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Effect of drag reducing agent on bubble formation in horizontal liquid cross-flow

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Abstract

In the present study, experiments were conducted in a rectangular mixing conduit of an effervescent atomizer to quantify the effect of addition of drag reducing agent on bubble formation from an orifice in horizontal cross-flow. Modified bubble formation behavior in horizontal liquid cross-flow after addition of drag reducing agent was investigated. Shadowgraph images of bubbles evolving at an orifice were taken using a high-speed camera; bubble size and velocity were measured. High molecular weight cationic polyacrylamide was used as a drag reducing agent. Increase in the size of bubble with increase in concentration was observed. Particle image velocimetry in the upstream flow with drag reducing agent provided velocity profile and turbulence characteristics showing of the role of mean flow on increasing the bubble size.

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Abbreviations

DRA:

Drag reducing agent

LDV:

Laser doppler velocimetry

PIV:

Particle image velocimetry

rms:

Root mean square

wppm:

Weight parts per million

LPS:

Litres per second

SLPM:

Standard liter per minute

y :

Distance across the channel (mm)

x :

Distance along the channel (mm)

Q l :

Liquid flow rate (L/s)

U :

Bulk velocity (m/s) \([U = Q_{l} /{\text{Cross-sectional Area of Conduit}}* 1000]\)

v x :

Streamwise velocity (m/s)

v y :

Spanwise velocity (m/s)

\(v_{x}^{\prime }\) :

Streamwise velocity fluctuations (m/s)

\(v_{y}^{\prime }\) :

Spanwise velocity fluctuations (m/s)

|v′| :

Magnitude of velocity fluctuations (m/s) \(\left[ {|v^{{\prime }} | = \sqrt {\left( {v_{x}^{{\prime }} } \right)^{2} + \left( {v_{y}^{{\prime }} } \right)^{2} } } \right]\)

d :

Channel hydraulic diameter (mm)

d b :

Bubble diameter (mm)

d o :

Orifice diameter (mm)

ρ l :

Liquid density (kg/m3)

σ :

Surface tension (N/m)

C D :

Drag coefficient

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G8, Canada

    Pallavi Bhambri, Debjyoti Sen & Brian Fleck

  2. Department of Polymer and Process Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India

    Pallavi Bhambri & Yuvraj Singh Negi

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  1. Pallavi Bhambri
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  2. Debjyoti Sen
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  3. Yuvraj Singh Negi
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  4. Brian Fleck
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Correspondence to Pallavi Bhambri.

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Bhambri, P., Sen, D., Negi, Y.S. et al. Effect of drag reducing agent on bubble formation in horizontal liquid cross-flow. J Vis 19, 225–235 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-015-0315-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-015-0315-9

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