A setup for the in situ investigation of gas-liquid foams

The experimental setup is intended to investigate the formation and behavior of gas-liquid foams in circumstances simulating the in situ conditions which are characterized by high pressures (>15 MPa) and temperatures (>60degreesC). Foam is produced in a pressurized chamber by bubbling the air through a layer of foaming solution poured on a fine filter. The foam structure is recorded in the process of the forming and the breakdown of the foam after the end of foaming in real-time mode by the image visualization system using video microfilming through the optical windows in the walls of the work chamber. A high accuracy is achieved in monitoring the variation of the foam dispersion with time and establishing the onset of the foam-bubble extension and the rate of internal foam breakdown, which is required for the determination of the foam's stability and performance characteristics under extreme in situ conditions.