dionysios Chionis, Christian Hellwig
Summary: The study presents the application of a fluid film model to analyze the interaction between vapour flow and liquid film dynamics, clarifying the basic relationship between vapour velocity, liquid film thickness, and velocity distribution along a rod. The model is applied to both simplified and real assembly geometries, showing the impact of part length rods on flow pattern and the potential for variation in wall shear to affect local heat and mass-transfer characteristics. The modelling palette for the depth-averaged film model contains features that extend the validity of the study, but future work could explore additional factors like droplets in the vapour core and the influence of spacers.
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Baoshan Xie, Fan Jiang, Huajian Lin, Mingcong Zhang, Zhenzhen Gui, Jianhua Xiang
Summary: This paper reviews the energy-saving aspects of core annular flow (CAF) and factors affecting CAF energy saving. The energy saving of CAF mainly concerns changes in pressure drop and drag reduction efficiency; factors affecting the energy saving of CAF mainly include stability, pipeline system restart, nozzle impact, fouling impact on flow, and oil-water accumulation. The aim of this paper is to provide a reference for the practical application of CAF in heavy oil transportation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zheng-Xin Yu, Xi-Lun Wang, Yu-Lung Chang, Cheng-Yan Lin, Yi-Chieh Chang, Ya-Yu Chiang
Summary: The core-annular liquid-liquid microextractor (CALLME) showed high extraction efficiency, stable operability, and scalability in experiments, making it suitable for rapid process characterization.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Evan Lowry, Gautham Krishnamoorthy
Summary: The co-current contacting of gas and liquid with a gas-continuous phase is an important industrial process for various applications. However, there is currently a lack of correlations that quantify two-phase pressure losses in corrugated geometries under co-current flow conditions at high gas-phase Reynolds numbers. This study aims to fill this gap by measuring two-phase pressure losses in corrugated plate geometries and extending a previously developed single-phase pressure loss correlation to predict the results of this multiphase scenario. The proposed correlation shows improved accuracy compared to previous literature correlations, with a mean-absolute percentage error of 7% for higher Reynolds numbers and 23% for lower Reynolds numbers. Preliminary computational fluid dynamics analysis suggests that a simple boundary condition adequately represents the interfacial pressure loss effects.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Thao X. D. Nguyen, Tuan V. Vu, Sepideh Razavi, Dimitrios V. Papavassiliou
Summary: This work presents a methodology using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to simulate the flow of oil and water in a narrow slit under different flow conditions. It introduces large surfactant molecules at the oil-water interface to investigate their effects on the two-phase flow. The study provides insights into the stability of the interface under different flow conditions and verifies the accuracy of the DPD parameters.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Aabir Das, Rajat Subhra Das, Koushik Das
Summary: This study focuses on improving the effectiveness of the liquid desiccant absorber (LDA) as an alternative to vapor compression systems, by introducing corrugation to increase the desiccant-air interface area. The dehumidification and enthalpy effectiveness are enhanced significantly, and the effectiveness of the absorber is maximized with a pitch to height ratio of 10:2.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Cindy Dianita, Ratchanon Piemjaiswang, Benjapon Chalermsinsuwan
Summary: Previous work showed that CAF stability could not be maintained after passing the intersection in a T-pipe. This CFD study proposes a strategy to recover CAF stability without interrupting the flow process by introducing additional water at the junction. The proposed design reduces pressure drop by more than 98% and is energetically more advantageous than the single-phase oil system.
