DISCRETE MODELLING OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL LIQUID FOAMS

Liquid foam is a dense random packing of gas or liquid bubbles in a small amount of immiscible liquid containing surfactants. The liquid within the Plateau borders, although small in volume, causes considerable difficulties to the investigation of the spatial structure and physical properties of foams, and the situation becomes even more complicated as the fluid flows. To solve these problems, a discrete model of two-dimensional liquid foams on the bubble scale is proposed in this work. The bubble surface is represented with finite number of nodes, and the liquid within Plateau borders is discretized into lattice particles. The gas in bubbles is treated as ideal gas at constant temperatures. This model is tested by choosing an arbitrary shape bubble as the initial condition. This then automatically evolves into a circular shape, which indicates that the surface energy minimum routine is obeyed without calling external controlling conditions. Without inserting liquid particle among the bubble channels, periodic ordered and disordered dry foams are both simulated, and the fine foam structures are developed. Wet foams are also simulated by inserting fluid among bubble channels. The calculated coordination number, as a function of liquid fractions, agrees well with the standard values.     

Lattice gas simulations of two-dimensional liquid foams

Liquid foam is a dense random packing of gas bubbles in a small amount of immiscible liquid containing surfactants. The liquid within the Plateau borders, although small in volume, causes considerable difficulties to investigations of the physical properties of foams, and the situation becomes even more complicated if the flow of the liquid through the foam is considered too. Here we propose a fresh approach to tackling these issues by introducing a discrete two-dimensional hybrid lattice gas model of liquid foams. While lattice gas models have been used to model two-phase liquids in the past, their application to the study of liquid foams is novel and proves promising. We represent bubble surfaces by a finite number of nodes, and model the surrounding liquid as a lattice gas (with a finite number of liquid particles). The gas in the bubbles is treated as an ideal gas at constant temperature. The model is tested by choosing an arbitrarily shaped bubble that evolves into a circular shape in agreement with Laplaces law. The model is then employed to simulate periodic ordered and disordered dry and wet foams. Since our model is specifically designed to handle wet foams up to a critical liquid fraction of 0.16 (void fraction of random packing of disks), we are able to compute the variation in coordination number (average number of neighbours of a bubble) over the whole range of liquid fractions, and we find it to be a linear function of the shear modulus.This paper was presented at the first Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC) held in Guimarães, Portugal, 11–13 September 2003.     

Modeling of metallic foam morphology using the Representative Volume Element approach: Development and experimental validation

This paper focuses on the development of an algorithm capable of generating morphologically-representative foam structures using the Representative Volume Element (RVE) approach. Stereology, a sampling method based on direct observations of the foam cross-sections, is used to characterize the pore size and shape distributions. Using the morphology generation algorithm, the smallest RVEs corresponding to the numerically-convergent foam morphologies are calculated for different foam porosities. To validate the foam generation algorithm, the pore size and shape distributions of the numerically-generated foams are compared to those of the titanium foams manufactured by the space holder method.     

Trapped Gas Fraction During Steady-State Foam Flow

Trapped or stationary gas contributes significantly to the extent of gas mobility reduction for aqueous foams. Simultaneous measurements of effluent bubble sizes and trapped gas saturation in sandstone are reported for the first time. Roughly 80% of the gas saturation in an aqueous foam is stationary at steady state in this permeable porous medium. The experiments show that as gas velocity increases, the trapped gas fraction decreases. Similarly, as injected gas–liquid ratio increases, the trapped gas fraction decreases. Hence, the absolute velocities of gas and aqueous surfactant solution are fundamental to foamed-gas mobility reduction for they help determine in situ foam texture. Effluent foam bubbles range in size from 60 to 120 μm in diameter. The smaller the effluent bubble, the smaller is the fraction of mobile gas. Scaling laws from network percolation theory are used to engender a mechanistic understanding of the various parameters identified as important in the experimental program. The closed form approimation predicts that the trapped gas fraction is a weak function of pressure gradient, foam-bubble size, and the permeability of the porous medium. Moreover, the theory reproduces well the newly obtained experimental data.     

