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Related Experiment Video

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Impacts of Free-falling Spheres on a Deep Liquid Pool with Altered Fluid and Impactor Surface Conditions

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Published on: February 17, 2019

Bubble bouncing at a clean water surface.

Jan Zawala¹, Stéphane Dorbolo, Nicolas Vandewalle

¹Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Niezapominajek 8, 30-239, Krakow, Poland. ikifp@cyf-kr.edu.pl nczawala@cyfronet.pl.

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP

|September 12, 2013

Summary

Bubble deformation influences whether bubbles coalesce or bounce upon impact with a water surface. External energy, like vibrations, can create "immortal" bubbles by sustaining deformation and preventing coalescence.

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Area of Science:

Fluid dynamics
Surface science
Colloid science

Background:

Bubble-interface interactions are fundamental in multiphase flow systems.
Understanding bubble coalescence and bouncing is crucial for processes like foaming and emulsification.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the factors governing bubble coalescence and bouncing at a distilled water/air interface.
To explore the role of bubble deformation and liquid film dynamics in these interactions.
To examine the effect of interface vibrations on bubble stability and the formation of persistent bubbles.

Main Methods:

Experiments were conducted on submillimeter bubbles colliding with a static or vertically vibrating distilled water/air interface.
Bubble impact velocity, size, and interface vibration parameters (amplitude, frequency) were controlled.
Observations focused on bubble deformation, liquid film formation, and the resulting collision outcome (coalescence or bounce).

Main Results:

Bubble collision outcome (coalescence or bounce) is dependent on impact velocity and bubble size, which dictate bubble deformation.
Sufficient bubble deformation on a static interface leads to bouncing due to a liquid film radius too large for rupture.
Coalescence occurs below a deformation threshold due to kinetic energy dissipation.
Interface vibrations can sustain bubble deformation, leading to the phenomenon of "immortal" bubbles that persist indefinitely.

Conclusions:

Bubble deformation and the resulting liquid film size are critical factors determining coalescence or bouncing.
External energy input, such as interface vibrations, can overcome energy dissipation and promote bubble stability.
"Immortal" bubble formation is attributed to sustained high bubble deformation and a sufficiently large liquid film radius.