On the breakup of Taylor length scale size bubbles and droplets in turbulent dispersions

Abstract

This work explores the mechanism of bubble and droplet breakup caused by turbulence in turbulent dispersions. Considering the deformation properties of the particle during the particle-eddy interaction process, a breakup model for bubbles and droplets of the Taylor length scale size is developed. The particle-eddy interaction frequency is modeled based on bubbles/droplets interacting with both larger and smaller eddies, in contrast with the usual collision frequency. Breakup criteria are demonstrated to depend on the degree of surface deformation prior to breakup. The relationship between the local characteristics of surrounding flows, such as the turbulent eddies’ variance and dissipation rate and the breakage rate as well as the daughter size distribution is then established and quantified. In particular, the contribution of turbulent eddies to the total breakage rate is clarified. This work provides a further understanding of breakup observations in complex turbulent fields and offers a more fundamental breakup kernel for the population balance model.