多孔介质中稳定泡沫的流动计算及实验研究

将多孔介质简化为一簇变截面毛管束,根据多孔介质的颗粒直径、颗粒排列方式、孔喉尺度比及束缚水饱和度,计算出变截面毛细管的喉道半径和孔隙半径. 在考虑多孔介质喉道和孔隙中单个气泡的受力和变形基础上,利用动量守恒定理,推导出单个孔隙单元内液相的压力分布和孔隙单元两端的压差计算公式,最终得到多孔介质的压力分布计算公式. 利用长U型填砂管对稳定泡沫的流动特性进行了实验研究. 研究结果表明:稳定泡沫流动时多孔介质中的压力分布呈线性下降,影响泡沫在多孔介质中流动特性的因素包括:多孔介质的孔喉结构、泡沫流体的流量和干度、气液界面张力、气泡尺寸,其中孔喉结构和泡沫干度是影响泡沫封堵能力的主要因素.关键词: 稳定泡沫;多孔介质;变截面毛管;流动;表观粘度;压力分布;实验研究      

An analog experiment of magma fragmentation: behavior of rapidly decompressed starch sirup

Paper reports a result of analog experiments regarding the simulation of magma fragmentation. We filled a starch sirup foam, as an analog material, in a 117–240 mm long and a 50 mm diameter high pressure chamber and exposed it to a rapid decompression. The foam was prepared by mixing starch sirups of dynamic viscosities ranging from 5 to 10¹² Pa· s at temperatures ranging from 293 to 343 K with nitrogen at 2.5 MPa gauge pressure. In ejecting high-pressure foams into a low-pressure chamber, diagnostics of foam’s fragmentation process were pressure measurment and high-speed video recording. Prior to decompression experiments, we examined visco-elastic properties of foam specimens by using a rheometer. The foam deformation under decompression was found to be axial–symmetrical, and strongly coupled with bubble growth and coalescence. These effects contributed even more efficiently to fragmentation processes than previous laboratory experiments using other analog materials. Fragment shapes varied widely depending on the temperature and water concentration of starch sirup foams, which proved that fragmentation process was governed by not only ductile deformation but also brittle failure, and determined by the degree of visco-elasticities of starch sirup foams.      

Surfactant Concentration and End Effects on Foam Flow in Porous Media

Foaming injected gas is a useful and promising technique for achieving mobility control in porous media. Typically, such foams are aqueous. In the presence of foam, gas and liquid flow behavior is determined by bubble size or foam texture. The thin-liquid films that separate foam into bubbles must be relatively stable for a foam to be finely textured and thereby be effective as a displacing or blocking agent. Film stability is a strong function of surfactant concentration and type. This work studies foam flow behavior at a variety of surfactant concentrations using experiments and a numerical model. Thus, the foam behavior examined spans from strong to weak.Specifically, a suite of foam displacements over a range of surfactant concentrations in a roughly 7m², one-dimensional sandpack are monitored using X-ray computed tomography (CT). Sequential pressure taps are employed to measure flow resistance. Nitrogen is the gas and an alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS 1416) in brine is the foamer. Surfactant concentrations studied vary from 0.005 to 1wt%. Because foam mobility depends strongly upon its texture, a bubble population balance model is both useful and necessary to describe the experimental results thoroughly and self consistently. Excellent agreement is found between experiment and theory.     

Full-scale two-phase flow measurements on Athena research vessel

Measurements of gas volume fraction, bubble velocity, chord length and bubble size distributions were performed on the research vessel Athena II operating in Saint Andrew Bay in the gulf coast near Panama City, FL. Double tipped sapphire optical local phase-detection probes were used to acquire indicator functions downstream of the breaking bow wave, behind the masker and at the stern. These indicator functions were also taken at different depths, operating speeds and headings respect to the waves. The data processing includes the computation of velocity of individual bubbles and chord lengths, resulting in chord length distributions. These chord length distributions are used to obtain bubble size distributions using a novel procedure described in detail herein. Uncertainty analysis is performed for gas volume fraction, average bubble velocity and chord length. The results indicate that air entrainment increases with ship speed and sailing against the waves at all positions. The bow wave exhibits unsteady breaking that creates bubble clouds, which were characterized and identified by signal processing. At the stern a very strong dependence of bubble size with depth was found, with evidence that small bubbles (smaller than 500 μm) are transported through the bottom of the hull and reach the transom. The roller present at the transom, the associated strong unsteadiness and bubble entrainment are well captured, as indicated by the stern results, showing the frothy nature of the upper layer.     

