A numerical study of quasi-static gas injected bubble growth: Some aspects of gravity

In the present investigation, adiabatic gas bubble growth from a submerged orifice has been numerically simulated. The growth of the bubble is described by the full Navier-Stokes equations which have been solved by the finite-volume method using the commercial software package TransAT. The numerical simulations have been validated against detailed experimental measurements including the position of the centre of gravity, the curvature profiles and the departure volume. Subsequent to this the CFD platform was used to study some aspects of the influence of gravity level on bubble growth dynamics. In particular, the influence of gravity in the range of 0.1 <= g/g* <= 1.5 is investigated and the subsequent influence on the bubble formation and departure characteristics are discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.