Dr. Azaiez Picture

Jalel Azaiez

PhD, PEng

Positions

Professor

Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Contact information

Email

azaiez@ucalgary.ca

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-7526

Background

Credentials

P.Eng., APEGA,

Educational Background

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Ecole Centrale de Paris-France,

M.Sc. Chemical Engineering, Stanford University,

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Stanford University,

Research

Areas of Research

Dynamics and transport phenomena in nanoparticle flows

Flows of nano-particle (NPs) suspensions have become a common occurrence in many fields such as the energy, biomedical, chemical and environmental sectors. This research theme aims at modelling flow instabilities of NPs solutions in micro-geometries and tracking the motion and interactions of individual particles to understand their dynamics in the pore scale. Research conducted in our group involves both macroscopic-scale formulation where the nano-fluids are treated as a continuum as well as mesoscopic-scale modelling where the Dissipative Particle Dynamics and the Lattice Boltzmann Method are used. Different forms of inter- and intra-particle forces are analyzed and interactions with the surrounding media and their effects on the transport of the particles and the development of the flow as well as mechanisms of heat and mass transfer, are one of the main focuses of the research.  Examples of problems that are under investigation include the use of nanofluids for enhanced heat transfer in Micro-Channel-Heat-Sinks (MCHS) and microdevices, the analysis of the effects of thermophoresis and Brownian diffusion on nanoflow instabilities and non-Newtonian effects in flows of NPs suspensions.

Transport phenomena in biological systems

A more recent axis of research deals with modelling the transport of nano-sized particles (NPs) in biological systems. This research topic promises profound and literally life-changing innovation in biomedical applications that include medical diagnosis, bio-imaging, cells manipulation, targeted drug delivery and cancer treatment. However, despite the strong promise, many of these applications still face enormous challenges that include bio-compatibility and bio-degradability issues, risks of cytotoxicity, uncontrolled bio-distribution and limited ranges of penetration of the NPs. Our research aims at modelling hydrodynamic instabilities, fluid flows and NPs transport phenomena to analyze NPs bioflows with particular application in targeted drug delivery. The objective is to develop a better understanding of NPs pathway through the body and their interactions with, and internalization in target areas. This will entail accurate modelling of nanoflows in complex geometries that best represent bio-systems.  Factors that control the transport of NPs both in open flow regions and in confined porous geometries that represent different environments such as vascular systems and local tumour growths, are of particular interest. Intrinsic effects related to the NPs such as their geometric characteristics and surface chemistry and those pertaining to the targeted tumorous region, such as their internal porous structures and deformability, are also a focus of the research.

 

Microfluidics

Microfluidics offer exciting challenges and new opportunities for fundamental and applied research in the field of transport phenomena. These flows are widely encountered in micro-systems which are gaining wide use in many fields ranging from the life sciences to energy systems. Examples of applications of such systems include DNA analysis for genetic and genomics, controlled drug delivery, chemical analysis, flow sensors and control devices, environmental testing, and micro-systems for cooling electronic circuits.

An example of the problems analyzed by our group includes the dynamics of liquid bridges in micro-channels under the effects of external forces, and in particular its response to a variety of time-dependent flows such as oscillatory and pulsatile flows. The effects of surface wetting and the frequency/amplitude of the flows on the liquid bridge stability and its interfacial morphology are explored. The long-term vision of this research is to develop robust flow behaviour models for miniaturized fluid systems, and to build numerical algorithms that allow understanding the physical dynamics of such flows in micro-scale systems.

Flow Instabilities in Porous Media

Flows in porous media are encountered in many practical applications, most notably in oil recovery, hydrology and soil remediation. This research deals with instabilities that develop at the interface between two fluids. Two particular types of instabilities are the focus of the research. These are the viscous fingering or Saffman-Taylor instability, and the Darcy-Rayleigh-Taylor instability.  Such instabilities play a major role in the efficiency of many existing processes as well as the viability of new developed ones. Both miscible and immiscible displacements as well as multi-phase flows are of interest to our group.

