A method for designing tubes that empty more easily
The aim of the research was to try to determine
whether a capillary like this one here,
when it has some fluid, empties or not
when it is placed in a horizontal position.
We managed to find a mathematical criterion
which tells us under what conditions the capillary,
in a horizontal position, will empty
or the fluid will remain inside.
The factors influencing the capillary emptying are:
the value of gravity, that is constant
on the earth's surface but it may change;
the kind of fluid and material used to make the capillary;
it might be the temperature,
the orientation of the capillary around its axis...
This research was carried out in collaboration
with Andrew O. Parry, from Imperial College London,
and Dirk Aarts, from the Oxford University.
The research has taken more than five years;
it has been difficult for us to put the pieces of the puzzle together
to understand the phenomenon.
It has been quite complicated to understand the numerical results.
This phenomenon can be used in a wide variety of industries:
the aerospace or food industry,
the medical one or even to make measuring instruments.
With the aid of the Science Park of the University
we are patenting some devices which use this physical phenomenon,
both in Europe and the USA.
If the capillary is well designed we can also get,
with a little change in temperature,
the capillary to empty and the fluid to get out.
It can be used for any other thing, without the need to pump the fluid.
In collaboration with: