Infinite Perspective Vortex

Collaborators:

Dominic Hopkinson | Lawrence Molloy | Mike Nix | Angus Taggart | Keiko Harada.

Infinite Perspective Vortex is a 1.7 metre tall cylindrical tank that holds a binary fluid system within which is created a fluid mechanic flow.

In response to a commission opportunity from The School of Mathematics at University of Leeds an idea was developed to utilise the school’s specialism in fluid mechanics as the basis for a large-scale kinetic sculpture. It was proposed to build a binary fluid system utilising different chemicals mixed with water in order to make the two different liquids miscible and immiscible, ie; they would be able to mix temporarily, then separate again. Initially we wanted to create a “weather system” using a vertical flow from the base, that formed a miscible cloud in the upper portion, this would then separate and “rain” down to be cycled around once more. Included in the tank would be a heating element that would generate a convection cell that would drive the cloud and the rain.

However the difficulty of achieving the miscible/immiscible interface, coupled with the mechanical issues of the vertical flow requiring holes drilled into the base of the tank that needed to water tight, led us to change the design.

Instead we opted for a simpler drop down method, creating a single flow that produced rhythmical flow and vortex structures as one liquid fell through the other, but maintaining immiscibility. This system is controllable so that the flow rate, and thus the structures created, can be made to change over time.