AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

A basic knowledge of the transport processes that characterize the dilution of a passive pollutant in natural water bodies is provided. The mechanisms of diffusion and dispersion are considered in both laminar and turbulent simple flows.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with:

• a detailed knowledge of core topics in dilution processes;
• the ability to understand and demonstrate the fundamental physical principles that govern molecular and turbulent convection-diffusion problems and shear-flow dispersion;
• the ability to solve, in some simple configurations, the differential equations governing the process of dilution of a contaminant in a carrier fluid phase.

TEACHING METHODS

The "Environmental Fluid Mechanics" (EFM) is a 50-hours module held in the second term. Together with the "Advanced Fluid Mechanics" (AFM) module held in the first term, it forms the 100-hours annual course of Environmental Fluid Mechanics.

Theoretical lectures will be complemented by practical sessions introducing basic computational techniques for advection-diffusion problems. 

Seminars about specific examples of pollutant dispersal can possibly be delivered close to the end of the module.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course, held in English, combines theory and applications to study the process of the dilution of a contaminant in a carrier fluid phase/flow. The three main mechanisms for dilution (i.e.: molecular diffusion, turbulent diffusion and shear-flow dispersion) are presented and discussed. A more detailed syllabus follows: 

(i) Molecular diffusion: Fick's law; the "fundamental solution" to the (molecular) diffusion equation and its extensions; wall boundary conditions.

(ii) Turbulent diffusion: properties of the ensemble-averaged cloud (EAC) and mean of the single clouds (MSC); Taylor's theory for turbulent diffusion (1921); turbulent diffusivity and advection-diffusion equation for the EAC; relative diffusion and Richardson law.

(iii) Shear-flow dispersion: Taylor's theory for laminar flow in a pipe (1953); dispersion coefficient.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fischer, H. B., List, J. E., Koh, C. R., Imberger, J., & Brooks, N. H. (1979). Mixing in inland and coastal waters. Academic Press.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral examination during which the students will have to show that they have learned the topics explained during the course and the capability to correctly formulate the problem of the dilution of a passive pollutant in a carrier fluid phase, as well as to choose the most appropriate approach to determine the solution.

The exam mark (up to 30/30) will count 50% of the final grade, the other 50% coming from the "Advanced Fluid Mechanics" module.

Students with a certified learning disability (DSA), a disability, or other special educational needs are invited to contact the instructor at the beginning of the lessons to discuss teaching and examination arrangements that, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account and provide appropriate accommodations.
Please also note that requests for exam accommodations or exemptions must be submitted using the form available at this link 
https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back , to the teaching professor, the SCUOLA contact person (federico.scarpa@unige.it), and the relevant office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it) at least seven working days before the examination, in accordance with the guidelines available at this link 
https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will consist of two or three questions on the topics covered by the lectures and will be held in English.

Students are assessed on their competence on theory principles and their ability to reason about the concepts introduced.