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Research in Reacting Flows
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Affiliated Faculty:
Dave Caughey,
Lance Collins,
David Erickson,
Brian Kirby,
Steve Pope
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Integrated microfluidic devices for Single Nucleotide
Polymorphism (SNP) discrimination. SNPs are small genetic variations
(single DNA base pair mismatches) that occur within a person's genetic code that
determine their predisposition to genetic
disorders and are therefore important for
developing personalized medicines. Top: results using
electrokinetic techniques for SNP discrimination by controlling the shear,
electrical and thermal forces within the double layer.
Bottom: integrated device.
(Courtesy David Erickson)
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Chemical reactions can occur in fluid flows on all scales. At Cornell we
have ongoing research in a wide range of flows, ranging from microscale liquid flows
for biochemical assays to turbulent reactive flows applied primarily to turbulent
combustion.
Many biochemical assays are most effectively performed in microscale systems due to
the rapid diffusion times, small reagent requirements, and facile integration afforded
by such systems. Our work includes detailed study of binding assay kinetic rates and their
control in microsystems.
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In the chemical process industry and in all forms of combustion engines,
turbulent flows are favored because of their high mixing rates. From
theoretical and computational viewpoints, turbulent reactive flows pose a
significant challenge, since there are significant non-linear interactions
on all scales between the turbulent fluctuations and the chemical
reactions.
A successful approach pioneered at Cornell is the probability density
function (PDF) approach. This has been applied to the challenging case of
turbulent flames with extinction and ignition phenomena.
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Scatter plots of temperature against
mixture fraction in a lifted hydgrogen jet flame. The experimental data
(UC-Berkeley) are compared to the different PDF model calculations (Cornell).
From work by Cao, Pope & Masri (2004).
(Courtesy Steve Pope)
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False-color image of the chemical species OH in a
turbulent mixing layer between cold hydrogen and hot air. From
large-eddy simulations performed by Lu, Ren & Pope (2004).
(Courtesy Steve Pope)
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Reseach on the PDF approach is continuing, including combinations of the PDF approach with
large-eddy simulation (LES) techniques.
Work in this area is supported by a $1.4M, 4-year NSF-ITR award.
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