On the Stability of Gas Bubbles in Liquid-Gas Solutions

On the Stability of Gas Bubbles in Liquid-Gas Solutions

November, 1950 | P. S. Epstein and M. S. Plesset
The paper discusses the stability of gas bubbles in liquid-gas solutions, focusing on diffusion processes and the effects of surface tension. It presents approximate solutions for the rate of solution and growth of gas bubbles in undersaturated and oversaturated solutions, respectively. The analysis neglects the translational motion of the bubble, which is considered a reasonable approximation due to the small size of the bubble compared to the diffusion region. The effect of surface tension on the diffusion process is also considered, showing that it significantly influences the results. The paper derives mathematical solutions for the diffusion problem, considering the concentration of dissolved gas and the bubble radius. It shows that the mass flow into the bubble is determined by the concentration gradient at the bubble surface. The results are presented in tables and figures, showing the time required for complete solution or growth of bubbles under different conditions. The analysis includes the effect of surface tension, which modifies the equation of state for the gas bubble. The inclusion of surface tension leads to a more accurate description of the bubble's behavior, as it accounts for the additional pressure due to surface tension. The results show that the time for complete solution is proportional to the square of the initial bubble radius, and numerical values are provided for air bubbles in water at 22°C. The paper also discusses the effect of translational motion of the bubble, which can influence the diffusion process. The terminal velocity of a bubble is calculated, and it is shown that even slow motion can slightly accelerate the diffusion process. The results are compared with approximate solutions that neglect surface tension, showing that the approximation is reasonable for many cases. The paper concludes that the diffusion concentration quickly adjusts to a quasi-static distribution, justifying the use of the approximation.The paper discusses the stability of gas bubbles in liquid-gas solutions, focusing on diffusion processes and the effects of surface tension. It presents approximate solutions for the rate of solution and growth of gas bubbles in undersaturated and oversaturated solutions, respectively. The analysis neglects the translational motion of the bubble, which is considered a reasonable approximation due to the small size of the bubble compared to the diffusion region. The effect of surface tension on the diffusion process is also considered, showing that it significantly influences the results. The paper derives mathematical solutions for the diffusion problem, considering the concentration of dissolved gas and the bubble radius. It shows that the mass flow into the bubble is determined by the concentration gradient at the bubble surface. The results are presented in tables and figures, showing the time required for complete solution or growth of bubbles under different conditions. The analysis includes the effect of surface tension, which modifies the equation of state for the gas bubble. The inclusion of surface tension leads to a more accurate description of the bubble's behavior, as it accounts for the additional pressure due to surface tension. The results show that the time for complete solution is proportional to the square of the initial bubble radius, and numerical values are provided for air bubbles in water at 22°C. The paper also discusses the effect of translational motion of the bubble, which can influence the diffusion process. The terminal velocity of a bubble is calculated, and it is shown that even slow motion can slightly accelerate the diffusion process. The results are compared with approximate solutions that neglect surface tension, showing that the approximation is reasonable for many cases. The paper concludes that the diffusion concentration quickly adjusts to a quasi-static distribution, justifying the use of the approximation.
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[slides and audio] On the stability of gas bubbles in liquid-gas solutions