Bubbling Underwater to Breakup Biofilms and Lift Early Settlers (BUBBLES)

Abstract

The project investigates the mechanisms by which a stream of underwater bubbles that flow past a surface can prevent biofouling accumulation. Combining high-speed experimental imaging and multiphase numerical simulations, the shear stresses and cleaning efficiency of isolated rising bubbles was deduced. In addition, the dynamics of direct contact of bubble with submerged surface were related to the properties of the surface, bubble, and surrounding liquid. Finally, extending approaches used in integral plume theory and larval settlement, the effects of flowrate on bubble lateral motion and lull periods were related to spatial variation in macrofouling observed in field experiments. The project helped train a postdoctoral researcher, three doctoral students, and two undergraduate students.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 29, 2020
Accession Number
AD1120168

Entities

People

  • James C Bird

Organizations

  • Boston University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aeration
  • Attachment
  • Computational Science
  • Dynamics
  • Efficiency
  • Equations
  • Flow Fields
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Fouling
  • Fouling Organisms
  • Gaussian Distributions
  • Hydrophobic Properties
  • Integrals
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Probability
  • Shear Stresses
  • Simulations
  • Stresses
  • Students
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface Tension

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • STEM Education
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology