Capacitance wire mesh imaging of bubbly flows for offshore treatment applications

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Gnouyaro P. Assima - , Université Laval (Author)
  • Faïçal Larachi - , Université Laval (Author)
  • Eckhard Schleicher - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Markus Schubert - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)

Abstract

The impact of ship motion on bubbly flow was emulated using a swell simulator to expose flow structure changes emerging in bubble columns relevant to offshore floating applications. Roll, roll+pitch, yaw, heave and sway were implemented at various frequencies and changes in bubbly flow resulting from the imposed motions were monitored for the first time by means of a dual capacitance wire mesh sensor to measure local gas holdup and velocity. Visualizations of the two-phase flow revealed that roll, roll+pitch, and high-frequency sway were the most impactful in terms of bubble zigzag and swirl, and bubble-clustering and segregation due to vessel dynamic inclinations. As a consequence of these motions, lateral migration of bubbles and their clustering enhanced liquid recirculation and local streamwise gas velocity. Compared to static vertical bubble column, bubbly flow pattern was barely altered by yaw and low-frequency sway except the heave displacements which tended to slowdown the bubble rise.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)298-307
Number of pages10
JournalFlow measurement and instrumentation
Volume45
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2015
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • Bubble column, Gas holdup, Gas interstitial velocity, Marine applications, Swell simulator, Wire mesh capacitance sensor