Modeling Bubbly-Cap Flows Using Two-Group Average Bubble Number Density

Abstract

The basic concept of two-group average bubble number density equations along with three-fluid model has been demonstrated for vertical gas-liquid flow. Specifically, the current study focused on: (i) classification of bubble interaction between spherical bubbles (Group-1) and cap bubbles (Group-2), (ii) preliminary consideration of source and sink terms in the averaged bubble number density equations via the model of Hibiki and Ishii [1] and (iii) assessment by means of experimental data sets at bubbly-to-cap flow transition. Reasonable agreement was achieved between measured and predicted distributions of void fraction, interfacial area concentration (IAC) and volume equivalent bubble diameter.