Hydrodynamics of bubble-particle interactions under liquid circulation
The project deals with bubble-particle interactions under liquid circulation. Theoretical description exists only for small particle-large bubble interactions, used in mineral flotation. If the objects proportion is inverted, the mechanism of interaction is no longer fully understood. Thus, the objectives of the project are to study: i) small bubble-large particle interactions under liquid circulation and ii) interaction of more bubbles with a particle and formation of stable bubbles-particle aggregate. For the first, bubble trajectory, velocity, momentum and deformation during impact will be obtained by high speed camera visualization and the liquid velocity flow field will be measured by PIV. For the second, the maximum gas volume able to attach to the particle surface and the conditions under which the particle starts to float to the liquid free level will be characterized. These experimental data will create a base for theoretical description of bubble-particle interactions.