The Bubbly Flow pattern:

This distribution is characterised by a suspension of discrete bubbles in continuous liquid as

shown in the following figure.

Dispersed
Gas Bubble

Continuous
liquid medium

Engineering applications include bubble columns for promoting mass transfer, high pressure
evaporators, flash distillation columns etc.
It is noted that the bubbles exhibit a drift relative to the continuous phase at low velocities. The
relative motion reduces as we increase the mixture velocity and at high phase velocities, the
two phases present a uniform homogenous appearance with a dense dispersion of fine bubbles
which travel at the same velocity as the continuous liquid medium. The bubbly mixture under
these conditions can be analysed by the homogenous flow model while at lower phase
velocities, when there is substantial relative motion between the phases, the drift flux model is
a better approximation. We further note that the wall shear and momentum fluxes can be
neglected at low phase velocities when drift flux model is suitable but have a significant
contribution at high fluid flow when the homogenous flow model is accurate. Thus even the
entire range of the relatively simple bubbly flow cannot be analysed by a unified model and
this has often prompted researchers to distinguish the two types as “dispersed bubbly” flow at
high mixture velocities under no-slip condition and “bubbly” flow at low phase flow rates.
8.1.2 The analysis for dispersed bubbly flow:
As mentioned earlier both friction and momentum effects are important under these conditions,
and the homogenous flow analysis gives:

 dp  dp dp dp
−   = (− ) f + (− ) g + (− ) ace
 dz  dz dz dz

dp 2f G j
Where (− ) f = TP TP TP
dz D

2 wTP  GD 
f TP = = fn 
Gj   TP 

TP =  l (1 +  ) for   0.05 (5.23)

Eqn (5.23) is applicable at low Reynolds number when the bubbly mixture in laminar flow is
Newtonian. At higher bubble concentration, the mixture rapidly becomes non-Newtonian and
exhibits a yield stress, a decreasing apparent viscosity with increasing shear rate, etc. Foams
exhibit considerable rigidity at high void fraction and bubbles behave like atoms in a crystal.
The influence of  on TP is also enhanced in contaminated liquids due to tendency of bubbles
to behave as solid spheres. For turbulent flow, we can use liquid viscosity in Reynolds number
and employ single phase flow correlations. fTP can be taken as 0.005 for Reynolds number ≤
105 . The remaining analysis can be performed using homogeneous model.

8.1.3 The analysis for bubbly flow at low mixture velocities:

If component fluxes are not very large compared to drift flux, the in-situ velocities can be
expressed as:
j1 j2
u1 = , u2 =
1− 
j2 − j21
Where  =
jTP

j1 + j 21
And (1 −  ) =
j

j1 j
This gives u1 = = TP
j1 + j21 j
1 + 21
jTP j1

jTP
u2 =
j
1 − 21
j2

And the momentum flux = G1u1 + G2u2

 j G j G
[ TP 1 + TP 2 ]
j21 j
1+ 1 − 21
j1 j2
G G2
= jTP [ 1 + ]
j21 j21
1+ 1−
j1 j2

Thus, in order to predict void fraction, momentum flux and pressure drop, one need to have an
estimation of j 21 . As mentioned in chapter 6, j 21 can be expressed as

j 21 = u  (1 −  ) n (6.37)

In equation (6.37) u is the velocity of a single bubble in an infinite medium and n is a constant
based on a suitably defined Reynolds number. From the aforementioned discussion, it is
evident that bubbly flow analysis needs a prior estimate of u and n. Since the past literature
reveals bubbles with a wide variation of size and shape to exhibit different rise velocities in
infinite medium, a unique value of u and n cannot be used for the entire range of bubbly flow.
For example, the smallest bubbles which are approximately perfect spheres due to dominant
effect of surface tension on their shape, have u from Stokes law as

1 d g ( f −  g )
2

u = (8.1)
18 l

This is also valid for solid spheres and is applicable for bubbles when it is assumed that liquid
velocity goes to zero at bubble surface. For fluid spheres containing liquid with viscosity  L 2
and having a completely non rigid surface

d 2 g (  L1 −  L 2 ) 3 L 2 + 3 L1
u = (8.2)
18 L1 3 L 2 + 2 L1

d 2 g (  L1 −  L 2 )
If L 2  L1 u = (8.3)
12 L1

in the complete absence of impurities which tend to collect at bubble surface and give a certain
resistance to shear stress. Generally, in most practical cases some contamination is present and
u lies between the values given by eqns (8.1) and (8.3).

