Dynamics of a gas bubble rising in an inclined channel at finite Reynolds number

Catherine E. Norman*, Michael J. Miksis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dynamics of a gas bubble rising in an inclined channel are investigated. The solution of this free boundary problem is determined numerically by using a level set method coupled with a finite difference solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. Results are presented as a function of Reynolds number, Bond number, and angle of inclination. Steady solutions for small values of both Reynolds and Bond number are found. In an inclined channel, we find that as these parameters are increased, the bubble will either periodically bounce off of the upper wall or rupture. In a vertical channel, with increasing Bond number, the bubble first begins to oscillate periodically, and then ruptures. In a vertical channel with increasing Reynolds number, the steady solution will bifurcate to a time periodic symmetric oscillation as the bubble rises up the channel, but further increase in Reynolds number allows for solutions that are no longer symmetric and oscillate back and forth between the channel walls. Our results parallel experimental work which shows that there is a critical angle of inclination at which the dynamics changes from bouncing bubbles to steady rising bubbles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number022102
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalPhysics of Fluids
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computational Mechanics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

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