Vortex Dynamics and Turbulence Theories

**3**

**Chapter 1**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

indispensable [3, 4].

of turbulence in mixing applications.

Processes

The Role of Micro Vortex in the

Environmental and Biological

*Benjamin Oyegbile, Brian Oyegbile and Guven Akdogan*

This work presents a short review of the theoretical developments in the application of vortex dynamics to the processing of environmental and biological systems. The mechanisms of complex fluid-particle interaction in vortex dominated and non-vortex dominated flows are briefly discussed from theoretical and practical perspectives. Micro vortex propagation, characteristics and their various applications in environmental process engineering are briefly discussed. Several existing and potential applications of vortex dynamics in turbulent flows are highlighted and as well as the knowledge gaps in the current understanding of turbulence phenomenon with respect to its applications in the processing of

Hydrodynamic-mediated interactions often occur in many technical and natural environmental processes. In the case of turbulent flows, this leads to the formation of turbulent eddies of various scales and sizes [1, 2]. These energy-carrying eddies often interact with particles and biological materials on various temporal and spatial scales. Eddy-particle interactions often play a crucial role in these processes and it is largely the dominant driver of mass and momentum transfer. In studying the dynamics of such complex interplay of forces, a good knowledge of the vortex dynamics and its influence on the fluid and particle dynamics is highly

Turbulent mixing, particle dispersion, and bioreactions have been topics of intense and sustained interest in many scientific inquiries [5, 6]. The role of mixing and turbulence-driven particle dispersion in many fluid-particle processes is wellunderstood owing an abundant body of knowledge from many scientific interrogations. However, turbulence as a phenomenon is still poorly understood due to its complex nature. Since mixing and chemical reactions are impacted by the presence of turbulence, it is therefore extremely important to understand the different scales

As mentioned earlier, turbulence has been shown to lead to the formation of eddies on different scales [7, 8]. The spatial degree of mixing such as the macro, meso and micro mixing are governed by the different scales of turbulence [5]. Mixing especially at high Reynolds number is often characterized by irregular,

solid-liquid suspension and biological systems.

**Keywords:** hydrodynamics, turbulence, eddies, vortex, aggregation
