Numerical Simulation of Bubble Dynamics in a Uniform Electric Field by the Adaptive 3D-VOSET Method

Abstract

This article presents a three-dimensional numerical simulation of the effect of a uniform electric field on the dynamics of bubbles in a viscous fluid. The two-phase interface is captured utilizing a coupled volume-of-fluid and level set (VOSET) method by solving the full Navier–Stokes equations coupled with electric field equations. To track the interface more accurately, the dynamically adaptive octree grids are used to refine the grids around the interface. The effects of different parameters such as the electric Bond number, the ratio of electrical permittivity, the gravitational Bond number, and the Reynolds number on the motion and deformation of the bubble are investigated. According to the computational results, it is found that the electric field has a significant influence on the bubble dynamic behavior. Increase of the electric Bond number or the ratio of electrical permittivity results in the larger deformation and rising velocity of the bubble. For a higher electric Bond number and the Reynolds number, separations of the tail of the bubble are observed. In this case, the jet above the bubble is strong enough to turn the spherical bubble to a toroidal shape.