Bubbly Flow (bubbly + flow)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Flow and mass transfer of fully resolved bubbles in non-Newtonian fluids

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2007
Stefan Radl
Abstract In this work, high-resolution 2-D numerical simulations were performed on the motion of deformable bubbles in non-Newtonian fluids and the associated mass transfer. For that purpose, we have implemented a semi-Lagrangian advection scheme and improved the fluid dynamic calculation by the usage of implicit algorithms. Non-Newtonian fluids are described by generalized Newtonian as well as viscoelastic model fluids. As shear-thinning model we use a Power-Law and a Carreau-Yasuda model, the viscoelastic fluid simulations are based on an Upper-Convected Maxwell model combined with a recently introduced model for the evolution of the effective shear rate. The mathematical challenges arising from the hyperbolic nature of the resulting set of equations are addressed by inclusion of artificial diffusion in the stress equation. In our work, it was found that shear thinning effects have impact on collision rates, and therefore, may influence coalescence of bubbles in non-Newtonian liquids. Furthermore, for the first time, concentration fields of dissolved gas in viscoelastic fluids are presented. The study shows that the fluid elasticity plays a major role for bubble rise velocity, and therefore, mass transfer. As the wake dynamics differ significantly from that in Newtonian liquids, abnormal mixing characteristics can be expected in the bubbly flow of viscoelastic fluids. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007 [source]


Applications of Defocusing DPIV to Bubbly Flow Measurement

PARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, Issue 3 2003
David Jeon
Abstract Defocusing digital particle image velocimetry (DDPIV) was used to investigate a bubbly flow in the wake of a hydrofoil. DDPIV is a three component volumetric velocimetry technique that operates at full video rate. Complex, three-dimensional, and time-dependent flows can be measured. To measure the bubble sizes, an extension to DDPIV was made to infer bubble sizes from their intensities. Both bubble size distributions and bubble velocity fields were simultaneously measured. Results indicate that DDPIV can reliably measure bubble sizes in the range of 100,microns, as well as resolving their aggregate motion. [source]


Destabilisation of homogeneous bubbly flow in an annular gap bubble column

THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2010
Fahd M. Al-Oufi
Abstract Experimental results are presented to show that there are very significant differences in the mean gas void fractions measured in an open tube and a annular gap bubble column, when operated at the same gas superficial velocity, using a porous sparger. Measurements were carried out in a vertical 0.102,m internal diameter column, with a range of concentric inner tubes to form an annular gap, giving diameter ratios from 0.25 to 0.69; gas superficial velocities in the range 0.014,0.200,m/s were investigated. The mean gas void fraction decreases with increasing ratio of the inner to outer diameter of the annular gap column and the transition to heterogeneous flow occurs at lower gas superficial velocities and lower void fractions. Two reasons are proposed and validated by experimental investigations: (1) the presence of the inner tube causes large bubbles to form near the sparger, which destabilise the homogeneous bubbly flow and reduce the mean void fraction; this was confirmed by deliberately injecting large bubbles into a homogeneous dispersion of smaller bubbles, and (2) the shape of the void fraction profiles changes with gap geometry and this affects the distribution parameter in the drift-flux model. Both of these effects serve to reduce the mean gas void fraction in an annular gap bubble column compared to an open tube at the same gas superficial velocity. Des résultats expérimentaux sont présentés pour montrer qu'il existe de très grandes différences dans les fractions de vide gazeux moyennes mesurées dans un tube ouvert et une colonne à bulles à espace annulaire, lorsqu'ils sont utilisés à la même vitesse superficielle de gaz, au moyen d'un aérateur poreux. On a effectué des mesures dans une colonne verticale avec un diamètre interne de 0.102,m, avec une portée de tubes internes concentriques pour former un espace annulaire, procurant des rapports de diamètre de 0.25 à 0.69; des vitesses superficielles de gaz de 0.014 à 0.200,m/s ont été étudiées. La fraction de vide gazeux moyenne diminue avec le rapport croissant du diamètre interne à externe de la colonne à espace annulaire et la transition à la circulation hétérogène se produit à des vitesses superficielles de gaz et fractions de vide plus basses. Deux raisons sont proposées et validés par les vérifications expérimentales: (1) la présence du tube interne provoque la formation de grandes bulles près de l'aérateur, ce qui déstabilize l'écoulement à bulles homogène et réduit la fraction de vide moyenne; cet état a été confirmé en injectant délibérément de grandes bulles dans une dispersion homogène de plus petites bulles et, (2) la forme des profils de fraction de vide change avec la géométrie de l'espace qui les sépare, ce qui a des conséquences sur le paramètre de distribution du modèle à flux de dérive. Ces deux effets servent à réduire la fraction de vide gazeux moyenne dans une colonne à bulles à espace annulaire, en comparaison avec un tube ouvert à la même vitesse superficielle de gaz. [source]


