Turbulence suppression in bubbly two-phase flow

A particular phenomenon of turbulence reduction in bubbly two-phase flow is discussed based on the experimental observations and theoretical derivation of turbulence energy balance equations. The importance of the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon has been stressed for a better understanding of the complex nature of bubbly two-phase flow. It has been concluded that the local turbulence energy of the liquid phase can be changeable to an energy required to maintain the surface structure and vice versa, which in turn relates to turbulence energy dissipation through the fragmentation process of turbulence eddies. It is also suggested that the phase distribution mechanism is interrelated to the above mentioned energy exchange mechanism. (orig.)