Shapes of an Air Taylor Bubble in Stagnant Liquids Influenced by Different Surface Tensions

Abstract

The aim of this work is to propose an empirical model for predicting shapes of a Taylor bubble, which is a part of slug flows, under different values of the surface tension in stagnant liquids by employing numerical simulations. The k   turbulence model was used in the framework of finite volume method for simulating flow fields in a unit of slug flow and also the pressure distribution on a Taylor bubble surface. Assuming that an air pressure distribution inside the Taylor bubble must be uniform, a grid search method was exploited to find an appropriate shape of a Taylor bubble for six values of surface tension. It was found that the shape of a Taylor bubble would be blunter if the surface tension was increased. This was because the surface tension affected the Froude number, controlling the flow around a Taylor bubble. The simulation results were also compared with the Taylor bubble shape, created by the Dumitrescu-and-Taylor model and former studies in order to ensure that they were consistent. Finally, the empirical model was presented from the simulation results.

Theoretical and Experimental Investigations for the Virtual Mass of a Taylor Bubble

“…Our previous experimental results [18] and the results of Liao and Zhao [19] showed a gradual decrease of the liquid film thickness, so the shape of the Taylor bubble possesses sharpness of the bubble nose. The work of Lertnuwat [20] also appreciated this shape.…”

Influence of Viscosity on the Shape of an Air Taylor Bubble in a Stagnant Liquid Under Turbulent Condition in Falling Film

“…In this work, the accuracy of the appropriate pair of 1  and 2  was accepted when their third significant was unchanged. The flow chart of the procedure was the same as the flow chart, presented in [23]. Fig.2a for comparison.…”