FLOW OF FOAM THROUGH PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

泡沫是一种结构化的两相流体，其中气泡通过相互连接的薄液膜和表示薄膜相交区域的平台边界来分隔。它们代表了一类重要的结构化流体，具有复杂的流变学和流动行为，强烈依赖于局部结构和化学成分。泡沫的性质，即它的质地、发泡性、稳定性以及它的整体流变性和流动性，可以决定有关工业过程的经济和技术成功。在许多工业过程中，泡沫被迫流经狭窄、复杂的通道，如收缩、膨胀和孔口。这些流动产生复杂的现象，可能对泡沫塑料结构产生重要影响，并可能导致严重的不稳定性和形态变化，对流动和加工过程中泡沫塑料的可持续性产生严重的实际影响。泡沫在气泡尺度上的流动特性是很重要的，但所引起的拓扑变化及其对泡沫的流变性和流动的影响却知之甚少。该项目试图通过研究泡沫塑料在包含复杂几何形状的通道中的流动、稳定性和行为等方面来解决这种认识不足的问题。

Foams are structured two-phase fluids in which gas bubbles are separated by interconnecting thin liquid films and Plateau borders which denote the regions of intersection of the thin films. They represent an important class of structured fluids possessing a complex rheology and flow behaviour strongly dependent upon local structure and chemical composition. The nature of the foam, i.e. its texture, foamability, stability, and its overall rheological and flow properties can determine both the economic and technical successes of the industrial process concerned.Foam flow through processing equipment usually affects the structure of the foam and its properties. In many industrial processes foams are forced to flow through narrow intricate passages such as contractions, expansions and orifices. These flows generate complex phenomena that can have important effects on foam structure and can lead to dramatic instabilities and morphological transformations with serious practical implications for foam sustainability during flow and processing. The flow characteristics of the foam at bubble scale are important, but the topological changes incurred and their effects on the rheology and flow of the foam are poorly understood. This project seeks to address this lack of understanding by studying aspects related to the flow, stability and behaviour of foams through channels containing complex geometries.