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A GENERALIZED BUBBLE RISE VELOCITY CORRELATION

a
M.E. ABOU-EL-HASSAN
a
Chemical Engineering Department, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Published online: 27 Apr 2007.

To cite this article: M.E. ABOU-EL-HASSAN (1983): A GENERALIZED BUBBLE RISE VELOCITY CORRELATION, Chemical Engineering
Communications, 22:3-4, 243-250

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 Chem. Eng. Commun. Vol. 22 pp. 243-250 Gordon and Breach, Science Publishers, Inc., 1983
0098-6445/83/2203-0243SI8.50/0 Printed in the U.S.A.

A GENERALIZED BUBBLE RISE VELOCITY

CORRELATION
M.E. ABOU-EL-HASSAN
Chemical Engineering Department, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
(Received January 29,1982: in final form Decemher 29,1982)

A generalized bubble rise velocity correlation is developed to cover the range of conditions:
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liquid-phase density = 45.1 to 74.7 Ib/ft',

liquid-phase viscosity = 0.233 to 59 cP., and
interfacial tension = 15 to 72 dynes/em.
The gas-phase is air and the bubble size ranged from 1.2 to 15 mm. The developed correlation is based upon
new dimensionless groups which contain the parameters affecting bubble rise velocity as well as their
interaction. The correlation is independent of flow regimes and applicable for Reynolds numbers from 0.1 to
104 . It is in good agreement with work appearing in the literature.

Previous studies 1 - lion the motion of single gas bubbles in liquids were inclined to
correlate the dala as drag coefficient (CD) versus Reynolds number (Re). Comparison
with solid sphere behaviour, Figure I, indicates that the drag coefficient and Reynolds
number may not be the best correlating parameters. To develop a generalized
correlation for bubble rise velocity the effect of the interaction of the forces: buoyancy,
viscous, inertial and interfacial tension must be included in the correlating parameters.
The direct use of the simple parameters like: density (p), density difference (L1p),
viscosity (Il), equivalent spherical diameter (d), gravity (g), and velocity (u), will lead to
the drag coefficient (CD) and the Reynolds number (Re).
Since it is common to use dimensionless parameters as force ratios, e.g. Reynolds
number is the ratio of inertial to viscous forces, and since the buoyancy force is the only
force responsible about bubble (drop or solid bodies) motion in fluids, therefore
the following force ratios will be considered: (Buoyancy/Viscous), (Buoyancy/Inertia),
and (Buoyancy/Interfacial Tension). As a result of force interaction a measure of
interaction may be taken as the geometric mean of the above three ratios, i.e.
((Buoyancy/Viscous) (Buoyancy/Inertia) (Buoyancy/Interfacial Tension))1/3 and in
equation form it is:
(g(L1p)d S / 3/ u(Plla )' /3) (I)
In order to select the basic parameters associated with bubble motion, the work
appeared in the literature was examined and the following parameters seemed to be
reasonable:
I-the bubble equivalent spherical diameter (d),
2-the kinematic viscosity of the continuous liquid phase (v),
3-a proposed physical parameter (aIl 2 ) developed from the Mendelson wave
analogy 12 and Stokes law of settling to include the interaction of the effect of
interfacial tension (a) and viscosity (Il) at the upper and lower limits of Reynolds
number.
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100 i ""'" i i i i I
'\., , ~
-I>-
'\.',
'..........
.....' So r .
...... /0'

' "-,...... ,1'.0~e

..... r
" -, e se 11 ) 11 )
0 11)
U .. " II
..... //
10 ..... ",9
>-
z
~ , " .....
ur
U IRe) c I'p u d/}J ) ~'__''''''''-_ z
LL tTl
LL
W 2 ;I>
0 rc o) - (4 g dh.p/3 P u ) CI:I
U
o 13 ) o
« c;:
0:: - - - - - Stokes law -, tTl
0 r-o
U1 :r::
W -----_Solid sphere settling
;I>
-'
'~
co CFJ
co CFJ
- - - - Air bubbles: ;I>
:::> '~
CD Z
Liquid density ~45.1-7L.. 7 I b/ f1 3 "
Liquid vi s c o s i t y -0.233-59 c ;p . ,
inter fue ial tension =15-72 dynes /em • S~
ai r bubbl e diameter =1.2-15 mm " 0+
" "',I'
Newton ian flu id s /
0,,-
0.1
0.1 10 100 1000 10000

BUBBLE REYNOLDS NUMBER IRe)

FIGURE 1 Bubble drag coefficient versus bubble Reynolds number.