Sensitivity Study on Modeling an Internal Airlift Loop Reactor Using a Steady 2D Two-Fluid Model

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 12 2008
Q. Huang
Abstract The sensitivity study of bubbly flow in an internal airlift loop reactor is presented using a steady Reynolds averaging two-fluid model. Comparative evaluation of different drag formulations, drag coefficient correlations, turbulence effect on the drag coefficient, outlet slip velocity, and bubble size is performed and the respective influence to the simulation results is highlighted. It is found that a complicated drag formulation may not result in reliable predictions. All the drag coefficient correlations underpredict the gas holdup if the influence of turbulence on the drag coefficient is not well incorporated. Fortunately, the global hydrodynamics is not sensitive to the outflow slip velocity for a wide range, so a steady two-fluid model can be used to simulate the bubbly flow when the flow field is fully developed. The correct estimation of bubble size with properly selected correlations play an important role in successful simulation of gas-liquid bubbly flow in airlift loop reactors. [source]


An Analysis of Pressure Drop and Holdup for Liquid-Liquid Upflow through Vertical Pipes

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 7 2007
A. K. Jana
Abstract The present study has attempted to investigate pressure drop and holdup during simultaneous flow of two liquids through a vertical pipe. The liquids selected were kerosene and water. The measurements were made for phase velocities varying from 0.05,1.2,m/s for both liquids. The pressure drop was measured with a differential pressure transducer while the quick closing valve (QCV) technique was adopted for the measurement of liquid holdup. The measured holdup and pressure drop were analyzed with suitable theoretical models according to the existing flow patterns. The analysis reveals that the homogeneous model is suitable for dispersed bubbly flow whereas bubbly and churn-turbulent flow pattern is better predicted by the drift flux model. On the other hand, the two fluid flow model accurately predicts the pressure drop in core annular flow. [source]


A mass-conserving Level-Set method for modelling of multi-phase flows

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 4 2005
S. P. van der Pijl
Abstract A mass-conserving Level-Set method to model bubbly flows is presented. The method can handle high density-ratio flows with complex interface topologies, such as flows with simultaneous occurrence of bubbles and droplets. Aspects taken into account are: a sharp front (density changes abruptly), arbitrarily shaped interfaces, surface tension, buoyancy and coalescence of droplets/bubbles. Attention is paid to mass-conservation and integrity of the interface. The proposed computational method is a Level-Set method, where a Volume-of-Fluid function is used to conserve mass when the interface is advected. The aim of the method is to combine the advantages of the Level-Set and Volume-of-Fluid methods without the disadvantages. The flow is computed with a pressure correction method with the Marker-and-Cell scheme. Interface conditions are satisfied by means of the continuous surface force methodology and the jump in the density field is maintained similar to the ghost fluid method for incompressible flows. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Combined PIV/PTV-Measurements for the Analysis of Bubble Interactions and Coalescence in a Turbulent Flow

THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 3-4 2003
Dirk Bröder
Abstract In order to allow more reliable modeling of coalescence processes in turbulent bubbly flows, detailed experiments in a double loop reactor were performed. Narrow and essentially monomodal bubble size distributions in the range of 2 to 4 mm were created. For simultaneous measurements of bubble size, bubble velocity and liquid velocity a combined system of PIV and PTV was developed and applied. It was possible to determine bubble size distributions and mean, as well as fluctuating velocities for both phases. The spatial changes of the bubble size distribution, due to the influence of bubble coalescence, was analyzed and coalescence rates were calculated. Afin d'améliorer la fiabilité de la modélisation des procédés de coalescence dans les écoulements bouillonnants turbulents, des expériences poussées ont été menées dans un réacteur à double boucle. Des distributions de taille des bulles étroites, essentiellement monodisperses, dans la gamme de 2 à 4 mm, ont été créées. Pour les mesures simultanées de la taille des bulles, de la vitesse des bulles et de la vitesse du liquide, on a mis au point et appliqué un système combiné de PIV et PTV. Il a été possible de déterminer les distributions de taille des bulles et la moyenne mais également les vitesses fluctuantes pour les deux phases. Les changements spatiaux de la distribution de la taille des bulles dus à l'influence de la coalescence des bulles ont été analysés et les vitesses de coalescence ont été calculées. [source]