About the group:
Claudio Fonte's research group activities focus on the application of computational and experimental techniques to provide innovative mixing solutions that address new industrial demands. These research activities involve the physical modelling of industrial mixing processes for a fundamental understanding of the flow and transport phenomena, and the development of novel numerical frameworks for the in-silico design of processes and equipment.
About Claudio Fonte:
Claudio got his PhD degree from the University of Porto, Portugal in December 2012 on the study of mixing by Confined Impinging Jets to produce plastic parts by Reaction Injection Moulding. His work focused on the fundamentals of fluid flow and mixing operations in this type of equipment using both Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations (CFD) and laser flow characterisation techniques (Particle Image Velocimetry, PIV; Laser Induced Fluorescence, PLIF). He was awarded the EFCE Young Researcher Award in Mixing 2015 by the European Federation of Chemical Engineers and its Working Party on Mixing for the innovation, breadth and depth of my research on impinging jets mixing, the dissemination of the results and engagement with industrial partners.
In 2013, he started a postdoctoral position in IFPEN (France), a major research and training centre in the fields of energy, transport and the environment. There, he developed numerical models of the flow and mass transfer, using CFD, of multiphase stirred reactors at the pilot scale. This was followed by a permanent position as a research engineer at the same institution, at the department responsible for the intensification of pilot scale equipment. During this period, he developed innovative methodologies based on the combination of numerical tools and 3D metal printing techniques for the rational design and manufacture of intensified pilot-scale chemical reactors.
Claudio was appointed as a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering in May 2016 at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science (CEAS) of The University of Manchester (UoM) where he established a research group looking at a variety of industrial mixing problems, like confined impinging jets, inkjet-printing and high-shear mixers.
Reactive injection moulding
Inkjet printing of complex inks
Characterisation of fluid flow in the personal care and food industries
Particle Image Velocimetry
Laser Induced Fluorescence
Blending in laminar and turbulent regimes
High-shear mixing
Solid suspension and gas dispersion
Transport and reaction in heterogeneous catalysis
Transport in coatings for corrosion protection
Researchers in this group develop and use modelling and simulation tools to addresses major research challenges, from the fundamental understanding of novel phenomena at atomic, molecular, meso, micro and macroscopic levels, to the prediction of industrially-relevant fluid properties and equipment performance.
Lecturer in Chemical Engineering
Mixing in industrial flows
Flow of complex rheology fluids
Chaotic mixing
PDRA in Modelling of Multiphase Flows
Lattice Boltzmann modelling and simulation of emulsions
Funding: VIMMP (ERC)
PhD Student
Mixing of complex fluids in Confined Impinging Jets
Co-supervison: Dr Tom Rodgers
PhD Student
Characterisation of mixing with rotor-stators
Co-supervision: Dr Thomas Rodgers
Funding: i-Case Unilever
PhD Student
Characterisation of jets of complex fluids with applications to inkjet printing
Co-supervision: Dr Peter Quayle & Dr Flor Siperstein
PhD Student
Ultrafiltration for nuclear decommissioning applications
Co-supervision: Dr Thomas Rodgers
Funding: i-Case NNL
PhD Student
(U. Porto, Portugal)
Mixing of dissimilar fluids in laminar flows
Co-supervision: Prof José Carlos Lopes & Dr Ricardo Santos
PhD Student
Modelling and simulation of the production of high volume phase emulsions
Co-supervision: Dr Thomas Rodgers
Funding: CAFE4DM (EPSRC)
PhD Student
Characterisation of ice-cream production
Co-supervision: Dr Thomas Rodgers
Funding: CAFE4DM (EPSRC)
PhD Student
Modelling and simulation o filling operations in the personal care and food industries
Co-supervision: Prof Anne Juel
Funding: CAFE4DM (EPSRC)
PhD Student
Modelling and simulation of agitated systems in the personal care and food industries
Co-supervision: Dr Thomas Rodgers
Funding: CAFE4DM (EPSRC)
PhD Student
Mixing of fluids with high viscosity ratio in stirred equipment
Co-supervision: Dr Amir Keshmiri
Funding: CAFE4DM (EPSRC)