Bubble Nucleation and Growth of Dissolved Gas in Solution Flowing across a Cavitating Nozzle

Abstract:

Computational modelling of dissolved gas bubble formation and growth in supersaturated solution is essential for various engineering applications, including flash vaporisation of petroleum crude oil. The common mathematical modelling of bubbly flow only caters for single liquid and its vapour, which is known as cavitation. This work aims to simulate the bubble nucleation and growth of dissolved CO₂ in water across a cavitating nozzle. The dynamics of bubble nucleation and growth phenomenon will be predicted based on the hydrodynamics in the computational domain. The complex interrelated bubble dynamics, mass transfer and hydrodynamics was coupled by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and bubble nucleation and growth model. Generally, the bubbles nucleate at the throat of the nozzle and grow along with the flow. Therefore, only the region after the throat of the nozzle has bubbles. This approach is expected to be useful for various types of bubbly flow modelling in supersaturated condition.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 773-774)
• Pages: 304-308
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.773-774.304
• Online since: July 2015
• Authors: Zhen Hong Ban, Kok Keong Lau*, Mohd Sharif Azmi
• Keywords: Bubble Formation, Nozzle, Supersaturated

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