Three-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Horizontal and Vertical Coalescence of Bubbles at Two Submerged Horizontal Orifices on the Wall

Abstract

Abstract In the process of bubbling from two submerged adjacent orifices, bubbles coalescence becomes inevitable. But the study of the evolution and interaction of bubbles from submerged orifices is little, especially numerical simulation. In this paper, combined with mesh smoothing technique, mesh subdivision technique and the technique of axisymmetric coalescence and 3D coalescence, a three-dimensional model of bubbles coalescence at two submerged adjacent orifices on the wall is established by the boundary element method. Then, numerical simulations were carried out for horizontal and vertical coalescence before detachment. Finally, by changing the ventilation rate and the Froude number, the effects of different ventilation rates and buoyancy on the process of bubbles coalescence at two adjacent orifices were investigated. The results show that for horizontal coalescence, the effect of ventilation rate is more pronounced than buoyancy. As the ventilation rate increases or the influence of buoyancy is decreased, the amplitude of internal pressure fluctuation of the bubble decreases and the coalescence time decreases. For vertical coalescence, the effect of buoyancy is more pronounced than ventilation rate. With the influence of buoyancy is decreased, the vertical coalescence time is increased, the internal pressure of the bubble is decreased. The influence of ventilation rate is similar to that of horizontal coalescence.