1. Numerical simulations of the dynamics of Taylor bubble in the presence of small-dispersed bubbles
- Author
-
Xiaobing Zhang and Sidique Gawusu
- Subjects
Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes ,Physics ,Terminal velocity ,Bubble ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Flow (psychology) ,Mechanics ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Coupling (probability) ,Inertia ,Physics::Fluid Dynamics ,Acceleration ,Phase (matter) ,Volume of fluid method ,media_common - Abstract
This numerical study investigates the dynamics around a single Taylor bubble rising with small-dispersed bubbles in a vertical pipeline. The Volume-of-fluid (VOF) method in Ansys Fluent 18.1 is used to track the Taylor bubble, and the Discrete Particle Method (DPM) is used to track the small-dispersed bubbles, for the following parameter range; $$812 \leqslant \text{Re} \leqslant 5684$$ , $${\kern 1pt} Eo = 94$$ and $$\log (Mo) = - 10.6$$ . The coupling strategies for both the continuous gas–liquid phase as well as the discrete bubble phase are all accounted for in the numerical calculations. The dispersed bubbles significantly affect the behaviour of the rising Taylor bubble in numerous ways. The terminal velocity increases with an increase in the number of dispersed bubbles. The rise velocity is, however directly correlated with the deformation of the nose of the bubble. The flow dynamics around the nose of the Taylor bubble are stronger for low velocities due to lower inertia. The computations also demonstrated that there are both acceleration and deceleration effects on the Taylor bubble. Our predictions are in quantitative agreement with published experimental results by Cerqueira and Paladino (Int. J. Multiph. Flow, vol. 133, p. 103,450, Dec. 2020).
- Published
- 2021