Numerical simulation of gas-liquid two-phase jet flow in air-bubble generator

Air-bubble generator is the key part of the self-inspiration type swirl flotation machines, whose flow field structure has a great effect on flotation. The multiphase volume of fluid (VOF), standard k-ɛ turbulent model and the SIMPLE method were chosen to simulate the present model; the first order upwind difference scheme was utilized to perform a discrete solution for momentum equation. The distributing law of the velocity, pressure, turbulent kinetic energy of every section along the flow direction of air-bubble generator was analyzed. The results indicate that the bubbles are heavily broken up in the middle cross section of throat sect and the entrance of diffuser sect along the flow direction, and the turbulent kinetic energy of diffuser sect is larger than the entrance of throat sect and mixing chamber.