Bubble coalescence and break-up in air-sparged bubble columns
Abstract
Abstract A Phenomenological model is proposed for the rates of bubble coalescence and bubble break‐up in turbulent gas‐liquid dispersions. Bubble coalescence is modeled by considering bubble collisions due to turbulence, buoyancy, and laminar shear, and by analysis of the coalescence efficiency of collisions. Bubble break‐up is analyzed in terms of bubble interactions with turbulent eddies. A method for the measurement of coalescence and break‐up events in turbulent systems is described and used to test the validity of the proposed model. The measurement technique relies on the mixing of tracer gases within bubbles upon coalescence, in conjunction with Monte‐Carlo simulations of coalescence events. Both distilled water and salt solutions are examined. Favorable agreement is found between the model and the individual coalescence and breakage rates, as well as with data obtained for the average bubble size and bubble size distribution.
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Tsouris and Tavlarides [275] assume the same form as the model of Prince and Blanch [273], with eddy-drop collision frequency based on assumptions that isotropic turbulence holds, the drop size is in the inertial sub-range, and only eddies whose size is equal to or smaller than the drop size can cause breakage.
“The model of Tsouris and Tavlarides [275] assumes the same form as the one of Prince and Blanch [273]. The eddy-drop collision frequency is based on the assumptions that the isotropic turbulence holds, the drop size is in the inertial sub-range, and only eddies whose size is equal to or smaller than the drop size can cause the breakage of the drops.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [273]
Prince and Blanch [273] report that the model of Coulaloglou and Tavlarides [244] delivers break-up rates that are several orders of magnitude smaller than their experimental results, and claim that Coulaloglou and Tavlarides did not take the density of the liquid phase into account.
“However, they report that the model of Coulaloglou and Tavlarides [244] delivers break-up rates that are several orders of magnitude smaller than their experimental results [273]. Prince and Blanch claim that Coulaloglou and Tavlarides did not take the density of the liquid phase into account.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [273]
Prince and Blanch [273] assume that bubble breakage occurs due to the interaction between turbulent eddies and bubbles, and that eddies whose size is equal to or slightly smaller than bubble size can cause the breakage of bubbles, while larger eddies are only responsible for the transport of bubbles and very small eddies do not have enough energy to break bubbles.
“Their idea is that bubble breakage occurs due to the interaction between turbulent eddies and bubbles, and they also assume that eddies whose size is equal to or slightly smaller than bubble size can cause the breakage of bubbles. Larger eddies are only responsible for the transport of bubbles and very small eddies do not have enough energy to break bubbles.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [273]
Prince and Blanch [273] assume that coalescence of two bubbles in turbulent flows occurs in three steps: bubbles collide retaining liquid, liquid drains until critical thickness, and coalescence occurs when the film breaks.
“Prince and Blanch [273] assume that the coalescence of two bubbles in turbulent flows occurs in three steps. First, bubbles collide thereby retaining a small amount of liquid between them. Second, this liquid drains until the thickness of the liquid film that separates the two bubbles reaches a critical value. Finally, bubble coalescence occurs when the liquid film is so thin that it breaks.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [273]
Prince and Blanch [273] hypothesize that turbulence is isotropic and bubble size lies in the inertial subrange.
“Besides, it is also hypothesized that turbulence is isotropic and bubble size lies in the inertial subrange [273].”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [273]
In Prince and Blanch [273], collisions of bubbles may occur due to turbulence, buoyancy, and laminar shear.
“Collisions of bubbles may occur due to turbulence, buoyancy, and laminar shear.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [273]
Prince and Blanch [273] assume that only eddies much larger than the bubble size transport bubbles, while very small eddies do not have sufficient energy to affect bubble motion.
“Analogously to their breakup model, they assume that only eddies whose size is much larger than the bubble size transport bubbles, while very small eddies do not have sufficient energy to affect bubble motion.”
From Modeling and Simulation of Photobioreactors with Computational Fluid Dynamics—A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [273]
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- Authors
- Prince, M. J., & Blanch, H. W.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
- Venue
- AIChE Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1990-10
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1485-1499
- ISSN
- 0001-1541 (ISSN-L)
- 1547-5905
- OpenAlex
- W2068995669
- Cited by
- 1,238
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 67 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 42
- FWCI
- 6.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- AIChE Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Fluid Dynamics and Mixing
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Computational Mechanics › Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
- Keywords
- bubble coalescence, bubble breakup, coalescence efficiency, bubble collisions, buoyancy, laminar shear, turbulent eddies, Monte Carlo simulation, bubble size distribution
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