Dr. Heindel's research interests are in the areas of transport phenomena (i.e.,
fluid mechanics and heat/mass transfer). Past projects include various transport
phenomena topics such as: forced convection channel flows; nucleate boiling,
incipience, and critical heat flux; jet impingement heat transfer; heat transfer
enhancement; natural convection flows; transport in porous media; bubble-particle
interactions; fiber suspension flows; flotation separation; multiphase bubble
column flows; mixing in Standard Vessel Configuration mixing tanks; and concentric
pipe mixing. His current research interests involve transport phenomena in complex
fluid systems. These fluid systems are applicable to many process industries
including food processing, agricultural waste management, pulp and paper processing,
mineral processing, petrochemical refining, and water treatment. Three potential
project areas involving transport in complex fluid systems are summarized below.
- Maximizing Gas Holdup in Complex Fluid Systems
The goals of this research area are to identify process conditions that maximize
gas holdup in complex fluid systems, and to develop a fundamental knowledge
base of the significant parameters that control gas holdup. Quiescent (no
bulk liquid exchange) and cocurrent vertical bubble columns will be used in
this research. Gas holdup will be recorded through bed expansion, dynamic
gas disengagement, and gamma-ray densitometry measurements. Initial complex
fluid systems will include synthetic and natural fiber systems of various
mass fractions. Other fluid systems will also be investigated.
- Characterizing Gas Flows in Complex Fluid Systems
The goals of this research area are to develop fundamental models of gas flows
in complex fluid systems, and to correlate accessible process measurements
to various gas flow regimes and flow regime transitions. Various techniques
will be used to quantify gas flow regimes in complex fluid systems, which
may be opaque and/or contain a significant mass fraction of solids. Correlating
process measurements to these flow characteristics will allow many process
industries to monitor easily-acquired signals for process control and process
improvements.
- Fundamentals of Pipe Mixing in Complex Fluid Systems
The goals of this research area are to enhance the pipe mixing characteristics
of complex fluid systems, and to develop numerical models of this mixing process.
Pipe mixing of two dissimilar fluids is very common in many process industries.
Effective mixing is required to maximize product uniformity and, in the case
of reactive systems, to maximize product yield. This is difficult to achieve
when one fluid is a complex fluid that may contain a high mass fraction of
suspended solids that may flocculate, and is mixed with water or a low mass
fraction suspension. Experimental observations and measurements will be used
to develop numerical models of this complex mixing phenomena. Numerical simulations
will also be performed to predict the flow conditions. Transport enhancement
techniques will also be investigated to improve desired process conditions
such as reduced mixing length, increased mixing uniformity, etc.