Numerical study of coalescence and breakup in a bubble column using a hybrid volume of fluid and discrete bubble model approach

•Modeling of free surface in bubble column is done using hybrid VOF-DBM approach.•Free surface dynamics is captured in great detail in the model.•Numerical parameters are tuned using experimental data from previous studies.•A coalescence calibration factor and a critical Weber number are suggested using the study.

In this work, two powerful methods are combined for bubble column simulations namely, the volume of fluid and the discrete bubble model. While the former method takes care of the free surface, the discrete bubble model tracks and handles the dynamics of the dispersed bubbles. The hybrid model presented in this work is verified and validated with existing established experimental results. A model parameter study for bubble break-up and coalescence is performed to find the optimum values of the model parameters, i.e. the critical Weber number and the coalescence calibration factor.

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