Euler–Lagrange study of bubble drag reduction in turbulent channel flow and boundary layer flow

Abstract

The excellent drag reduction effect of the bubble drag reduction technique has been proved through many experiments since it was proposed. In this paper, the authors investigate the bubble-turbulence interaction and the corresponding drag reduction effect with a two-way coupled Euler–Lagrange code. The liquid phase is simulated by using a large eddy simulation method with the immersed bubbles treated using a nonlinear collision model to accurately simulate the bubble–wall interaction. A Gaussian distributed method is adopted to obtain the void fraction and interphase forces in the two-way coupled algorithm. Two typical wall-bounded turbulent flow problems (turbulent channel flow and boundary layer flow) are simulated to validate the accuracy and stability in bubbly flows and investigate the drag reduction mechanism. First, the effect of bubbles on the turbulent flow is studied in the channel flow cases in which the bubbles are observed attaching to the upper plate and swaying in the spanwise direction. In this case, Reynolds stress near the wall is decreased, which contributes to the drag reduction. Moreover, drag reduction of a turbulent boundary layer flow with bubble injection is studied in which the drag reduction under different air flow rates is in good agreement with experimental results. The contribution of turbulence and different liquid forces to the migration of bubbles away from the wall is investigated. The bubble trajectory in the turbulent boundary layer is divided into three distinct stages and discussed in detail finally.