On the numerical study of bubbly flow created by ventilated cavity in vertical pipe

The dispersion of bubbles into a down-liquid flow in a vertical pipe is investigated. At low flow rates, the intended design of a swarm of discrete bubbles is achieved. At high flow rates, a ventilated cavity is nonetheless formed, which is attached close to the gas sparger. Behind this ventilated cavity, three different flow regimes characterize the complex bubbly flow field downstream of the down-liquid flow: vortex region with high void fraction, transitional region and pipe flow region. In this study, a numerical model that solved the entire development of the gas–liquid flow including the extended single-phase liquid region upstream to the wall-jet and recirculating-vortex zones in order to allow a more realistic determination of the boundary conditions of the down-liquid flow was adopted. Coupling with the Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model to solve the respective gas and liquid phases, a population balance model was also applied to predict the bubble size distribution in the wake right below the cavity base as well as further downstream in the transitional and fully-developed pipe flow regions. The numerical model was evaluated by comparing the numerical results against the data derived from theoretical, numerical and experimental approaches. Prediction of the Sauter mean bubble diameter distributions by the population balance approach at different axial locations confirmed the dominance of breakage due to the high turbulent intensity below the ventilated cavity which led to the generation of small gas bubbles at high void fraction. Further downstream, the coalescence effect dominated leading to merging of the small bubbles to form bigger bubbles.     

台阶式并行微通道内气泡群自组装行为及其对气泡生成的反馈效应

台阶式微通道乳化装置因易于高通量生产均一性的气泡及液滴而受到关注.本文利用高速摄像仪研究了台阶式并行微通道装置空腔内的气泡群复杂行为及其对气泡生成的反馈效应.实验设计的操作变量为气液相进出口位置、气相流速和液相流速.在实验操作范围内,共发现了气泡的单管生成模式和多管生成模式.研究了空腔内气泡群复杂行为随操作条件的变化趋势.发现在受限空间内,气泡在水平面内发生挤压堵塞能够自组装成具有特定几何特点的二维晶格,分别为有序的行三角晶格、有序的竖三角晶格和无序的三角晶格.晶格结构与气相压力密切相关;同时,气泡界面能量随着气相压力的增大而增大.运用介尺度、能量和活化等概念分析了气泡群复杂行为对气泡生成方式的影响,充分阐释了受限空间内气泡群的介尺度效应.以变异系数CV来表示气泡的均匀性特征,考察了气泡晶格自组装行为的控制因素.结果表明:气泡的自组装路径由气泡尺寸及其分布决定,有序的三角晶格变异系数小于5%,无序的三角晶格变异系数大于5%.     

Experimental investigation of horizontal air–water bubbly-to-plug and bubbly-to-slug transition flows in a 3.81 cm ID pipe

The present study seeks to investigate horizontal bubbly-to-plug and bubbly-to-slug transition flows. The two-phase flow structures and transition mechanisms in these transition flows are studied based on experimental database established using the local four-sensor conductivity probe in a 3.81 cm inner diameter pipe. While slug flow needs to be distinguished from plug flow due to the presence of large number of small bubbles (and thus, large interfacial area concentration), both differences and similarities are observed in the evolution of interfacial structures in bubbly-to-plug and bubbly-to-slug transitions. The bubbly-to-plug transition is studied by decreasing the liquid flow rate at a fixed gas flow rate. It is found that as the liquid flow rate is lowered, bubbles pack near the top wall of the pipe due to the diminished role of turbulent mixing. As the flow rate is lowered further, bubbles begin to coalesce and form the large bubbles characteristic of plug flow. Bubble size increases while bubble velocity decreases as liquid flow rate decreases, and the profile of the bubble velocity changes its shape due to the changing interfacial structure. The bubbly-to-slug transition is investigated by increasing the gas flow rate at a fixed liquid flow rate. In this transition, gas phase becomes more uniformly distributed throughout the cross-section due to the formation of large bubbles and the increasing bubble-induced turbulence. The size of small bubbles decreases while bubble velocity increases as gas flow rate increases. The distributions of bubble size and bubble velocity become more symmetric in this transition. While differences are observed in these two transitions, similarities are also noticed. As bubbly-to-plug or bubbly-to-slug transition occurs, the formation of large elongated bubbles is observed not in the uppermost region of bubble layer, but in a lower region. At the beginning of transitions, relative differences in phase velocities near the top of the pipe cross-section to those near the pipe center become larger for both gas and liquid phases, because more densely packed bubbles introduce more resistance to both phases.     

