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Effect of compressibility in bubble formation in closed systems
K S Glavatskiy1, D Reguera, D Bedeaux
1Department of Chemistry, NO 7491, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|June 8, 2013
Summary
Small bubbles have a minimum stable size due to liquid compressibility, creating a density range without stable bubbles. This impacts cavitation and boiling phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Fluid Dynamics
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Understanding bubble dynamics is crucial for processes like cavitation and boiling.
- Previous models often assumed incompressible liquids, potentially limiting accuracy for small bubble stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the stability of small bubbles in a closed system.
- To determine the existence of a minimum stable bubble size.
- To explore the role of liquid compressibility in bubble formation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of bubble stability in a closed system with fixed volume, temperature, and molecular count.
- Development of a "modified bubble" model incorporating capillary effects.
- Mathematical modeling to illustrate the relationship between compressibility and minimum bubble size.
Main Results:
- A minimum stable size for small bubbles was identified.
- A density range was found where stable bubbles cannot exist.
- The system can exhibit homogeneous density lower than liquid coexistence density.
- Finite liquid compressibility is essential for the existence of a minimum bubble size.
Conclusions:
- The finite compressibility of liquids dictates a minimum stable bubble size.
- This finding challenges assumptions in models of incompressible fluids.
- The results have significant implications for understanding and predicting cavitation and boiling.
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