Modeling and Measurement of 3-D Velocity for Rising Bubbles Utilizing Single-View Laser Scanning

Gas-liquid two-phase flow, widely present in the energy, chemical, and oil and gas industries, has extremely intricate 3-D kinematic processes, with flow parameter measurement being quite challenging. Bubble velocity, one of the most crucial flow parameters, has a considerable impact on industrial production and process safety. In this article, a novel and effective method for 3-D velocity measurement of bubbles is developed utilizing single-view noninvasive laser scanning. The principle is elaborated, and the specific mathematic models are established. According to the proposed method, the 3-D velocities of bubbles in a tank are acquired, and the magnitudes and distributions of the velocity components in each direction are explored and analyzed. The relationship between bubble velocity and bubble size is also investigated. Based on the magnitudes and directions of the resultant velocities, a 3-D visualization of bubbles is implemented, and finally, the 3-D trajectories are traced, which helps in bubble monitoring.