UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Influence of Bubble Size, Diffuser Width, and Flow Rate on the Integral Behavior of Bubble Plumes

Fraga, B; Stoesser, T; (2016) Influence of Bubble Size, Diffuser Width, and Flow Rate on the Integral Behavior of Bubble Plumes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans , 121 (6) pp. 3887-3904. 10.1002/2015JC011381. Green open access

[thumbnail of Fraga_et_al-2016-Journal_of_Geophysical_Research%3A_Oceans.pdf]
Preview
Text
Fraga_et_al-2016-Journal_of_Geophysical_Research%3A_Oceans.pdf - Published Version

Download (4MB) | Preview

Abstract

A large‐eddy simulation based Eulerian‐Lagrangian model is employed to quantify the impact of bubble size, diffuser diameter, and gas flow rate on integral properties of bubble plumes, such as the plume's width, centerline velocity, and mass flux. Calculated quantities are compared with experimental data and integral model predictions. Furthermore, the LES data were used to assess the behavior of the entrainment coefficient, the momentum amplification factor, and the bubble‐to‐momentum spread ratio. It is found that bubble plumes with constant bubble size and smaller diameter behave in accordance with integral plume models. Plumes comprising larger and non‐uniform bubble sizes appear to deviate from past observations and model predictions. In multi‐diameter bubble plumes, a bubble self‐organisation takes place, i.e., small bubbles cluster in the center of the plume whilst large bubbles are found at the periphery of the plume. Multi‐diameter bubble plumes also feature a greater entrainment rate than single‐size bubble plumes, as well as a higher spread ratio and lower turbulent momentum rate. Once the plume is fully established, the size of the diffuser does not appear to affect integral properties of bubble plumes. However, plume development is affected by the diffuser width, as larger release areas lead to a delayed asymptotic behavior of the plume and consequently to a lower entrainment and higher spread ratio. Finally, the effect of the gas flow rate on the integral plume is studied and is deemed very relevant with regards to most integral plume properties and coefficients. This effect is already fairly well described by integral plume models.

Type: Article
Title: Influence of Bubble Size, Diffuser Width, and Flow Rate on the Integral Behavior of Bubble Plumes
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1002/2015JC011381
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JC011381
Language: English
Additional information: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Civil, Environ and Geomatic Eng
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10058276
Downloads since deposit
Loading...
66Downloads
Download activity - last month
Loading...
Download activity - last 12 months
Loading...
Downloads by country - last 12 months
Loading...

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item