Examples of flows that are analyzed include non-Newtonian flows with applications in emulsion flows and polymer flooding for enhanced oil recovery, non-isothermal flows that are encountered in processes based on heat transfer such as the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), reactive flows that have been successfully used for soil remediation and explored for heavy oil recovery, buoyancy driven instabilities with application in CO2 sequestration, flows with time-dependent injection velocities that can be used to understand and optimize important processes such as Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) as well as flows in heterogeneous porous media. Modelling of flows in naturally fractured reservoirs is also pursued.

Numerical and Mathematical Modelling

Our research team has an extensive expertise in modeling and analyzing fluid flows, through the development and use of a variety of numerical and mathematical tools. Different numerical algorithms based on Discrete Particle Dynamics, Lattice Boltzmann Method, Level Set and Immersed Interface methods, Spectral Methods and Finite Difference techniques have been developed and resulted in a collection of numerical codes that have allowed modelling such flows under various conditions. Our group has also excellent expertise in the use of analytical mathematical tools to probe the flow and determine conditions for instabilities to develop, before resorting to full scale direct numerical simulations. All researchers in our group are expected to have a strong knowledge of numerical methods and analysis, a solid mathematical background, and a very good command of a programming language.

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Energy innovations for today and tomorrow

Engineering solutions for health

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
ENER 480 L01/T01/B01 Energy Engineering Fluid Mechanics Fall 2015,2018
ENCH 401 L01/B01 Partial Differential Equations in Transport Processes Fall 2014-
ENCH 331 L01/T01/B01 Process Fluid Dynamics Winter 1999-2013
ENGG 201 L01/T01/B01 Behavior of Liquids, Gases and Solids Fall 1998-2004
ENGG 311 B01 Engineering Thermodynamics Winter 2006, 2007, 2014
ENCH 551 T01/B01 Chemical Engineering Laboratory Fall 1997-1999
ENCH 703 L01 Advanced Mathematical Methods in Engineering Fall 2016-2012
ENCH631 L01 Advanced Fluid Mechanics Winter 2014, 2015
ENCH631 L01 Fundamentals of Transport Phenomena Winter 2008
ENCH 639 L01 Applied Numerical Methods in Engineering Winter 1998-2000, Fall 2000-2005
ENCH 601 Research Seminar Winter 1998, Fall 1998, Winter 2002
ENCH 699 Special Project Fall 2010-
ENCH 620 Graduate Project Fall 2010-
INTE 601 B01 Graduate Internship I/II/III 2019-2021
INTE 602 B01 Graduate Internship I/II/III 2019-2021
INTE 603 B01 Graduate Internship I/II/III 2019-2021
INTE 604 B01 Graduate Internship I/II/III 2019-2021

Awards

  • Faculty Excellence Award, CESS-University of Calgary. 2019
  • Teaching Achievement Award, Schulich School of Engineering-University of Calgary. 2019
  • Teaching Achievement Award, Schulich School of Engineering-University of Calgary. 2018
  • Award for Outstanding Teaching Excellence in Second Year, SSE-University of Calgary. 2012
  • Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, CPE-University of Calgary. 2011
  • SSE Service Excellence Award, SSE-University of Calgary. 2010
  • Award for Outstanding Teaching Excellence in First Year Engineering, ESS-University of Calgary. 2002
  • Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty of Engineering-University of Calgary. 2002
  • Teaching Excellence Award, CPE-University of Calgary. 2001
  • Keynote Speaker, 5th International Conference on Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow . 2018
  • Invited Speaker, International Symposium on Understanding Complex Pattern Dynamics . 2006
  • Invited Speaker, XVth European Rheology Meeting. 2004

