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FloNergia collaborated with CanmetENERGY (Natural Resources Canada) to develop an innovative experimental platform for gas–liquid metal research. The project combined FloMov™ engineered airlift technology with a novel multiphase flow sensor to investigate the circulation and measurement of Galinstan–nitrogen two-phase flow.
The work successfully demonstrated that engineered airlift technology can circulate liquid metals with low energy input while providing the foundation for next-generation multiphase sensing technologies for advanced energy systems.
Emerging waste heat recovery and advanced energy systems require reliable methods to circulate electrically conductive liquid metals while accurately measuring gas-liquid flow characteristics. Conventional pumping technologies introduce mechanical complexity, while commercially available sensors are not designed for liquid metal two-phase flow.
The project required an innovative solution capable of:
FloNergia designed and fabricated a complete experimental flow loop integrating a modified FloMov™ engineered airlift pump with a newly developed conductance-based multiphase sensor. The system was designed, manufactured, and tested using Galinstan and nitrogen, with experimental validation performed at both the University of Guelph and CanmetENERGY laboratories.
The completed test facility was delivered to CanmetENERGY for continued research and technology development.
The project demonstrated that FloMov™ technology extends well beyond conventional water applications. Successfully pumping electrically conductive liquid metals using an engineered airlift pump represents an important advancement for advanced energy systems, waste heat recovery, and nuclear technologies.
The project also established the foundation for future development of intelligent multiphase sensing and monitoring technologies capable of operating in extreme environments.
This project highlights the versatility of FloMov™ engineered airlift technology. While originally developed for water circulation, the same engineering principles were successfully adapted to pump one of the most challenging working fluids - electrically conductive liquid metal.
Combined with a newly developed conductance-based multiphase sensor, the project established a unique research platform capable of advancing two critical technologies simultaneously: efficient liquid metal circulation and real-time gas–liquid flow measurement. These capabilities position FloNergia's technology for future applications in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and nuclear systems.
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