Again, when bubbles are very large, the effect of surface tension and viscosity is negligible and
u can be expressed as:

2
u = gRc (8.4)
3
Where Rc is the radius of curvature in the region of bubble nose.
In terms of volume of gas in bubble, eqn (8.4) becomes
u = 0.79( gVb
1/ 3 1/ 2
) (8.5)

when the shape of the bubble is approximately a spherical cap with an included angle  100 
and a relative flat tail.
An alternate definition of equivalent radius is Rb which is the radius the bubble would have if
it were spherical. Accordingly,

( Rb ) = (  )1 / 3 (Vb ) 3
4 1
(8.6)
3
Which gives:
4 4
u = 0.79( gVb1/3 )1/2 = 0.79[ g (  )1/3 Rb ]1/2 =0.79(  )1 / 6 = 1.00 gRb (8.7)
3 3
For bubbles of intermediate size, the effects of a) surface tension b) liquid inertia c) viscosity
d) cleanliness e) and whether bubbles rise in straight lines or describe a spiral path or oscillate
are important and needs to be accounted for.
For this, several correlations are available. The range of applicability of each equation is
determined in terms of dimensionless groups (proposed by Peebles and Garber) and expresses
rise velocity and n for the different ranges as presented in Table 8.1.

2  f u  Rb g f gRb u  f
4 4 4 3

Re b = ; G1 = ; G2 =
f  f 3 3

Table 8.1 : u and n for different ranges of bubbly flow

Terminal Velocity Range of Applicability n

2 Rb ( f −  g )g
Region 1 u = Re b  2 2
9 f

0.52
f 
Region 2 u  = .33 g 0.76   Rb1.28 2< Re b  4.02G1−2.214 1.75
 
 f 

0 .5 4.02G1−0.214  Re b  3.10G1−0.25
  
Region 3 u  = 1.35  or
 R 
 f b  16.32G1−0.25  G2  5.75

0.25
 g 
Region 4 u  = 1.18  3.10 G1
−0.25
 Re b 1.5
 
 f 
 5.75< G2

1/ 2
  
Region 5 u  = 1.184 (gRb ) f Rb  2
 g


0
 f 

In region 4, a better value of the constant for gas-liquid systems is 1.53. In this region, the
terminal velocity is independent of bubble size. Region 5 is the transition region between
bubbly and slug flow. In this region the three dimensional effects become important and there
is significant entrainment of bubble in each other’s wake. Due to streamlining/channelling, the
relative velocity increases with increase in number of bubbles and the value of n reduces from
unity. The region is commonly termed as “churn-turbulent “bubbly flow.

From the table, an estimate of u and n needs knowledge of equivalent bubble radius R b which
is the radius of a sphere with the same volume as the bubble.
It is noted that R b is a function of the way the bubbles are formed. Accordingly, different
expressions of R b depending on the source of bubble formation is mentioned below

Bubble formation at a circular orifice facing upward in a stationary fluid:

• Assuming an approximately spherical bubble of radius Rb attached to an orifice of

radius Ro by a cylindrical neck, the dimension of the largest bubble which can be in
static equilibrium is expressed as:

Rb 3 g ( f −  g ) = 2R0
4
(8.8)
3

• Radius of bubble formed by blowing through-small orifice at low flow rates is

1/ 3
 3R0 
approximated as: Rb   
 2 g ( f −  g )
(8.9)

• A more accurate version derived from experimental data gives:

1/ 3
 R0 
Rb  1.0  
 g ( f −  g )
(8.10)

