Falling of a Spherical Particle in Fine-Bubble Plume and Fine-Bubble Behavior around the Particle

In this study, the interaction between a spherical solid particle descending in a fine-bubble plume and the fine-bubbles around the particle is investigated experimentally. The fine-bubbles, which are formed by water electrolysis and have an average diameter of 0.037 mm, rise via buoyancy to form bubble plumes. The average bubble velocity in the conduit is 0.05 mm/s. A spherical solid particle with a diameter of 11.1 mm and a density of 1130 kg/m(3) is dropped into the fully-developed bubble plume. The particle falls in a meandering motion in the fine-bubble plume. In this process, the terminal velocity of the particles falling in the fine-bubble plume is almost identical to that of a particle falling in the quiescent water. Additionally, after the fine-bubbles have been separated from the particle surface, they flow into the wake of the particle, forming a stagnant region. The particle wake diameter increases threefold, as compared with its value in the downstream direction of the fine-bubble plume.