Multi-scale modeling of dispersed gas-liquid two-phase flows

Abstract

In this work the status of computational modeling of bubbly flows is reviewed. The theory of four different models is introduced and typical examples are given illustrating the capabilities of these models. The volume of fluid model and the front tracking model are used to investigate the behavior of individual bubbles. It is found that both models are well suited to investigate the shape and transient behavior of individual bubbles. An Euler-Lagrange model is used to simulate the flow in a lab-scale bubble column, accounting for coalescence and break-up. The predicted bubble size distributions show reasonable agreement with experiments. However, better break-up models are necessary for further improvement. Finally an Euler-Euler model is used to simulate the flow in a lab-scale bubble column. It is shown that the use of a proper drag model is vital for accurate prediction of the bubble column dynamic