 BUBBLE RISE VELOCITY 245
4-the buoyancy force per unit volume (glip), as the driving force for bubble motion,
and
5-the momentum per unit volume (pu) associated with the motion of bubble.
The above arrangement of the selected parameters have a sort of logic sequence of
events associated with bubble motion and may be introduced as such for dimensional
analysis, i.e.
rjJ(d, v,uu 2,glip,pu) = 0 (2)
and the Pi-theorem of dimensional analysis, when used, give the following dimension-
less numbers:
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(3)
and
(4)
The developed flow and velocity numbers may be written in terms of bubble
Reynolds number (Re), drag coefficient (CD) and the term of interaction (Equation (I))
as:
F = Re(Interaction Term, Equation (I)) (5)
and
v= (4/3C DHInleraction Term, Equation (I)) (6)
where: Re = (pud/Il), and CD = (4gdlip/3pu 2 )
The flow and velocity numbers were calculated from the data of the literature' -II)
for the ranges:
Liquid phase density (p) = 45.1 - 74.7Ib/ft 3,
Liquid phase viscosity (11) = 0.233 .- 59 centiPoise,
Interfacial tension (c) = 15 - 72 dynes/em.
The gas phase is air and the bubble size ranged from 1.2 to 15 mm, the bubble shape is:
spherical, oblate spheroids, and mushroom-like with spherical cap. The bubble size
(diameter) is taken as the equivalent spherical diameter (d = ((6/n) (bubble volume))'!3.
The results are plotted on a log-log pa per, Figure 2, and the data fall on a single curve.
The analytical form of a generalized correlation, Figure 3, is:
v = 0.75 (log F)2 (7)
for the above range of physical parameters t p.u,«, and d) and for: Re = 0.1 - 104 ,
CD = 0.1 - 102 , F = I - 106 , and V,= 0.1 - 40.
The above treatment, although originated from a trial-and-error procedure, was
successful to correlate:':'
I-Settling of solid spheres in Newtonian fluids,
2- Drop motion in liquids and gases,
3-Pipeline flow,
4- Flow of single-phase, Newtonian fluids in porous media,
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100 I I I I I I
 BUBBLE RISE VELOCITY 247
100
80

60 GENERAl!Z ED BUBBLE RISE VELOCI TV CORRELATION

I Air -in-liquid syst ern s I - Newtonian fluids
1.0

V 0.7S110g F}2
20

Ran g es ;
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10 3
jJ = 4S.1 - 71..7 lb/ft
8 )l = 0.233 - S9 c.P.
()'= IS - 72 dyne/cm
6 Re = 0.1 - 10000
CO= 0.1 - 100
I. 6
F 1 - 10
IV) V-0.l-1.0

Where

.P = liquid d en s i ty
0.1.
u = liquid viscosity
...sr: ~ interfacial
tension
Re= Reynolds number of
single bubble
0.2 Drag coefficient of
single bubble
F bubble f I ow number
V bubble velocity No·
0.1
0.1 0.2 0.1. 0.6 1 I. 6 8 10 20
110g F J

FIGURE 3 Generalized bubble rise velocity correlation.

5-Power of agitation (Newtonian), and

6-Blending time in agitated vessels (Newtonian).
In all the above cases, only two correlating parameters are used: the flow and the
velocity numbers, and the corresponding generalized analytical form of correlations
are developed covering the whole range of data, regardless of any flow regime. In
 248 M.E. ABOU-EL-HASSAN
general, the flow and the velocity numbers may describe the phenomenon associated
with relative motion between dispersed and continuous fluid phases, or between a fluid
phase and a solid surface (boundaries). The proposed forms of such numbers!" are:
The Flow Number (F) = ((o:gK)I/3Q/v 5/ 3) (8)
and
The Velocity Number (V) = (u2K 1{3 /(o:gV)2/3) (9)

where: 0: = (6.p'p), for motion of bubbles, drops or solid bodies in fluids,

K = (o:gd/!j2)2 (Utl/O), for bubble and drop motion in fluids.
K = I, for solid sphere settling..
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Q = therate of displacement of the continuous phase due to the motion of

