Numerical Simulation of Inertial Entrainment Phenomenon

Abstract

Entrainment is the process of movement of one fluid in another due to the presence of a driving force. Entrainment process can be seen both in natural and artificial events. Cyclonic winds and weather storms include stratified layers of air and water phases. In the present thesis, a three phase system is considered, consisting of two immiscible liquids and a gas bubble. Numerical studies have been carried out to find out the strength of inertial entrainment before detachment of bubbles. Wide range of size of air bubbles are considered as the driving factor for entrainment. The objective of the present work is to study how bubble diameter effects the height of entrainment and flow patterns. Two different fluid pairs are considered and their mutual merits and demerits for controlling entrainment are discussed. 2D numerical analysis is done using commercial CFD software Fluent in ANSYS.