An Empirical Correlation of Drag Coefficient for a Single Bubble Rising in Non-Newtonian Liquids

Abstract

The motion of a single bubble rising unsteadily and steadily in a quiescent non-Newtonian liquid was investigated experimentally. By using a charged coupled device camera to follow the rising bubble, the sequences of the recorded frames were digitized and analyzed using image analysis software, and the measurements of the acceleration and steady motion of bubbles were obtained. Using the experimental data, we proposed an empirical correlation to predict the total drag coefficient calculated from the accelerating motion to the steady motion with the added rnass force and history force included. This correlation is an extension of our previous work with non-Newtonian fluids. This new correlation represents very well the experimental data of the total drag force in a wide range covering both unsteady accelerating motion and steady motion in non-Newtonian fluids.