Study of air bubble dynamics in an air column using CFD

Abstract

The energy used for biological process in a wastewater treatment plant depends on aeration equipment and hydraulic parameters in aeration tank. Gas bubbles flow into bioreactor determines an extra turbulence into the mixture. This paper presents the results obtained using the volume of fluid (VOF) mathematical model to determine the velocities generated by bubbles into an upward flow air-water mixture in a column of water. Also, it was identified vertexes center in the ascending air bubbles movement and the number and the diameter of the bubbles were determined. The theoretical results were compared to experimental and theoretical data from the literature and it was found a good correlation.