Analysis of bubble management at different gravity levels by means of an acoustic field

Multiphase flows management is a major challenge in many space applications given the different gravity levels involved. While many of the numerical investigations of liquid-gas phenomena deal with the radial bubble behavior and thus the heat exchange, only a few studies have been conducted on the t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Huber, Felix, Garcia Sabaté, Anna, Legendre, Dominique, González Cinca, Ricardo|||0000-0003-3920-9103
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/352721
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/352721
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2021.103733
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Bubbles
Acoustic surface wave devices
Sound-waves
Bubble dynamics
Acoustics
Microgravity
Hypergravity
Levitation
Bombolles
Dispositius d'ones acústiques de superfície
Ones sonores
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Física::Termodinàmica
Descripción
Sumario:Multiphase flows management is a major challenge in many space applications given the different gravity levels involved. While many of the numerical investigations of liquid-gas phenomena deal with the radial bubble behavior and thus the heat exchange, only a few studies have been conducted on the translational motion of bubbles. We present a numerical investigation of the translational motion of gas bubbles immersed in a liquid that is subject to an acoustic wave at different gravity levels. In the computation, the equations for radial oscillation and translational motion are solved simultaneously. The dynamics of bubbles at different gravity levels (from microgravity to hypergravity) are discussed. Bubbles can be trapped by the acoustic wave at levitation positions in different scenarios. The dependence of the levitation position on the initial bubble position at different pressure amplitudes has been computed, giving rise to the bubble being directed to different nodes of the acoustic wave. The bubble radius also determines if and where the bubble levitates. We propose an analytical criterion for the capture of bubbles in a levitation position in terms of a new dimensionless parameter. The criterion is based on the balance between the average acoustic force and the buoyancy force. With the proposed criterion, the position of bubble levitation can be calculated analytically for any scenario.