Mechanism of Bursting Taylor Bubbles at Free Surfaces

Collapse of a Taylor bubble inside a pipe at the free surface of a liquid is studied experimentally using speed imaging camera and illumination and subsequent image analysis. Three different fluids, water, glycerin, and silicone oil, are employed in the experiments. For all conditions studied herein, the bubble punctures at the free surface to form two thin films, i.e., one covering the cross-section of the tube near the free surface and one along the tube wall in the vertical direction. Surface tension acts to collapse the first film, which widens the punctured hole in the outward radial direction, thereby feeding the liquid in the vertical film. After the shrinking of the radial film, gravity causes the collapse of the vertical film, which generates a tiny jet of liquid at the end of collapse. Experiments with different fluids show a drastic change in shape and thickness of the vertical film that leads to higher drainage time. Analysis of time scale for the drainage of the horizontal film exhibits a favorable match with experiments. Finally, evolution of the vertical film is analyzed using a simple hydrodynamic model to estimate the order magnitude of time taken to collapse, which compares well with processed image data from experiments.