Bubble Formation and Behaviour Under Hypergravity Conditions

Abstract

Bubble formation and behaviour have been studied over decades, but the complex two-phase flow phenomena involved are still not fully understood. In view of the importance of two-phase flow processes in a broad range of industrial applications, such as the chemical process industry, food industry and aerospace applications, it is crucial to obtain a detailed understanding of single and multiple bubble dynamics. Gravity plays an important role in bubble formation and behaviour. Several studies have been conducted on single bubble formation under microgravity conditions, but the effects of gravitational accelerations much larger than on Earth have not been previously documented. In order to gain a full understanding of the effect of gravity on the bubble dynamics and in view of industrial applications, particularly aerospace applications, it is essential to examine bubble formation and behaviour under hypergravity conditions. Bubble formation and behaviour at the surface of a porous material and at a nozzle were investigated at hypergravity levels of 1–20g using the Large Diameter Centrifuge (LDC) at ESA/ESTEC. The formation of air bubbles through a porous filter into a water column was recorded under hypergravity conditions and the obtained data were analysed qualitatively. A decrease in bubble size and an increase in bubble formation frequency with increasing hypergravity levels could be clearly observed. Data for the experiments on air and oil bubble formation at a nozzle into a water column were recorded under hypergravity conditions using a high speed camera (for different nozzle sizes and air/oil flow rates). For the recorded data from the experiments on air and oil bubble formation at a nozzle, a decrease in bubble size and an increase in bubble formation frequency with increasing gravitational acceleration could be observed qualitatively. Quantitative analysis of the data obtained for the experiments on air bubble formation at a nozzle clearly showed a decrease in average bubble diameter with increasing hypergravity levels. The effect of the nozzle diameter on the bubble size was shown to be small and the bubble diameter was larger for higher flow rates.