Faculty

General Areas of Research:

· Fluids
· Nuclear Science and Technology
· Flow Diagnostics
· Heat Transfer
· Systems Engineering

Research Activities:

Michael Podowski’s research activities include both fundamentals of multiphase flows and practical applications over a large spectrum of scales, from micro- to macro- and large systems   In particular, he has worked on the development of local mechanistic models of gas/liquid two-phase flows, including bubbly, churn-turbulent, slug and annular flow regimes. He proposed new models of interfacial forces, bubble coalescence and breakup, subcooled boiling and critical heat flux.  He investigated two- and multiphase flows in conduits and volumes of various geometries and orientations (from vertical to horizontal).An important application of the new models is concerned with Computational Multiphase Fluid Dynamics (CMFD) simulations of nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics, dynamics and stability, and accident propagation.   Examples include the modeling flow and heat transfer in advanced nuclear reactors such as the natural-circulation Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and Generation-IV reactors: Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR), High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) and (most recently) Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR).