Three-dimensional velocity vector determination algorithm for individual bubble identified with Wire-Mesh Sensors

Abstract

The bubble pairing scheme was devised to quantify three-dimensional velocity of each bubble. We used two sets of Wire-Mesh Sensors to identify locations of each bubble according to bubble identification algorithm, which was developed by HZDR. The devised scheme was applied to the vertical upward air-water flow at 0.64 m/s for both air and water superficial velocities in a large diameter pipe (i.d. 224 mm). The bubble pairing scheme visualized the developing process of two-phase flow: large bubbles coalesced with each other to move toward the center, while the rest of bubbles broke up into smaller bubbles and decelerated.