Fluid Dynamics + Transport
Fluid dynamics and transport research spans micro- to industrial-scale systems, focusing on multiphase and multi-physics flows. The aim is to develop fundamental insights that improve system performance, enhance efficiency, and reduce environmental impact across sectors like energy, manufacturing and healthcare.
The department’s research in fluid dynamics and transport covers a wide range of scales and applications, from microfluidic devices used in biomedical diagnostics to large-scale pipelines and chemical reactors. A major focus is on multiphase (e.g., gas-liquid-solid) and multi-physics systems, which are common in complex industrial and natural processes. Researchers aim to build a deep fundamental understanding of flow behavior, heat and mass transfer, and reaction-transport coupling. These insights are used to optimize designs, improve performance, and reduce environmental impact in systems such as oil recovery, carbon capture, advanced manufacturing, and medical devices, supporting innovation in both science and sustainable technology.
Possible Careers
- Fluid dynamics engineer
- Multiphase flow engineer
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engineer
Current Research
Tackle the complexities of how fluids, energy, and mass move through multi-scale systems. From micro-channels to transnational pipelines, research in this area is essential for safe and efficient industrial operations and process design.
Focusing heavily on multiphase flows and non-Newtonian mixtures common in the energy, environment, health, and agriculture sectors, our researchers utilize a range of advanced tools including Computational Fluid Dynamics and sophisticated rheology testing to model the behaviour of complex multiphase flows. Fundamental studies in transport phenomena—heat, mass, and momentum transfer—are applied to critical systems like particle-laden slurries in pipelines, chemical reactors (fixed bed, fluidized bed and entrained flow), heat exchangers, geothermal systems, and spray processes.