Skip to main content
TU-Clausthal Institute of Applied Mechanics

Experimental investigation of flow phenomena in porous media and bulk solids using PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry)

The subject of the project is the provision of experimental data and the validation of models for the calculation of flows in porous media. In process plants (e.g. fixed bed reactor, fluidized bed) but also in natural deposits (e.g. groundwater, oil production) such transport processes are of great importance. Optical measurement methods, in particular particle image velocimetry, are used to directly determine the flow field in debris consisting of spherical particles and other typical packing materials for reactors (e.g. Raschi rings). Compared to other optical methods (Laser Doppler Anemometry), the PIV method offers the advantage of providing immediate field values. Unlike probe measurements (hotwire anemometry, pressure measurement), the measurement is non-invasive, i.e. non-reactive. The prerequisite for using an optical measurement method to determine flow variables in the complex geometries at hand is the perfect matching of the refractive indices of the working fluid and the reactor geometry and particles through which the flow passes, which are made of glass. The velocity data obtained will be used to evaluate the methods based on empirical models for calculating flows in fixed-bed reactors and to validate numerical calculations based on the Navier-Stokes equations. At the same time, the measurement method is to be further developed to include robust algorithms for evaluating the PIV data.

Contact us

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gunther Brenner, Room 126, Tel. +49 5323 72-2515
Dipl.-Ing. Adeline Tchikango, Room 122, Tel. +49 5323 72-3565

Literature

  • C. Knieke, "Messung von Geschwindigkeitsfeldern in Kugelschüttungen mit der PIV Methode", student research project, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, Clausthal University of Technology, 2005.
  • K. Stahr, Konstruktion einer Versuchsanlage zur optischen Messung von Strömungen, student research project, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, Clausthal University of Technology, 2006.
  • A.F.S. Ibánez, Velocity investigations in fixed beds, Alejandra Francisca Segarra Ibánez, Diploma thesis, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, Clausthal University of Technology, 2008.
  • A.S. Tchikango , C. Knieke, G. Brenner, Velocity Measurements in Bulk Solids by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Chemie Ingenieur Technik, (2006), vol. 78, No. 6, pp. 747-750.
  • A.S. Tchikango, P. Giese, G. Brenner, V. Wesling, "Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Particle Motion in Plasma Welding", Chemie Ingenieur Technik, (2007), vol. 79, No, 10, pp. 1699-1703.
  • A.S. Tchikango, P. Giese, G. Brenner, V. Wesling, "Numerical and Experimental Study of Particle Motion in Plasma Arc Welding", Fluid Dynamics and Materials Processing, (2008), vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 77-84.
  • A.S. Tchikango, Experimental investigations of flows in spherical debris and validation using CFD, GVC Technical Committee on Multiphase Flow and Computational Fluid Dynamics, Überlingen, 04.03.06.
  • A.S. Tchikango, Measurements of Flows in randomly Packed Beds using the Particle Image Velocimetry", 13th Int. Symp. On Appl. Laser Techniques to Fluid Mechanics, Lisbon, Portugal, June 26-29, 2006.
  • A.S. Tchikango, PIV Applications at the ITM, Norddeutsches Mechanikkolloquium, Feb. 2007, Göttingen.
  • A.S. Tchikango, Velocity Measurements in Bulk Solids by Particle Image Velocimetry, Measurement 2008, Göttingen, February 20-21, 2008.