Publications

  • Hydrodynamic analysis of nanofluid’s convective heat transfer in channels with extended surfaces. R. Soleimani, M. Zargartalebi, J. Azaiez and I.D. Gates. Physics of Fluids. vol. 33, pp. 012011-1-13 . (2021)
  • Dynamics of Buoyancy Driven Miscible Iso-viscous Flows in Heterogeneous Layered Porous Media. Y. Elgahawy and J. Azaiez. Physics of Fluids. vol. 33, pp. 074104-1-18 . (2021)
  • Modifying Ceramic Membranes with In Situ Grown Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and their Use for Oily Water Treatment. N. Barati, M. Husein and J. Azaiez. J. Membrane Science. vol. 617, pp. 118641-1-16 . (2021)
  • Rayleigh–Taylor instability in porous media under sinusoidal time-dependent flow displacements. Y. Elgahawy and J. Azaiez. AIP Advances. vol. 10, pp. 075308-1-18 . (2020)
  • The Impact of Heterogeneous Pin Based Micro-Structures on Flow Dynamics and Heat Transfer in Micro-Scale Heat Exchangers. M. Zargartalebi, A. Benneker and J. Azaiez. Physics of Fluids. vol. 32, pp. 052007-1-10 . (2020)
  • Nano-Catalytic Chemo-Hydrodynamic Instability: Deposition Effects. B. Dastvareh, J. Azaiez and P.A. Tsai. Physical Review E. vol. 100, pp. 053102-1-9 . (2019)
  • Flow Dynamics and Heat Transfer in Partially Filled Porous Microchannel Heat Sinks. vol. 875, M. Zargartalebi and J. Azaiez. J. Fluid Mechanics. vol. 875, pp. 1035-1057 . (2019)
  • Instabilities of non-Isothermal Nanocatalytic Reactive Flows in Porous Media. B. Dastvareh and J. Azaiez. Physical Review Fluids. vol. 4, pp. 034001-1-17 . (2019)
  • Effects of Nanoparticle Adsorption on Heat Transfer in Random Pin-Based Microchannel Heat Sinks. M. Zargartalebi and J. Azaiez. International J. Heat Mass Transfer. vol. 130, pp. 420-430. (2019)
  • Interfacial Instabilities of Immiscible non-Newtonian Radial Displacements in Porous Media. Y.H. Lee, J. Azaiez and I.D. Gates. Physics of Fluids. vol. 31, pp. 043103-1-16. (2019)
  • Thermophoretic Effects on Instabilities of Nanoflows in Porous Media. B. Dastvareh and J. Azaiez. J. Fluid Mechanics. vol. 857, pp. 173-199. (2018)
  • Heat Transfer Analysis of Nanofluid Based Microchannel Heat Sink. M. Zargartalebi and J. Azaiez. International J. Heat Mass Transfer. vol. 127, pp. 1233-1242. (2018)
  • Dynamic Control of Droplets and Pockets Formation in Homogeneous Porous Media Immiscible Displacements. T.L. Lins and J. Azaiez. Physics of Fluids. vol. 30, pp. 032105-1-15. (2018)
  • Erroneous Application of Pseudo Second Order Adsorption Kinetics Model: Ignored Assumptions and Spurious Correlations. Y. Xiao, J. Azaiez and J. Hill. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. vol. 57, pp. 2705-2709. (2018)
  • Mesoscopic Study of Miscible Nanoflow Instabilities. M. Zargartalebi and J. Azaiez. Physics of Fluids. vol. 30, pp. 024105-1-10 . (2018)
  • Resonance-like Dynamics in Radial Cyclic Injection Flows of Immiscible Fluids in Homogeneous Porous Media. T.L. Lins and J. Azaiez. J. Fluid Mechanics. vol. 819, pp. 713-729 . (2017)
  • Instabilities of Nanofluid Flow Displacements in Porous Media. B. Dastvareh and J. Azaiez. Physics of Fluids. vol. 29, pp. 044101-1-18 . (2017)
  • Flow Instabilities of Time-Dependent Injection Schemes in Immiscible Displacements. T.L. Lins and J. Azaiez. Canadian J. Chemical Engineering. vol. 99, pp. 2061-2071 . (2016)
  • Hydrodynamic Instabilities of Flows Involving Melting in Under-Saturated Porous Media. M. Sajjadi and J. Azaiez. Physics of Fluids. vol. 28, pp. 033104-1-21 . (2016)
  • Liquid bridges behavior inside microchannels subject to external pulsatile flow. • M. Ahmadlouydarab, J. Azaiez and Z. Chen . European J. of Mechanics -B /Fluids. vol. 57, pp. 129–142 . (2016)
  • Numerical Simulations of Gravity Driven Reversible Reactive Flows in Homogeneous Porous Media. H. Alhumade and J. Azaiez. J. Mathematical Problems in Engineering. vol. 2015, pp. 920692-1-13 . (2015)
