CFD Modeling of Gas-Liquid Bubbly Flow in Horizontal Pipes: Influence of Bubble Coalescence and Breakup

K Ekambara,R Sean Sanders,J H Masliyah,K Nandakumar

doi:10.1155/2012/620463

K Ekambara, R Sean Sanders + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/620463

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Abstract

Modelling of gas-liquid bubbly flows is achieved by coupling a population balance equation with the three-dimensional, two-fluid, hydrodynamic model. For gas-liquid bubbly flows, an average bubble number density transport equation has been incorporated in the CFD code CFX 5.7 to describe the temporal and spatial evolution of the gas bubbles population. The coalescence and breakage effects of the gas bubbles are modeled. The coalescence by the random collision driven by turbulence and wake entrainment is considered, while for bubble breakage, the impact of turbulent eddies is considered. Local spatial variations of the gas volume fraction, interfacial area concentration, Sauter mean bubble diameter, and liquid velocity are compared against experimental data in a horizontal pipe, covering a range of gas (0.25 to 1.34 m/s) and liquid (3.74 to 5.1 m/s) superficial velocities and average volume fractions (4% to 21%). The predicted local variations are in good agreement with the experimental measurements reported in the literature. Furthermore, the development of the flow pattern was examined at three different axial locations ofL/D= 25, 148, and 253. The first location is close to the entrance region where the flow is still developing, while the second and the third represent nearly fully developed bubbly flow patterns.

Highlights

Gas-liquid, two-phase flow in horizontal pipes is encountered often in a number of industrial processes
Accurate prediction of developing bubbly flows in horizontal pipes cannot be carried out without sufficient knowledge of a transverse lift force acting on the bubbles, the force that governs the transverse migration of a bubble in a shear field
A two-fluid model coupled with population balance approach is presented in this paper to handle gas-liquid bubbly flows in horizontal pipe

Summary

Introduction

Gas-liquid, two-phase flow in horizontal pipes is encountered often in a number of industrial processes. Experimental observations are difficult in this case, as the migration of dispersed bubbles towards the top of the pipe, due to buoyancy, causes a highly nonsymmetric volume distribution in the pipe cross-section. This density stratification is not often accompanied by a strong secondary flow. Interfacial area concentration, and mean bubble diameter are the three characterizing field variables that characterize the internal flow structure of twophase, gas-liquid flows in horizontal pipe. The interfacial transport of mass, momentum, and energy is proportional to the interfacial area and the driving forces This is an important parameter required for a two-fluid model formulation. An accurate knowledge of local distributions of these three parameters is of great importance to the eventual understanding and modelling of the interfacial transfer processes [1]

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