Numerical investigation of closures for interface forces acting on single air-bubbles in water using Volume of Fluid and Front Tracking models

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 60; no. 22; pp. 6169 - 6175
• Main Authors: Dijkhuizen, W., van den Hengel, E.I.V., Deen, N.G., van Sint Annaland, M., Kuipers, J.A.M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Computational fluid dynamics; Direct numerical simulation; Exact sciences and technology; Front tracking; Gas–liquid flow; Hydrodynamics of contact apparatus; Volume of Fluid; Volume of Fluid; Gas–liquid flow; Direct numerical simulation; Computational fluid dynamics; Front tracking; Two phase flow; Gas-liquid flow; Aspect ratio; Density; Modeling; Physical properties; Bubble; Drag; Gas liquid flow; Numerical simulation
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2005.03.048

Closures for the drag and virtual mass forces acting on a single air bubble rising in initially quiescent pure water have been numerically investigated using direct numerical simulation techniques. A 3D Front Tracking model was used and the results were compared with simulation results obtained with a 2D Volume of Fluid model to assess the influence of the third dimension. In the simulations realistic values were taken for the physical properties, i.e., a density ratio of 800. The computed time-averaged terminal rise velocity and mean aspect ratio for individual air bubbles ranging in equivalent diameter from 1 to 10 mm rising in pure water compare well with available experimental data.