Dynamics and Interfacial Behavior of Complex Multiphase Flows in Mining and Petroleum Engineering

Complex multiphase flows are central to both mining and petroleum engineering. In mineral processing, flotation, classification, dewatering, and slurry transport are governed by interactions among particles, bubbles, liquids, and turbulent eddies. In petroleum systems, drilling, wellbore production, pipeline transport, enhanced oil recovery, and phase separation depend on coupled oil–gas–water–solid flows, droplet dynamics, interfacial deformation, and porous-media transport. Despite their different operating environments, these processes share common fundamental challenges involving multiscale interfaces, wetting and surface forces, breakup and coalescence, non-Newtonian flow, turbulence modulation, and flow instabilities.

This Special Topic will bring together theoretical, experimental, computational, and data-driven advances in the dynamics and interfacial behavior of complex multiphase flows across both fields. Particular attention will be given to particle–bubble interactions in flotation, particle and bubble interactions with turbulence, oil–gas–water transport, emulsion and droplet dynamics, wellbore and pipeline flows, and pore-scale displacement. Contributions connecting fundamental fluid physics with process prediction, control, intensification, and industrial scale-up are especially welcome.