For bubbles formed at a finite rate, many other factors namely liquid and gas properties, details
of orifice design, gas supply, etc. become important. When gas flow rate through orifice is
increased, bubble size at first increases since the bubble takes a finite time to break from the
orifice after reaching size given by equation (8.10). For a system in which flow rate through
orifice is carefully maintained, the constant bubble size at departure is predicted by knowing
the time for which the bubble remains attached to the orifice. This time calculated from
equation of motion of rising bubble gives the volume of a bubble at detachment in an inviscid
6/5
Qg
liquid as: Vb = 1.138 3 / 5 (8.11)
g

Where Q g is the gas volumetric flow rate through orifice

In viscous liquids

4 1 / 4 15 l Q g
Vb = ( ) [ ]3 / 4 (8.12)
3 2g (l −  g )

For very large gas velocity, bubbles no longer form individually but gas leaves orifice as a jet
which eventually breaks into individual bubble. The condition for formation of gas jet is then
given by:

ug g 
 1.25[ ]1 / 2 (8.13)
g (  l −  g ) 1/ 4
g (  l −  g ) Ro
2

ug = gas velocity through orifice

Generally, bubbles formed in this way have R b =2Ro

In commercial applications bubbles are not formed at a single orifice but a group of orifices or
a porous plate. Then single orifice theory is useful only as a first approximation.

Formation of bubble by Taylor instability:

• For bubbles formed by detachment from blanket of gas or vapour over a porous or
1/ 2
  
heated surface, Rb   
 g ( f −  g )
(8.14)

• Although the formation is not identical with “Taylor instability” of a fluid below a
denser fluid, the physics is similar and the bubble is scaled by the same dimensionless
parameter
• This is particularly important to describe film boiling

Formation by evaporation or mass transfer:

• Bubbles are formed by evaporation of surrounding liquid or release of gases dissolved

in liquid.
 • Bubbles form around nucleation centres which are impurities in fluids and pits,
scratches and cavities on wall.
• The equivalent diameter of the bubble D b just large enough to break away from a
horizontal surface is given by:
1/ 2
 R0 
Db  0.208  
 g ( f −  g )
(8.15)

Where  is the contact angle in degrees

• This is valid only for the quasi-static case and not for bubbles formed during boiling.

Influence of shear stress:

• In forced convection or mechanically agitated systems, the bubble size is determined

by shear stress which determines the size of bubbles which form away from the point
of formation as well as the maximum bubble size which is stable in flow.
• A balance between surface tension forces and fluid stresses i.e. a suitably defined
Weber number determines bubble size. The maximum bubble size stable in flow is then
given by:
3/5
  P
−2 / 5

d b = 0.725    , (8.16)
  m
 f 

P
Where is the mechanical power dissipated per unit mass.
m

Influence of containing walls:

When bubbles rise in a finite vessel, its velocity is generally lower than predicted from Table
8.1 or

ub  u

ub db
In a tube of diameter D, = fn
u D
The functional form varies with bubble characteristics. In region 5 where the large bubbles in
inviscid liquid behave like slug flow bubbles, the functional forms are as follows (Wallis,
1969):

• d/D < 0.125 , ub /u∞ =1 (8.17a)

• 0.125 < d/D < 0.6 , ub /u∞ =1.13 e -d/D (8.17b)

• 0.6 < d/D , ub /u∞ =0.496 (d/D) -1/2 (8.17c)

In viscous fluids for bubbles behaving as solid spheres:

ub /u∞ = [1+2.4(d/D)] -1 (8.18)

And for fluid spheres when µg << µf:

ub /u∞= [1+1.6(d/D)] -1 (8.19)

If d/D > 0.6, the bubbles behave as slug flow bubbles and obey the equation

ub /u∞ =0.12 (d/D) -2 (8.20)

A reasonable fit to eqn (8.19) which is tangential to eqn (8.20) at d/D = 0.6 is

ub/u∞ = 1-(d/D)/0.9 (8.21)

This may be used to estimate ub for d/D < 0.6.

Influence of Vibrations:

If bubble is placed in a vertical vibrating column, it experiences a downward force opposing

gravity. If circumstances are suitable, then the bubble can be oscillated steadily about a mean
stationary position or even forced to move downward.