This is an undergraduate research position, made available through either the NSERC USRA or the Work Learn IUA program.
Role Details
Project Name: Laboratory Research Assistant, Bubble formation and Emissions Study | Complex Fluid Lab, UBC Vancouver
Supervisor Name: Masoud Daneshi | Preferred Contact: masoud.daneshi@ubc.ca
Deadline to Apply: Application procedures are different for these two programs – visit our undergraduate Research Opportunities page for application details.
- NSERC USRA: Send your application Package to Mechanical Engineering Student Services (students@mech.ubc.ca) by March 8th,2023 at 11:59 PM.
- WL IUA: The position will be posted to UBC CareersOnline from March 13 – 26, 2023. Interested students can also contact Masoud Daneshi (masoud.daneshi@ubc.ca) with resume and transcript.
Project Description
Bubble formation and consequent gas emission are common in natural geological materials such as flooded soils and terrestrial sediments via biodegradation, but also in man-made ponds such as oil sands tailings ponds. Recent data suggests that in 2020 around 7 megatonnes of methane and carbon dioxide were released from oil sands tailings ponds in Canada. The tailings ponds consist of the FFT and MFT layers, which include water, sand, anaerobic microorganisms and naphtha. In these layers, degradation of the naphtha by the microorganisms leads to the production of methane and carbon dioxide, both potential causes of GHG emissions. The complex fluids group at UBC has been studying this process in a lab setting, using lab experiments, models and computations, from a fluid mechanics perspective. The MFT/FFT layers can be categorized as time-dependent yield stress fluids. These materials behave like a solid when the applied stresses are below a threshold, i.e. the yield stress, while above the threshold they deform and flow like a liquid. This suggests the ability of these layers to retain gas bubbles. Our interest is in the entrapment and release of bubbles, understanding the physical processes and eventually how the fluid rheology might be used as a means to entrap the bubbles and potentially control GHG emission from the ponds.
To date, we studied the onset of motion of a single bubble as well as the effect of interactions of bubbles and eventually the stability of bubble clouds by small-scale lab experiments. We are interested in extending our experiments to study bubble entrapment/entrainment and stability in multi-layered fluid systems as well as bubbles’ propagation and stability in materials with non-uniform rheology where networks of low viscous layers control the bubble motion and propagation. We plan to use a large-scale pressurized vertical flow loop equipped with an imaging system to study gas-liquid flows of interest. We are seeking 1-2 students to work on the project. The students will assist in all operations related to the experiment: fluid preparation, rheometry measurements of the fluids, running experiments and image processing. The students will learn the physical background of the experiments and may help in the design of new components and implementation of changes to the apparatus.
Interested students should contact Masoud Daneshi (masoud.daneshi@ubc.ca) with their resume and transcripts. The intention is that the successful students be funded under the NSERC USRA or WLIURA program.
Special requirements (department, GPA, specific courses, year level, skills)
The student will be supervised by a team of graduate students working on the same projects, interacting daily with the team. The students will assist in all operations related with the experiments: fluid preparation, rheometry measurements of the fluids, running experiments and image processing. The students will learn the physical background to the experiments and may help in design of new components and implement changes to the current apparatus.
This position would perhaps suit a student in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Physics or Chemistry with hands on laboratory experience who wishes to gain research experience in fluid mechanics and rheology, plus associated areas.
Other Information
Position duration (ie. May to Aug, 2023): May-August 2023, possibly extendable.
Total pay including award: $9K
Will you still hire for position if the student does not receive the WL IURA 0r NSERC USRA award?: Possibly.