Bubble Behavior and Flow Structure on Bubble Collapse Phenomena in a Venturi Tube

Abstract

A micro-bubble generator with a venturi tube generates a large number of micro-bubbles with a diameter of 10 μm ― 1 mm by bubble collapse. The bubble collapse is caused by pressure recovery in the diverging region of the venturi tube. The pressure recovery is expected to be a shock for supersonic flow in gas-liquid two-phase flow. However, a profile of Mach numbers to flow direction of the venturi tube has not been estimated experimentally. The present study reveals mechanisms of a bubble collapse. In order to achieve the objectives, we observe bubble behavior with the bubble collapse. In addition, we measure pressure and volumetric void fraction profiles in the flow direction. Pressure is measured by a differential pressure gauge. Void fraction is measured by a constant electric current method and Maxwell' s theory. From these measurements, gas-liquid mixture velocity, sonic speed and Mach number are estimated. In experimental results, bubble collapse is observed with high liquid inlet velocity. When bubble collapse is caused, bubbles expand once into a divergence region of the venturi tube. After that, they contracted rapidly and broken up into a great number of tiny bubbles. Pressure decreases sharply around the throat and increase at the bubble collapse point. On the other hand, the void fraction increase downstream from the throat and decrease around the bubble collapse point. From these results, it is confirmed that the flow is supersonic flow between the throat and the bubble collapse point, while it becomes subsonic flow downstream of the point. Therefore, it is proposed that a shock is present at the bubble collapse point.