Fluids, Energy and Industry

This area focuses on the research of sustainable development practices involving the movement of fluids in the industrial environment and it’s part of the Department’s research themes called “Natural systems, environment and territory” (sub-theme: “Natural Resources Management”), “Structures and Infrastructures” (sub-themes: “Hydraulic Constructions and Hydraulic Engineering” and “Structure Dynamics”) and “Materials and mechanics of materials” (sub-themes: “Theoretical, applied and computational mechanics of materials and structures” and “Geo-materials”). The research group studies the advanced recovery of oil and fossil gas from the subsoil, and characterizes and models two-phase flows with reference to applications for the transport of mining material in pipelines and oil & gas processes. Topics such as the recovery of energy from wave motion and hydraulic flow regulation devices, in addition to mathematical modelling of erosion, cavitation and fluid-dynamic noise production in pipelines are developed. Moreover, the modeling of flows around regulating valves and the management and optimization of water service networks are studied. Finally, theoretical and numerical research on the mechanics of granular flows is carried out.