UCLA

This paper presents a simple, experimentally validated approach to analyze the transient formation of a foam layer produced by injecting gas bubbles in a foaming solution. Based on experimental observations, three different regimes in the transient growth of the foam have been identified as a function of the superficial gas velocity. A model based on the mass conservation equation for the gas phase in the foam combined with three different models for the average porosity is proposed. It is shown that for practical calculations a constant average porosity equal to 0.82 can be used. The model predictions show very good agreement with experimental data for low superficial gas velocity and provide an upper limit of the foam thickness for intermediate and large superficial gas velocities. The paper discusses the physical mechanisms that may occur during the foam formation and the effects of the superficial gas velocity on the foam dynamics. The present analysis speculates several mechanisms for the bursting of the bubbles at the top of the foams and proposes the framework for more fundamental and detailed studies.