Performance Improvement of Swirl Type Micro Bubble Generator

Abstract

Micro bubbles measuring tens of micrometers or less in diameter have recently been paid much attention. Swirl type, pressurizing dissolution, and perforated plate methods have been proposed for micro bubble generation. The swirl type method can generate micro bubbles even under low-pressure power in a simple structure. This study examined the effect of the swirl chamber inlet diameter on the bubble diameter in a swirl type micro bubble generator. The swirl chamber inlet diameter was varied in the range of 15-90 mm and the effect was examined. In order to clarify the effect of enlarged inlet diameter, the micro bubbles diameter was measured under changing water supply pressure and air flow rate, the behavior of air column in the swirl chamber was visualized, and the velocity distribution around outlet of swirl chamber was measured. As a result, when the swirl chamber inlet diameter was enlarged, the outflow form changed from an axial outflow to a radial outflow. The average bubble diameter could also be reduced. An average bubble diameter of 28 μm could be realized under the conditions of swirl inlet diameter of 90 mm and water supply pressure of 0.1 MPa gage.