Bubble plume modelling with new functional relationships

Abstract

In this study, a new parameterization is proposed to be incorporated into the classical integral model for bubble plumes. The virtual origin of the flow, the entrainment coefficient and the momentum amplification factor were obtained by adjusting the model to a wide range of experimental data. This allowed to generate functional relationships based on the gas discharge and the water depth. Model simulations using these novel relationships resulted in a better agreement with experimental data than other approaches for bubble plumes, notably for tests under shallow to intermediate water depths. Therefore, the present model is proposed as a simpler approach to predict the flow induced by bubble plumes for a large range of operational conditions.