Bubble breakup in the microchannels with a long constriction

Effects of solid particles on bubble breakup and coalescence in slurry bubble columns

Bubble coalescence and breakup play important roles in physical-chemical processes and bubbles are treated in two groups in the interfacial area transport equation (IATE). This paper presents a review of IATE for bubble coalescence and breakup to model five bubble interaction mechanisms: bubble coalescence due to random collision, bubble coalescence due to wake entrainment, bubble breakup due to turbulent impact, bubble breakup due to shearing-off, and bubble breakup due to surface instability. In bubble coalescence, bubble size, velocity and collision frequency are dominant. In bubble breakup, the influence of viscous shear, shearing-off, and surface instability are neglected, and their corresponding theory and modelling are rare in the literature. Furthermore, combining turbulent kinetic energy and inertial force together is the best choice for the bubble breakup criterion. The reviewed one-group constitutive models include the one developed by Wu et al., Ishii and Kim, Hibiki and Ishii, Yao and Morel, and Nguyen et al. To extend the IATE prediction capability beyond bubbly flow, two-group IATE is needed and its performance is strongly dependent on the channel size and geometry. Therefore, constitutive models for two-group IATE in a three-type channel (i.e., narrow confined channel, round pipe and relatively larger pipe) are summarized. Although great progress in extending the IATE beyond churn-turbulent flow to churn-annual flow was made, there are still some issues in their modelling and experiments due to the highly distorted interface measurement. Regarded as the challenges to be addressed in the further study, some limitations of IATE general applicability and the directions for future development are highlighted.

Flotation is a pivotal technique for separating fine, low-grade minerals, where bubble dynamics and breakup mechanisms critically influence efficiency and selectivity. This study employs the SST k-ω turbulence model and VOF model to explore multiphase flow characteristics in a stirring tank at various impeller speeds, analyzing bubble ascent and breakup behavior. Results show intense bubble breakup regions coincide with vortex-rich areas, highlighting the crucial role of tail vortices. Further analysis reveals that turbulent breakup mechanisms are driven by rotational flows and shear flows caused by vortex interactions. Viscous shear stress from tail vortices is identified as the primary driver 006Ff bubble breakup. The mechanisms of bubble breakup vary with location relative to the impeller, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing flotation equipment. This study enhances the recovery rates of low-grade minerals and improves the selectivity and efficiency of the flotation process.

The external loop airlift reactor (ELALR) is a modified bubble column reactor that is composed of two vertical columns interconnected with two horizontal tubes and is often preferred over traditional bubble column reactors because it can operate over a wider range of conditions. In the present work, the gas-liquid flow dynamics in an ELALR were simulated using an Eulerian–Eulerian ensemble-averaging method with bubble breakup and coalescence effects in a three-dimensional system. The population balance models (PBM) of Luo and Svendsen (1996, “Theoretical Model for Drop and Bubble Breakup in Turbulent Dispersions,” AIChE J., 42, pp. 1225–1233) and Prince and Blanch (1990, “Bubble Coalescence and Breakup in Air-Sparged Bubble Columns,” AIChE J., 36, pp. 1485–1499) were used to simulate the bubble breakup and coalescence effects, respectively. The bubble breakup and coalescence closure models were implemented into CFDLib, a multiphase flow source code developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, and validated with experiments. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were then compared to experimental measurements from a 10.2 cm diameter ELALR for superficial gas velocities ranging from 1 to 20 cm/s. From this work, the 3D PBM simulations of an external loop airlift reactor were generally comparable with the 3D single bubble size simulations. However, the 3D PBM simulations have closer agreement with experimental findings than the single bubble size simulations especially regarding the length of gas bubbles in the downcomer.

Update to the MUSIG model in ANSYS CFX for reliable modelling of bubble coalescence and breakup

A two phase bubbly flow through a packed bed was studied for dominant bubble breakup and coalescence mechanisms through experiments and CFD modeling. Data on various two-phase parameters, such as local void fraction, bubble velocity, size, number, and shape were obtained from the high speed video images. Results indicated that when a flow regime changed from bubbly to either trickling or pulsing flow, the number of average size bubbles significantly decreased and the shape of majority of bubbles was no longer spherical. The bubble coalescence and breakup mechanisms depend on local conditions such as local velocity of the bubble and pore geometry. The CFD analysis using CFX software package was carried out to study bubble size distributions. In the analysis the models for interactions were examined for each case of bubble breakup flow and bubble coalescence. A comparative study was performed on the resulting bubble size distributions, breakup and coalescence rates estimated by individual models. For change of bubble size distributions along the axial direction medians was used as an comparative parameter and the CFD results on bubble medians were compared against the experimental data. This comparative study showed that the predictions estimated by CFD analyses with the bubble breakup and coalescence models currently available in the literature do not agree with the experimental data.

Investigation of bubble breakup and coalescence in a packed-bed reactor – Part 1: A comparative study of bubble breakup and coalescence models

Bubble break-up and the role of frother and salt

Bubble size distribution (BSD) plays a major role in transport and fate of gas or oil released in deepwater. However, no reliable method is available to estimate gas or oil BSD after a deepwater spill. Breakup and coalescence have been identified as key processes controlling BSDs in turbulent jets. The present work introduces bubble breakup and coalescence processes for deepwater gas or oil spill models. A population balance equation representing bubble volumes is used to model the evolution of bubble sizes caused by breakup and coalescence. Existing theories for bubble breakup and coalescence rates in bubble columns are adopted to deepwater plumes. The advantage of the present model is that the BSD is generated as a result of breakup and coalescence; and therefore, a predefined BSD is no longer necessary for simulations. The comparison of model-computed results with laboratory and field data shows a good agreement. Scenario simulations show that the seed diameter given to start computations affects only for a short distance from the release point. Simulations also show that bubble breakup and coalescence is important only during the early stages of the plume where turbulence is dominant. The importance of accounting for gas bubble breakup and coalescence in estimation of gas dissolution is also demonstrated.

Bubble breakup in a microfluidic T-junction

Effects of bubble coalescence and breakup on CO2 absorption performance in nanoabsorbents

Three-dimensional simulations of liquid/gas flow through radial centrifugal pumps and the effect of bubble coalescence and breakup on the formation of gas accumulations

Effect of coalescence and breakup on bubble size distributions in a two-dimensional packed bed

Background: With the deep investigation on hydrodynamics of bubbly flows, the influence of bubble coalescence and break-up phenomena on hydrodynamics has been paid more attention in the academic circle. In order to well understand and to promote the further investigation on the bubble coalescence and break-up phenomena, some related model and mechanisms are reviewed in this paper. Keywords: Bubble coalescence, bubble breakup, models, mechanisms, patents, hydrodynamics.

Experimental investigation on the effect of throat size on bubble transportation and breakup in small Venturi channels