Study of interactions between liquid vortices and bubbles by simultaneous particle image velocimetry and laser-induced fluorescence tracking

Extensive experimental research has been conducted using the particle image velocimetry (PIV), laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) imaging and backlit photographic recordings to study the complex interactions between coherent vortex structures created in the shear layer of jets and the bubbles. Triggering of the naturally-developing instabilities of the shear layer by a thin, pulsed annular flow surrounding the jets allowed the creation of large, orderly structures with controllable frequency and phase. Synchronization of the triggering with data acquisition permitted phase averaging of the data and revealed several interesting phenomena. In particular, the evolution of large vortices and bubble fields could be tracked and the interactions could be studied. The horizontal and vertical velocity components of the liquid and bubble fields and the vertical velocity of both the vortex and bubble rings that were created were measured by the PIV. LIF and image recordings have been combined to visualize bubble trapping inside large eddy structures.