ALEXANDRIA ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Yihuai Zhang, Branko Bijeljic, Martin J. Blunt
Summary: This article reveals the nonlinear and intermittent features of multiphase flow in porous materials through experiments and simulations, and accurately predicts the start of intermittent flow using an energy balance method. The pore-scale explanation based on the periodic filling of critical flow pathways is further validated through X-ray imaging.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Sofia Angriman, Amelie Ferran, Florencia Zapata, Pablo J. Cobelli, Martin Obligado, Pablo D. Mininni
Summary: This study investigates the three-dimensional clustering of velocity stagnation points, vorticity nulls, and inertial particles in turbulent flows with different large-scale flow geometries by combining direct numerical simulations and particle tracking velocimetry. The results show that although the flows have different topologies in terms of null clustering, the behavior of particles is similar in all cases, indicating the clustering of Taylor-scale neutrally buoyant particles as inertial particles.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yijie Wang, Xiufeng Li, Ting Li, Yang Wang, Jie Jiang, Xuhui Zhang, Jing Huang, Bihua Xia, Ho Cheung Shum, Zhenzhong Yang, Weifu Dong
Summary: A chemical approach is used to fabricate particles by combining a water-insoluble plant protein and a hydrophilic polysaccharide, resulting in adjustable interfacial wettability and improved absorption kinetics for emulsions.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Guo, Danyang Ji, Andrew B. Kinghorn, Feipeng Chen, Yi Pan, Xiufeng Li, Qingchuan Li, Wilhelm T. S. Huck, Chun Kit Kwok, Ho Cheung Shum
Summary: RNA encodes interactions to modulate the properties of biomolecular condensates, and rG4s formed by guanine-rich sequences can trigger the formation of these condensates. The mechanisms by which rG4 motifs modulate phase transitions and material properties of condensates are unclear.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Fang Wang, Chang Li, Ruotong Zhang, Yuan Liu, Haisong Lin, Lang Nan, Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Yang Xiao, Ho Cheung Shum, Hui Deng
Summary: Cold atmospheric plasma chip enables targeted and multi-dosage treatment of multiple cell lines in a single session. This innovative approach provides a new tool for investigating the mechanisms of plasma-induced anticancer effects and guiding clinical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shi Yang, Han Yu, Xiuli Xu, Ting Yang, Yue Wei, Rui Zan, Xiaonong Zhang, Qingming Ma, Ho Cheung Shum, Yang Song
Summary: This article presents the synthesis of a peptide-based RNA sensor by connecting aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) tetraphenylethylene (TPE) to tandem peptide repeats of (RRASL)n (n = 1, 2, 3). The conjugation of TPE promotes liquid-liquid phase separation of the peptide repeats, with significantly decreased minimum coacervation concentration (MCC) compared to the untagged counterparts. Furthermore, the luminescence of TPE-(RRASL)n is greatly enhanced with increasing RNA concentration, attributed to the constricted rotation of the TPE moiety within the droplet phase formed by peptide/RNA coacervates. In addition, TPE-(RRASL)n can efficiently penetrate human gallbladder carcinoma cells, translocate into the nucleus, and colocalize with intracellular RNA, highlighting its potential as a droplet-based biosensor for intracellular RNA imaging.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chang Li, Yafeng Yu, Huizeng Li, Haisong Lin, Huanqing Cui, Yi Pan, Ruotong Zhang, Yanlin Song, Ho Cheung Shum
Summary: The heterogeneous self-assembly of a single type of nanoparticle is achieved by quickly evaporating a colloid-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) droplet, facilitated by the spatial confinement induced by a skin layer. This approach allows for the formation of face-centered-cubic (FCC) lattices with different plane orientations, generating binary bandgaps and structural colors. The self-assembly of nanoparticles can be regulated by adjusting the PEG concentration, and the method is applicable to various droplet shapes, substrates, and nanoparticle types.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanting Shen, Yuan Liu, Janine K. Nunes, Chenmin Wang, Miao Xu, Michael K. T. To, Howard A. Stone, Ho Cheung Shum
Summary: Injectable fibro-gel, a water-filled network of entangled hydrogel microfibers, has shown great potential in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to its injectability, tailorable physicochemical properties, and controlled drug release profiles. Preliminary in vivo tests on a mice excision skin model have demonstrated that the fibro-gel promotes faster wound healing and new tissue regeneration compared to a commercial gel. Moreover, the release of distinct drugs at different rates using a two-layer fibro-gel model further enhances wound healing efficiency.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
A. Gans, A. Abramian, P. -y. Lagree, M. Gong, A. Sauret, O. Pouliquen, M. Nicolas