Experimental study of the falling film of liquid around a Taylor bubble

The present work reports an experimental study of the falling liquid film around single Taylor bubbles rising in vertical tubes filled with stagnant liquids by using a pulse-echo ultrasonic technique. The experiments were carried out in acrylic tubes 2.0  m long, with inner diameters of 0.019, 0.024 and 0.034  m, with five water-glycerin mixtures, corresponding to inverse viscosity number ranging from 15 to 22422. The rising bubble and the falling liquid film were measured by using ultrasonic transducers located at the one side of the tube. The velocity and profile of the Taylor bubble, and the development length and equilibrium thickness of the falling liquid film around the bubble were obtained by the ultrasonic signals processing. Based on the experimental results of the present study, several correlations available to estimate the equilibrium thicknesses of liquid films falling around Taylor bubbles were evaluated and new correlations were proposed to estimate the dimensionless equilibrium film thickness and the film development length respectively.     

The minimum in-line coalescence height of bubbles in non-Newtonian fluid

The minimum in-line coalescence height of bubbles generated from a submerged nozzle was investigated experimentally in shear thinning non-Newtonian fluid at lower Reynolds number (2∼60). Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) aqueous solution and carbon dioxide were used as the liquid phase and the gas phase, respectively. The process of the formation, movement and in-line coalescence of bubbles was visualized and recorded by a high-speed digital camera. The influences of bubble size, bubble generation frequency and liquid property on the minimum in-line coalescence height of bubbles were investigated by changing nozzle diameter, gas flow rate and the mass concentration of CMC aqueous solutions. For a given liquid, the generating frequency and size of bubbles increased but the minimum coalescence height of in-line bubbles decreased when the nozzle diameter and gas flow rate were increased. When the nozzle diameter and gas flow rate were fixed, the shear-thinning effect of CMC aqueous solution became stronger with increasing CMC mass concentration, which led to the increase in both the terminal rise velocity and average acceleration of the trailing bubble, consequently, the minimum in-line coalescence height of bubbles decreased. An empirical correlation for estimating the minimum in-line bubble coalescence height was proposed, the calculating values accords well with experimental data with a mean relative deviation only 7.6%.     

The interaction of background ocean air bubbles with a surface ship

A two-fluid model suitable for the calculation of the two-phase flow field around a naval surface ship is presented. This model couples the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with equations for the evolution of the gas-phase momentum, volume fraction and bubble number density, thereby allowing the multidimensional calculation of the two-phase flow for monodisperse variable size bubbles. The bubble field modifies the liquid solution through changes in the liquid mass and momentum conservation equations. The model is applied to the case of the scavenging of wind-induced sea-background bubbles by an unpropelled US Navy frigate under non-zero Froude number boundary conditions at the free surface. This is an important test case, because it can be simulated experimentally with a model-scale ship in a towing tank. A significant modification of the background bubble field is predicted in the wake of the ship, where bubble depletion occurs along with a reduction in the bubble size due to dissolution. This effect is due to lateral phase distribution phenomena and the generation of an upwelling plume in the near wake that brings smaller bubbles up to the surface. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pool boiling heat transfer of ultra-light copper foam with open cells

High speed visualizations and thermal performance studies of pool boiling heat transfer on copper foam covers were performed at atmospheric pressure, with the heating surface area of 12.0 mm by 12.0 mm, using acetone as the working fluid. The foam covers have ppi (pores per inch) from 30 to 90, cover thickness from 2.0 to 5.0 mm, and porosity of 0.88 and 0.95. The surface superheats are from −20 to 190 K, and the heat fluxes reach 140 W/cm². The 30 and 60 ppi foam covers show the periodic single bubble generation and departure pattern at low surface superheats. With continuous increases in surface superheats, they show the periodic bubble coalescence and/or re-coalescence pattern. Cage bubbles were observed to be those with liquid filled inside and vented to the pool liquid. For the 90 ppi foam covers, the bubble coalescence takes place at low surface superheats. At moderate or large surface superheats, vapor fragments continuously escape to the pool liquid.     

