Experimental Study On Bubble Pairs And Induced Flow Fields Using Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry

Abstract

Gas-liquid two-phase flows, such as bubbly flows, are widely used across various engineering and military applications due to their distinctive fluid dynamics. This study utilizes advanced imaging techniques, including shadowgraphy and laser-induced fluorescence tomographic particle image velocimetry (LIF-TPIV), to provide a quantitative analysis of bubble motions and the resulting flow fields. We systematically investigate the effects of orifice distances (s) set at 10, 15, 20, and 25 mm to assess the impact of spacing on bubble behavior and interactions. Our findings indicate that at orifice distances of 20 mm or less, the proximity of bubbles facilitates interactions, promoting dynamic bubble behaviors. In contrast, at distances greater than 25 mm, interactions become markedly weaker, leading to increased separation between bubbles during their free oscillation stages. This weak interaction directly influences the characteristics of bubble-induced flow fields. As orifice spacing increases, there is a noticeable decrease in the velocity of the flow field between bubbles, particularly noticeable at spacings of 20 mm and above. At these larger spacings, a low-velocity zone develops between the bubbles at higher heights, which, according to Bernoulli's principle, corresponds to a high-pressure area. This high pressure contributes to a reduction in bubble volume with increasing orifice spacing. Furthermore, the intensity of wake vortices between two bubbles is observed to be highest at the smallest spacing of 10 mm, closely resembling the flow structure characteristic of a single rising bubble. For spacings of 15 and 20 mm, the induced flow fields of the bubbles continue to interact significantly. However, at a spacing of 25 mm, the flow fields appear to function independently, suggesting a threshold beyond which bubble interactions stop to significantly affect their surrounding fluid environments. These findings are helpful for comprehending the two-phase flow dynamics, particularly in multi-orifices bubbly flow.