Relation between mechanical foam-breaking difficulty and the foaming characteristics of solutions

Abstract

Using a small foaming apparatus, liquid foaming characteristics such as liquid holdup in foamate flow ( φ t), rate of liquid drainage from foam (ν), foam velocity ( u f) and foam size ( d f) were examined for various liquids. A parameter φ f, incorporating φ t, ν and u f, was obtained. The relationship among φ f, d f and the liquid holdup in foam, φ b, in the actual gas-bubbling systems under foam control was expressed in the form of φ b ∞ φ f d f 1.83, regardless of the type of foaming liquid or its concentration. This relationship was useful for the prediction of φ b as related to mechanical foam-breaking difficulty.