Author(s): Muthumala Jayasooriya Dasun Lahiru; Maggie Ntombifuthi Bingo; Sean Mulligan; Stefan Felder; Matthias Kramer; Clifford Eoghan
Linked Author(s): Matthias Kramer, Stefan Felder, Sean Mulligan
Keywords: Air entrainment; Oxygen transfer; Fluid viscosity; Plunging jet; Computational Fluid Dynamics
Abstract: Air entrainment and oxygen transfer are increasingly important in various engineering and industrial fields, particularly in wastewater treatment. The plunging jet system is a common air entrainment mechanism, in which a high-speed water jet impinges on a receiving water tank and entrains air bubbles. The efficiency of air entrainment and oxygen transfer depends on several parameters, including jet impact velocity, nozzle configuration, jet angle, and fluid properties such as viscosity and surface tension. As these fluid characteristics change, bubble behaviour and oxygen transfer efficiency are affected. This study employs Ansys FLUENT to model bubble behaviour and air entrainment under different viscosity levels, with validation against data obtained from an in-house plunging jet experimental system. Improved modelling capability in this area can enhance engineering design optimisation, leading to more energy-efficient systems.
Year: 2026