Numerical analysis of bubbly flow in a channel with backward step

The bubbly flow is observed in many places, such as, nuclear power plants, chemical plants, bio-reactors, ocean. The bubbly mixture, which has uniform size and number density initially, is analyzed theoretically and numerically by a considerable number of researchers. In this paper the bubbly mixture flow in the channel with a backward step is investigated numerically. The governing equations for the bubbly flow are formulated with emphasis on the radial and transversal motions of the bubbles. And a numerical method is developed. The numerical results under several conditions reveal that the relative motions of the bubbles to the surrounding liquid have significant influences on the characteristics of the bubbly flow.