Summary: The collapse of a quasi-two-dimensional column of cohesive granular media is investigated experimentally and numerically in the framework of a continuum model. The role of cohesion on the stability of the column, the mode of failure, the flow dynamics and the geometry of the final deposit are studied. The continuum model captures the main features observed experimentally.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zehao Pan, Janine K. Nunes, Camille Duprat, Ho Cheung Shum, Howard A. Stone
Summary: When a suspension of particles passes through a constriction, the particle volume fraction either decreases or remains unchanged. However, an entangled fiber suspension can increase its volume fraction by over 10 times after passing through a constriction. This increase is attributed to the entanglements among the fibers, which allow the network to move faster than the liquid. This finding provides a new strategy to control soft material properties during delivery processes in healthcare, 3D printing, and material repair.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Feipeng Chen, Xiufeng Li, Yafeng Yu, Qingchuan Li, Haisong Lin, Lizhi Xu, Ho Cheung Shum
Summary: The authors present a one-step fabrication method based on aqueous phase separation to construct two-aqueous-phase gels with multiple phases. These gels exhibit enhanced interfacial mechanics and can be conveniently constructed with programmable structures and tunable properties. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by mimicking various biological architecture features at different length scales.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Pan, Chang Li, Xiaoyu Hou, Zhenyu Yang, Mingzhu Li, Ho Cheung Shum
Summary: The challenge of achieving individually and independently programmable stimuli-responsive color pixels in color-changing soft materials and devices has been addressed by designing a morphable concavity array on a two-dimensional photonic crystal elastomer. By using multichannel microfluidics, the colors of each concavity can be switched controllably, enabling dynamic display for applications such as anti-counterfeiting and encryption.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Deok-Hoon Jeong, Langqi Xing, Michael Ka Ho Lee, Nathan Vani, Alban Sauret
Summary: The dip coating of suspensions made of monodisperse non-Brownian spherical particles dispersed in a Newtonian fluid leads to different coating regimes depending on the ratio of the particle diameter to the thickness of the film entrained on the substrate. In the case of anisotropic particles, in particular fibers, the smallest characteristic dimension will control the entrainment of the particle. Furthermore, it is possible to control the orientation of the anisotropic particles depending on the substrate geometry. The Landau-Levich-Derjaguin law is recovered for more concentrated suspension by introducing an effective capillary number accounting for the change in viscosity.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Joanne Steiner, Cyprien Morize, Ivan Delbende, Alban Sauret, Philippe Gondret
Summary: In this article, the time evolution of vortex rings generated by the translation of a rigid disk in a fluid is investigated. The startup vortex ring and its dynamics are characterized experimentally and numerically. The observed scaling laws of the maximum radius and circulation of the vortex ring are captured by a modified theoretical model.
PHYSICAL REVIEW FLUIDS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan Zhan, Chang Li, Zhigang Che, Ho Cheung Shum, Xiaotian Hu, Huizeng Li
Summary: Benefiting from their superior photophysical properties and low-cost crystalline substances, perovskites have emerged as competitive photoactive semiconductors for optoelectronic devices. Photon management is crucial for perovskites due to their direct band gap and high refractive index. Photonic structures with periodic features offer efficient means to manage light through the interaction between media and photons. This review discusses strategies of photon management in perovskite optoelectronics and summarizes the design and implementation progress of photonic elements for high-index perovskites. Proposals and guidelines for high-performance multifunctional perovskite optoelectronics are also provided.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Niki Abbasi, Janine K. Nunes, Zehao Pan, Tejas Dethe, Ho Cheung Shum, Andrej Kosmrlj, Howard A. Stone
Summary: Liquid-liquid phase separation induced by co-flow of a nonequilibrated aqueous two-phase system within a planar flow-focusing microfluidic device is experimentally demonstrated. Invasion fronts from the outer stream are formed along the top and bottom walls of the microfluidic device, which merge as the system reaches steady-state. The formation and growth of the invasion fronts are driven by Marangoni flow induced by the polymer concentration gradient along the width of the channel during phase separation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nathan Vani, Sacha Escudier, Alban Sauret
Summary: This study investigates the mechanism of particle clogging in confined systems, focusing on bridging clogging. Experimental characterization of particulate suspensions flow through millifluidic devices at different concentrations was conducted, and the influence of solid fraction on clogging probability was discussed.