FLOW OF FOAM THROUGH PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

泡沫是结构化的两相流体，其中气泡由相互连接的薄液体膜和高原边界隔开，高原边界表示薄膜的相交区域。它们代表了一类重要的结构流体，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、起泡性、稳定性以及它的整体流变和流动特性，可以决定有关工业过程的经济和技术成功。泡沫通过加工设备的流动通常会影响泡沫的结构及其性能。在许多工业过程中，泡沫被迫流过狭窄复杂的通道，如收缩、膨胀和孔口。这些流动会产生复杂的现象，对泡沫结构产生重要影响，并可能导致剧烈的不稳定性和形态变化，对泡沫在流动和加工过程中的可持续性产生严重的实际影响。泡沫在气泡尺度下的流动特性是重要的，但所发生的拓扑变化及其对泡沫流变学和流动的影响却知之甚少。该项目旨在通过研究泡沫通过包含复杂几何形状的通道的流动、稳定性和行为等方面来解决这一问题。

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.