Mass-Transfer Control With Microbubbles in Highly Turbulent Decaying Flows

Abstract

We hypothesize that combining extreme turbulence with a minute reduction in surface tension $\sigma$ (surface tension of the liquid) using surfactant provides a simple and scalable route for controlling micron scale bubble size in gas--liquid systems. To test this, we generate high-intensity turbulence using a multiphase pump [turbulent intensity $\ge 40\%$; Taylor Reynolds number $Re_\lambda=\mathcal{O}(10^3)$; bulk Reynolds number $Re=\mathcal{O}(10^5)$] feeding a straight duct, which produces a decaying turbulent flow where, without additives, bubble coalescence dominates and causes monotonic downstream growth in the mean diameter $d_\mathrm{avg}$ of the bubbles. This growth is governed by the turbulent dissipation rate $\varepsilon$. High-speed imaging, back-lit shadowgraph and particle shadow velocimetry (PSV) quantify bubble statistics ($d_\mathrm{avg}$, and the bubble-size distribution) and turbulence metrics (turbulent kinetic energy $k$, turbulence intensity $\mathcal{I}$, and dissipation rate $\varepsilon$). We then introduce a minute amount ($\sim 0.01\%$ critical micelle concentration) of additive that produces a slight reduction in $\sigma$, used here only as an interfacial tuning knob because the same change in surface tension can be achieved with non surface active agents. This small decrease in $\sigma$ enhances breakup, slightly suppresses coalescence, and makes smaller bubbles more breakup prone, resulting in reduced $d_\mathrm{avg}$ and a narrower bubble-size distribution. Turbulence statistics remain unchanged within experimental uncertainty, indicating that the effect arises entirely from interface rather than hydrodynamic changes. Overall, combining extreme turbulence with a minute reduction in surface tension offers a low complexity and tunable lever for setting bubble-size distributions and intensifying mass transfer in industrial multiphase flows.