Numerical Investigations on Nanobubble Stability

Abstract

This thesis discusses the stability and lifetime of bulk and surface nanobubbles. Two numerical models are presented which have been developed in order to investigate aspects of the dynamic equilibrium mechanism using computational methods. By using a steady-state approach where a surface nanobubble is sustained by electrolysis, it is found that for a given nanobubble size and geometry there is only a very narrow range of possible molar fluxes into the system which balance it. This demonstrates the importance of the dynamic equilibrium mechanism in sustaining the surface nanobubbles. An effort to find a better approximation of the expected lifetimes of bulk nanobubbles has also proven fruitful. Preliminary results show lifetimes that are an order of magnitude longer than those previously presented in the literature.