  • Unified Fluid Flow Model for Pressure Transient Analysis in Naturally Fractured Media. P. Babak and J. Azaiez. J. Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. vol. 48, pp. 175202-1-19 . (2015)
  • Heat and Mass Transfer in Melting Porous Media: Stable Miscible Displacements. M. Sajjadi and J. Azaiez. International J. Heat Mass Transfer. vol. 88, pp. 926-944 . (2015)
  • Immiscible Flow Displacements With Phase Change In Radial Injection. M. Ahmadlouydarab, J. Azaiez and Z. Chen. International J. Multiphase Flow. vol. 72, pp. 73-82. (2015)
  • Inertial effects of miscible viscous fingering in a Hele-Shaw cell. Q. Yuan and J. Azaiez. Fluid Dynamics Research. vol. 47, pp. 015506-1-21 . (2015)
  • Dynamics of viscous liquid bridges inside microchannels subject to external oscillatory flow. M. Ahmadlouydarab, J. Azaiez and Z. Chen. Physical Rev. E. vol. 91, pp. 023002-1-10 . (2015)
  • Inertial Effects in Cyclic Time-Dependent Displacement Flows in Homogeneous Porous. Q. Yuan and J. Azaiez. Canadian J. Chemical Engineering. vol. 93, pp. 1490-1499 . (2015)
  • Unified Fractional Differential Approach for Transient Interporosity Flow in Naturally Fractured Media. P. Babak and J. Azaiez. Advances in Water Resources. vol. 74, pp. 302-317. (2014)
  • Miscible Displacements in Porous Media With Time-Dependent Injection Velocities. Q. Yuan and J. Azaiez. Transport in Porous Media. vol. 104, pp. 57-76 . (2014)
  • Numerical Simulations of Reversible Reactive Flows in Homogeneous Porous Media. H. Alhumade and J. Azaiez. J. Porous Media. vol. 17, pp. 359-372 . (2014)
  • Cyclic Time-Dependent Reactive Flow Displacements in Porous Media. Q. Yuan and J. Azaiez. Chemical Engineering Science. vol. 109, pp. 136-146 . (2014)
  • Effects of Nanoparticles on Pin-Based Microchannel Heat Sinks. Jalel Azaiez; Mohammad Zargartalebi. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Experimental and Numerical Flow and Heat Transfer. pp. 112-1-2. (2019)
  • Dynamics of Immiscible Radial Flow Displacements of Dilatant Fluids in Porous Media. Young Hoon Lee; Jalel Azaiez; Ian D. Gates. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Experimental and Numerical Flow and Heat Transfer. pp. 136-1-2. (2019)
  • Interfacial Instabilities of Shear-Thinning Fluids in Homogeneous Porous Media. Young Hoon Lee; Jalel Azaiez; Ian D. Gates. Proceedings of the 3rd World Congress on Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer. pp. 126-1-5 . (2018)
  • Nanoflow Miscible Viscous Fingering in Real Porous Media: A Mesoscopic Approach. Jalel Azaiez; Mohammad Zargartalebi. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Fluid Flow Heat and Mass Transfer. pp. 163-1-2 . (2017)
  • Instabilities of Nano-Flow displacements in Homogeneous Porous Media. Behnam Dastvareh; Jalel Azaiez. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Fluid Flow Heat and Mass Transfer. pp. 168-1-2 . (2017)
  • Linear Stability Analysis of Time-Dependent Immiscible Displacements in Porous Media. T.F. Lins and J. Azaiez. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics. pp. 97-102. (2016)
  • Non-Isothermal Displacements with Step-Profile Time Dependent Injections in Homogeneous Porous Media. Q. Yuan and J. Azaiez. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow. pp. 293-1-6. (2015)
  • Vertical Hele-Shaw Cell Flow Displacements involving Reversible Chemical Reactions. T.F. Lins and J. Azaiez. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow. pp. 330-1-3. (2015)
  • Improvement of Sweep Efficiency of Miscible Displacement Processes in Heterogeneous Porous Media. M. Sajjadi and J. Azaiez. SPE 170155, SPE Heavy Oil Conference. pp. 1-7. (2014)
  • Viscous Fingering Instabilities In Sinusoidal Time-Dependent Flows. Q. Yuan and J. Azaiez. Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow. pp. 114-120. (2014)