The Effect of Bubbles on Particle Migration in Non-Newtonian Fluids

• Main Authors: Jie Shan, Xiaojun Zhou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Separations
• Subjects: hydrodynamics; non-Newtonian fluid; bubble; particle migration; extended DLVO
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/8/4/36

The movement of the gas–liquid interface caused by the movement of the bubble position will have an impact on the starting conditions for particle migration. This article quantifies the influence of moving bubbles on the starting conditions of particle migration in non-Newtonian fluids, and it aims to better understand the influence of bubbles moving in non-Newtonian fluids on particle migration to achieve more effective control. First, the forces and moments acting on the particles are analyzed; then, fluid dynamics, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, extended DLVO (Derjaguin Landau Verwey Overbeek theory), surface tension, and friction are applied on the combined effects of particle migration. Then, we reasonably predict the influence of gas–liquid interface movement on particle migration in non-Newtonian fluids. The theoretical results show that the movement of the gas–liquid interface in non-Newtonian fluids will increase the separation force acting on the particles, which will lead to particle migration. Second, we carry out the particle migration experiment of moving bubbles in non-Newtonian fluid. Experiments show that when the solid–liquid two-phase flow is originally stable, particle migration occurs after the bubble movement is added. This phenomenon shows that the non-Newtonian fluid with bubble motion has stronger particle migration ability. Although there are some errors, the experimental results basically support the theoretical data.