Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer

Energy systems are multiphysics and multiscale in nature. This course addresses the quantitative understanding of fundamental physical processes that govern fluid flow and mass/heat transfer processes, critical to many energy systems. The course will cover conservation laws describing the dynamics of single phase flows, relevant to energy applications including, but not limited to, laminar flow solutions in pipes and ducts, Stokes flows (relevant to flow in porous media), potential and boundary layer flow theories (relevant to wind energy), heat and mass transport (relevant to geothermal and energy storage systems, reactive transport in the subsurface, CO2 sequestration). Although motivated by specific applications in the energy landscape, the course will be focused on fundamental principles and mathematical techniques to understand the basic physics underlying flow and transport processes.