Numerical analysis of the interaction of 3D compressible bubble clusters

Based on the bubble dynamic theory and the compressible two-phase flow solver of the open source software Open FOAM, a numerical simulation study is carried out on the interactions of bubble clusters in a closed volume. The bubble dynamics and interactions of a single bubble, two bubbles, and four bubbles are investigated under the working conditions without and with the presence of a free surface. Through a parametric study, the qualitative patterns of the variations of the bubble collapse period,the volume compressibility, the bubble pressure peak value, and the breakdown, fusion,and separation phenomena with the parameters such as the bubble pressure, the radius size, the bubble spacing, and the distance from the free surface are obtained. The main factors affecting the bubble morphology and the dynamic characteristics are summarized from numerous parameter experiments. It is shown that, in the absence of a free surface,the main factors are the relative size of the bubbles, the pressure of the liquid, and the pressure differences among the bubbles, while in the presence of a free surface, the main factor is the pressure of the liquid between the upper surface of the bubble and the free surface.     

Planar fluorescence for round bubble imaging and its application for the study of an axisymmetric two-phase jet

A correlation-based processing algorithm for bubble identification by a planar fluorescence for bubble imaging (PFBI) technique is presented in this paper. The algorithm includes procedures to identify bubble positions and sizes, as well as to track bubbles and correct bubble displacement vectors. Moreover, several schemes for calculation time optimisation were realised to achieve a reliable calculation time. The developed algorithm identifies and tracks overlapping bubble images or images with non-uniform intensity distributions. The employed correlation and iterative passing approach provides sub-pixel accuracy of bubble displacement estimation. In addition, the presented algorithm for bubble ring detection can be easily applied to shadow photography images of bubbles, after the application of a derivative filter. The PFBI technique, combined with the particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry algorithms, was applied for the experimental study of bubbly free jet two-phase flows at Re = 12,000. Four cases of volumetric gas content in the jet core were studied: 0, 1.2, 2.4 and 4.2%, with the same mean bubble diameter—0.85 mm. The developed technique measures two-dimensional distributions of instantaneous void fractions, as well as both gaseous and liquid-phase velocities. Consequently, the mean void fraction and velocity fields and a set of second-order statistical moments were obtained, including correlations of void fraction and velocity pulsations. It was shown that the increase in volumetric gas content leads to the suppression of liquid-phase velocity fluctuations in the jet mixing layer.     

A boundary element method for the simulation of non-spherical bubbles and their interactions near a free surface

The basic principle and numerical technique for simulating two three-dimensional bubbles near a free surface are studied in detail by using boundary element method. The singularities of influence coefficient matrix are eliminated using coordinate transformation and so-called 4 π rule. The solid angle for the open surface is treated in direct method based on its definition. Several kinds of configurations for the bubbles and free surface have been investigated. The pressure contours during the evolution of bubbles are obtained in our model and can better illuminate the mechanism underlying the motions of bubbles and free surface. The bubble dynamics and their interactions have close relation with the standoff distances, buoyancy parameters and initial sizes of bubbles. Completely different bubble shapes, free surface motions, jetting patterns and pressure distributions under different parameters can be observed in our model, as demonstrated in our calculation results.     

T型微通道反应器内气液两相流动机制及影响因素

基于液滴或气泡的多相微流控是近年来微流控技术中快速发展的重要分支之一.本文利用高速显微摄影技术和数字图像处理技术对T型微通道反应器内气液两相流动机制及影响因素进行实验研究.实验采用添加表面活性剂的海藻酸钠水溶液作为液相,空气作为气相.研究T型微通道反应器内气液两相流型的转变过程,并根据微通道内气泡的生成频率和生成气泡的长径比对气泡流进行分类.研究发现当前的进料方式下,可以观测到气泡流和分层流2种流型,且依据气泡生成频率和微通道内气泡的长径比可将气泡流划分为分散气泡流、短弹状气泡流和长弹状气泡流3种类型,并基于受力分析确定3种气泡流的形成机制分别为剪切机制、剪切-挤压机制和挤压机制.考察不同液相黏度和表面张力系数对不同类型气泡流范围的影响规律.结果表明:液相黏度相较于表面张力系数而言,对气泡流生成范围影响更大.给出不同类型气泡流流型转变条件的无量纲关系式,实现微通道生成微气泡过程的可控操作.      

The art and science of foam bubbles

Art and science become inevitably intertwined in our appreciation of nature's forms. This concept is demonstrated by the creative team responsible for the cover images of Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences. Denis Weaire, Stefan Hutzler, Wiebke Drenckhan form a leading international collaboration with photographers Tim Durham and Michael Boran that explores the physics of bubble patterns. The images they generate capture and manipulate the striking aesthetic impact of foam bubbles. Furthermore, the foams exhibit a balance between simplicity and intricacy that symbolizes many of the complex systems that permeate nature and society.