Dynamics of bubble formation in cylindrical and planar geometries

Abstract

The formation and subsequent collapse of a bubble constitute a rich and beauti- ful physical phenomenon which, despite its importance, is still full of surprises. A deep understanding of this problem is required for an optimum design of industrial equipments used to generate bubbles to ensure a more efficient use of energy. There- fore, the purpose of this Thesis is to improve our knowledge about the classical, but still not completely understood, problem of formation of bubbles from submerged nozzles in stagnant liquids. In particular, we focus on the dynamics of the final instants previous to pinch-off. In addition, bubble formation in co-flowing air-water configuration with an innovative planar geometry is studied, which could represent an alternative system to produce bubbles in a massive way.