Finite element calculations of flow past a spherical bubble rising on the axis of a cylindrical tube

The velocity and pressure fields of a Newtonian fluid with homogeneous and constant physical properties flowing around a sphere on the axis of a cylindrical tube with no slip, free slip and partial slip at the sphere surface and no slip at the cylinder wall have been calculated by solving the Navier-Stokes equations and the continuity equation using the finite element technique with the penalty function method. Terminal rise velocities of spherical air bubbles in water have been calculated as function of the bubble radius and some conclusions have been drawn about the nature of the interface. Finally, the influence of the presence of a cylindrical wall on the drag force has been determined and a new empirical equation is derived for the wall correction factor for a sphere rising with free slip at its surface at low Reynolds number.