Multiphase Flow 2015

8th International Conference on Computational and Experimental Methods in Multiphase and Complex Flow

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20 - 22 April 2015
Valéncia, Spain

Overview

Multiphase Flow 2015

The 8th International Conference on Computational and Experimental Methods in Multiphase Flow took place in Valencia, Spain, organised by the Wessex Institute, the University of New Mexico and the Politecnic University of Valencia, represented respectively by Professors C A Brebbia, Peter Vorobieff and Jose Luis Muñoz-Cobo.

The meeting, which was very successful, as all previous conferences in the series, attracted delegates from many different countries specialised in a wide range of scientific disciplines, which reflects the complexity and importance of multiphase processes.

Multiphase flow processes require the widest range of skills and their practical applications are countless, including all aspects of human endeavour, such as extraction and processing of fossil fuels, sequestration of greenhouse gases, manufacturing, food processing, transportation and many others.

The complexity of multiphase flow problems naturally arise from its basic physics. When materials with different states or phases move together, the volume averaged bulk property of the mixtures is generally insufficient to describe its behaviour because phase interactions, phase change, chemical reactions and interfacial processes play an important role. The same applies to situations where the state or phase of materials in the flow is the same, but their physical and chemical properties differ. To provide a physically faithful description of a multiphase system, additional equations and boundary conditions must be provided to the classical Navier-Stokes equations, to account for phase interaction, moving boundaries, diffusion and other effects. It is also necessary to consider a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, from those characterising the complete system to those associated, for instance, with microscopic droplets or bubbles embedded in the fluid.

Opening of the Conference



The meeting was opened by Carlos A Brebbia who described the work of Wessex Institute, in particular, the importance of its conference programme, which has become well established. The Institute – Carlos explained – continues to carry out research in the field of computational methods from its New Forest campus. It also develops new capabilities for boundary elements, a method that has become closely associated with Wessex Institute since its beginnings.

WIT Press – Carlos said – in addition to its conference volume series, publishes advanced books in science and engineering. It has also launched several international journals, one of which – Computational Methods and Experimental Measurements – is closely associated with this conference. It is now launching a new publication on Energy Production and Management, due to start at the beginning of 2016, to be followed shortly by two more journals on Transportation and Architectural Heritage.

Carlos ended his welcoming address by thanking the delegates for having come to the meeting and hoping that they will have time to see many of the sights of Valencia, a city that has dramatically changed in the last few years, comprising now many architectural landmarks and a substantial number of open green spaces.

Peter Vorobieff then spoke of the importance and history of the conference, ending his talk by presenting to Carlos a Navajo type necklace with a blue stone, which is called “sleeping beauty”, set in a silver brooch. Carlos expressed his gratitude for this rather unexpected act of generosity, which was crafted by the Pueblos Indians of New Mexico.



Invited Presentations

“Richtmyer-Meshkov and other instabilities in compressible multiphase flow” by Peter Vorobieff, University of New Mexico, USA.

“Space and temporal evolution of density wave oscillations in multi-phase flow channels of boiling water reactors” by Jose Luis Muñoz-Cobo, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain.

“Computational multi-component modelling of electron transport and ohmic heating inside a micro arc-jet thruster” by Rodion Groll, University of Bremen, Germany.

“Solutions of scalar mean profiles close to gas-liquid interfaces under turbulent free slip motion” by Harry Edmar Schultz, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“Three-dimensional visualization of natural convection of miscible fluids due to the density difference in a packed bed” by Tetsuy Suekane, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.

Conference Topics

A substantial number of presentations were classified under the following topics:

  • Computational modelling
  • Experimental measurements
  • Multiphase flow simulation
  • Bubble and drop dynamics
  • Cavitation
  • Interface behaviour
  • Flow in porous media

Conference Dinner



The International Scientific Advisory Committee met over dinner to discuss the meeting and plan reconvening it in 2017. Several new topics and proposed new members to the Committee were discussed. The success of the conference rested with the quality of the papers and the friendly atmosphere amongst delegates. These two aspects – it was felt – ought to be retained, trying to attract better presentations while not attempting to increase the number of delegates unduly.

The conference banquet took place in the unusual setting of the restaurant located under the city Aquarium, where the walls were tanks displaying shoals of fish. The excellent dinner, consisting of different courses with good local wines, helped to create a convivial atmosphere for the participants. The short walk from the conference location to the restaurant allowed them to appreciate some of the works of Calatrava, including his Palace of Arts, the Museum of Sciences and the Agora, as seen from the bridge built by Calatrava over the old bed of the Turia river. The Aquarium building in the Oceanographic Centre, as well as its companion structure where the restaurant was located, is the work of the renowned Mexican engineer, Felix Candela, and consists of two very attractive hyperbolic paraboloids. The banquet was most successful.

Closing of the Conference



The conference was closed by Carlos who thanked the delegates for having participated, in his name and those of his colleagues, Peter Vorobieff, from New Mexico University and Jose Luis Muñoz-Cobo from the Politecnic University of Valencia. He invited the delegates to visit the WIT Campus in the New Forest and hoped that they will continue to support the work of the Wessex Institute.

Conference Proceedings

The proceedings of Multiphase Flow 2015 – Computational Methods in Multiphase Flow VIII, 548pp (Print ISBN: 978-1-84564-946-3; eISBN: 978-1-84564-947-0) are available from WIT Press. Orders can be placed on the WIT Press web site at www.witpress.com or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone: +44 (0) 238 029 3223 or fax: +44 (0) 238 029 2853.

Papers from the conference will also be hosted online at the WIT eLibrary as Volume 89 of WIT Transactions on Engineering Sciences (ISSN: 1746-4471, Digital ISSN 1743-3533). For more details visit the WIT eLibrary at http://witpress.com/elibrary

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