Abstract

Introduction: Bubble rising behavior in shear-thinning liquids was simulated using a volume of fluid (VOF) method.

Method: The authors conducted a detailed analysis of the effects of bubble diameter D, inelastic relaxation time (λ), and rheological index (n) on bubble deformation and flow fields.

Result: The results indicated that bubble diameter significantly affects bubble dynamics. Bubble terminal velocity tends to stabilize within a certain diameter range rather than continuously increasing with an increase in bubble diameter, and this trend is particularly noticeable when the shearthinning effect of liquid is strong— with an increase in λ, the region and degree of a decrease in apparent viscosity increase, causing bubble deformation and terminal velocity to increase. A reduction in n leads to an increase in bubble terminal velocity and deformation degree.

Conclusion: These findings have potential implications for patent applications in industrial fields involving shear-thinning liquids containing bubbles.

Keywords: Shear-thinning liquids, Bubble dynamics, Bubble diameter, Numerical simulation.