Numerical study of the three-dimensional structure of a bubble plume

The whole behavior and the mic ro scale flow characteristics of a three-dim ensional bubble plume are investigated numerically. The bubble plume drives liquid convection in a rank due to strong local two-phase interaction so t hat the Eulerian-Lagrangian model is formulated with emphasis on the transl ational motions of the bubble. In this model, each bubble motion is tracked in a bubbly mixture which is treated as a continuum. The three-dimensional numerical results reveal several particular structures, such as swaying an d swirling structures of the bubble plume. These simulated flow structures show qualitatively good agreement with the experimental observations. Furth ermore, the detailed behavior in the bubble plume is clarified by various a nalysis to discuss the dominant factors causing such the strong three-dimen sionality.