SINGLE BUBBLE FORMATION IN HIGH-PRESSURE LIQUID-SOLID SUSPENSIONS

Bubble formation from a single nozzle is investigated analytically and experimentally in nonaqueous Liquid and liquid-solid suspensions at p ressures up to 17.3 MPa. A mechanistic model is proposed to predict th e initial bubble size in liquid-solid suspensions, by taking into acco unt the various forces affecting the bubble growth including those ind uced by the presence of the particles, such as the suspension inertial force and the particle-bubble collision force. It is found that the i nitial bubble size in the suspensions is generally larger than that in the liquid mainly due to the inertia effect of the suspension. The in itial bubble size increases with the solids holdup. The pressure has a n insignificant effect on the initial bubble size in both the liquid a nd liquid-solid suspensions under the conditions of this study. The mo del can reasonably predict the initial bubble sizes obtained in this s tudy and those reported in the literature. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.