bubbles, droplets or solid bodies (Q = (rr/4) d 2 u).
The other terms (g, d, u, p, {1, and v) have the same meaning as previously mentioned.
The flow number is associated with the flow (or displacement) of the continuous
phase due to motion of dispersed phase, and the velocity number is arised from the
kinetic energy created in the continuous phase due to bubble, drop or solid particles
motion. The use of such correlating parameters to describe living bodies motion, e.g.
athletic performance, is mentioned.l ' and in the presence of sufficient data one may
be able to predict athletes performance and improve scores of skills.
In fact, the development of generalized correlations associated with relative motion
between dispersoids and immiscible fluids or between fluids and solid surfaces on the
basis of a flow and a velocity numbers is possible. Phenomenon associated with relative
motion may thus be described by a compact analytical expression regardless of any
flow regime limitation. Mass transfer, heat transfer, dispersive mixing, gas holdup, and
interfacial area in multi phase contact equipment are now under investigation by the
author. The procedures of the development are no longer based on trial-and-error, but
on logical sequence of steps, so that relative motion even accompanied with chemical
reaction can be described.
In order to compare with previous investigations, a power law equation between
the flow and the velocity numbers is assumed, i.e.
VwF" (10)
or after resolving the F and V numbers into the basic parameters (g, 6.p, p, u, {1, a, d),
Equations (3) and (4), we get:
1-411 1-11 2n-2 8",-2
uw(g!'.p)" {1-3- a-3- p-3- d-3- (II)

The exponent (n) may be regarded as an index for flow regime, e.g. if /1 = I, this
corresponds to the laminar (viscous) regime where the effect of viscosity is appreciable
and of interfacial tension is negligible, and Equation (II) reduces to Stokes law of
settling. If n = 0.25, this corresponds to the turbulent regime where the effect of
viscosity becomes negligible, and Equation (II) becomes:

(12)
 BUBBLE RISE VELOCITY 249
If n = 0.4375, i.e. an intermediate value between I and 0.25, this corresponds to a
transition regime, where equation (II) gives that: UCI)jd, a result in agreement with
Haberman and Morton," Maneri and Mendelson," Davidson,' S also predictable from
the Mendelson wave analogy'? and the Davis-Taylor theory.!"
To compare with results of air bubble motion in non-Newtonian (pseudo-
plastic) fluids, 17 Equation (II) may be used and the viscosity (Il) is replaced by:
K F(n')(u/ d)n'- I, where: K is the consistency, n' is the pseudo plasticity index, and F(n')
is a correction term. Equation (II) is then rearranged to give:
3" -(4"-1) -(n-l)
LlCI)(y!J.p)J+14n 1)ln' LI(KF(n'»)J+14n l)(n' II (0")3+(4n I)(n' I)
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2("-1) (4n-l)("'+I)
(p)J+14n 1)('" I) (d)J+(4n I)(n' I) (13)

If n' = I, Equation (13) reduces to Equation (II) applicable for bubble motion in
Newtonian fluids.
If II' = 1, Equation (13) becomes:
1 -1 (n'+ 1)
uoo(g!J.p);;' (KF(n'»)7 (dl-n-' (14)

Equation (14) when rearranged reduces to the Stokes drag formula for the non-
Newtonian fluid behaviour, i.e. CDoo F(n')(pu 2 -n'd n'!K).
At large Reynolds numbers the bubble velocity (u) becomes less sensitive to
fluid rheology and for II' = 0.4375, and I ;;. II' ;;. 0.5, Equation (13) gives: uooJYci,
approximately, a result supported by the Mendelson wave analogy,'? and the
Davis-Taylor theory.!"

CONCLUSION

A generalized analytical correlation of bubble rise velocity in Newtonian fluids is

developed. The new dimensionless parameters used permitted the avoidance of regime
limitation. The treatment may be extended to describe different phenomenon as-
sociated with relative motions.

LITERATURE CITED
1. O'Brient, M.P., and Gosline, J.E.. Ind. Eng. Chem., 27, 1436 (1935).
2. Bryn, T., Forsch. Gebiete lngenieurw., 4, No.1, 27 (1933).
3. Rosenberg, B., Navy Department Report 727 (1950).
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5. Datta, R.L., Napier, D.H., and Newitt, D.M., Trans. Insrn. Chem. Engrs. (London), 28, 3 (1950).
6. Kojima, E., Akehata, T., and Shirai, T., J. Chem. Eng. Japan, 1,45 (1968).
7. Haberman. W.L., and Morton, R.K.• Trans, Am. Soc. Civil Engrs., 121, 227 (1956).
8. Maneri, c.c, and Mendetson, H.D., A.I.Ch.E.J., 14,295 (1968).
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to. Grace, J.R., Trans, lnstn. Chem. Engrs. (Lo"don), 51, 116 (1973).
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t 2. Mendelson, H.D., A.I.Ch.E.J., 13,250 (1967).
 250 M.E. ABOU-EL-HASSAN
13. Abou-El-Hassan, M.E., The First Conference on Applied Modelling and Simulation (AMSE), Lyon,
France, Sept. (1981).
14. Abou-El-Hassan, M.E., Unpublished work (in progress).
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