Investigations on the near-wall bubble dynamic behaviors in a diverging channel

Abstract

This study investigates the movement characteristics and causes of the dramatic deceleration of individual bubbles as they enter a diverging channel near the wall, an important phenomenon for understanding fluid dynamics in the Venturi-type bubble generator. The use of a modified volume of fluid model with a user defined source method based on van der Geld’s drag theory improves the accuracy of bubble velocity predictions. Visualization experiments were conducted to observe air bubble motion in water, focusing on deceleration near the wall, while numerical simulations were employed to complement these observations. The results reveal the identification of forces governing bubble deceleration, such as pressure gradient, drag, added mass, and lateral force (lift and wall lubrication). Pressure gradient and added mass forces of magnitudes of 106 N/m3 were found to dominate the deceleration process, with drag and lift forces contributing to bubble acceleration and lateral motion in low-speed liquid flow, respectively. In addition, simulations revealed the formation of a faster-moving liquid region downstream of the bubble during rapid deceleration, highlighting the critical role of added mass on the bubble dramatic deceleration process.