The effect of rotation on the stability of multiple jets in planetary atmospheres is system- atically investigated. Typically in Jovian planetary atmospheres, multiple zonal jets have been observed and their morphology has been systematically studied. The formation of jets has always been viewed as a nonlinear problem where most work has followed from the ideas of potential vorticity (PV) homogenization or turbulent mixing on a β-plane. In our present work, we have aimed to look at the linear stability of multiple jets in a geophysical fluid, and hope to add further insight into the observed jet profiles in β-plane turbulence. In addition, we also study the evolution and life-cycle of these jets as they interact with each other in a non linear fashion. We begin with the linear stability of the \Bickley jet" using the linearized shallow water quasigeostrophic (QG) equations. We have included a finite deformation radius in our calculations to partially mimic the effects of compressibility. A family of synthetically generated velocity profiles with east-west jets are then studied. In particular, a variety of flow configurations with two jets have been considered with a parameter sweep across jet separation, relative jet strength and thickness. As a broad observation, it is noted that an asymmetric east-west jet profile with a stronger and sharper eastward jet is the most stable of all the profiles considered, and a finite deformation radius further stabilizes such profiles. More realistic jet profiles have also been considered and the role of a finite deformation radius in stabilizing such jets is elucidated. We also examined the nonlinear evolution of multiple jets in a periodic domain and in a channel geometry, as we undertake freely decaying long time simulations of the governing QG equation. As per the \Selective Decay" principle we observe that arbitrary initial conditions approach the flow configuration of the prescribed \suitable end states". In addition, we have shown how a finite deformation length scale modifies these \suitable end states". As a broad observation, we have noted that a linearly unstable jet flow configuration, in the presence of β, breaks down into turbulence and reforms into a more asymmetric jet profile with a stronger and sharper eastward jet. The inclusion of a finite deformation length scale in our calculations, is observed to suppress such jet formation. Similar numerical experiments have been performed in a channel and the results have been compared. Chiefly, for the end states, the nature of the observed jet asymmetry is reversed, i.e., the westward jets are observed to be stronger in a channel.

Hydrodynamics and heat transfer characteristics found in fluidization were studied in a small scale laboratory fluidized bed. Experiments were designed to capture field data on multiple slit jet gas distributor systems for the validation of computational models. Localized data was quantified through the use of several novel non-intrusive experimental measurement techniques. The analyses provide a unique study that connects full field-of-view multiphase flow dynamics with transient heat transfer distributions. The gas-solid hydrodynamics were captured through three non-invasive measurement techniques, viz. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Digital Image Analysis (DIA), and pressure drop spectral analysis. The effects of inlet gas flowrate, Geldart B and D classified particle types, and the number inlet gas slit jets were investigated. Frequency analysis of a differential pressure signal resulted in the classification of four difference flow regimes. The coupling of PIV with DIA captured particle velocity, solid circulation rates, average cycle times, dead zone sizes, jet merging effects, gas void fraction distributions, and maximum expanded bed heights. The heat transfer in fluidized and spouted beds containing a heated inlet gas source was studied through transient heat transfer measurements and analyses. Innovative experimental procedures were introduced to quantify bed-to-wall and gas-to-particle heat transfer characteristics. Two techniques were developed to overcome the spatial, time varying, and instrumental intrusive limitations often found in multiphase flow heat transfer studies. Infrared thermography was utilized along with derived discrete differential equations, and an inverse heat conduction analysis to solve for transient localized heat flux profiles and heat transfer coefficient distributions. As a result new data containing increased spatial resolution is presented on gas, wall, and particle temporal maps. Computations based from the thermal gradients quantified bed-to-wall heat flux profiles, gas-to-particle heat transfer coefficients, and localized rates of energy stored. / Master of Science

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