Influence mechanisms of several parameters on the interaction between flowing wet foam and settling particle

In practical application, many factors can influence aqueous foam structure. Due to the structural variability of bubble film in a flowing foam system containing a settling particle, the microscopic influence mechanisms of some parameters of both the foam and the particle on the interphase forces are still unclear. In this work, without considering ingredients of the foam fluid, a series of quasi-static multiphase models is built, and the interaction force between the flowing wet foam and the settling particle is firstly investigated at the bubble scale. Then we mainly focus on the parameters, including the foam quality (i.e., gas fraction of a foam), the contact angle between gas-liquid-gas and gas-liquid interfaces and the particle size, and analyze influences of these parameters on the statistical averages of the interphase forces. It shows that both the drag and the lift forces rise with the increase of each of these parameters. More importantly, the foam film and the bubble pressure components of these forces are in detail discussed based on the special structural evolution behaviors of the foam with these different parameters. This study, at the bubble scale, reveals the potential influence mechanisms of these parameters on the interaction between the settling particle and the flowing wet foam.

Automated summary

This study investigates the influence mechanisms of bubble film structure on the interaction between flowing wet foam and settling particles. A series of multiphase models are used to examine the effects of foam quality, contact angle, and particle size on interphase forces. The study finds that an increase in these parameters leads to higher drag and lift forces, and discusses the contributions of foam film and bubble pressure components to these forces.