Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Unravelling bubble-particle collisions in turbulence

Project description

Towards a physics-based parametrisation of effective bubble-particle collision rate

Froth flotation is a process for selectively separating hydrophobic from hydrophilic materials and is widely used in mineral processing, paper recycling and waste-water treatment industries. The EU-funded BU-PACT project aims to elucidate the effect of turbulence on collisions between bubbles and particles which are fundamental to the flotation process. Bubbles and light particles behave substantially different in a turbulent flow compared to their heavy counterparts. Therefore the effect of turbulence on bubble-particle collisions is different from that on droplet collisions in clouds and requires new approaches. The project will conduct experiments using particle tracking velocimetry and numerical simulations to thoroughly study various physical effects.

Objective

The objective of the proposed study program is to elucidate the effect of turbulence on collisions between bubbles and particles. Such collisions are fundamental to flotation, a process widely used to separate materials based on differences in their hydropThe objective of the proposed study program is to elucidate the effect of turbulence on collisions between bubbles and particles. Such collisions are fundamental to the flotation process, a technology widely used
in industry. Applications include wastewater treatment, paper recycling, and especially mining, where flotation is used to separate minerals.
This process commonly operates under strongly turbulent conditions and the important role of turbulence is now a widely accepted fact in the mineral engineering community. The actual effect of turbulence on the bubble-particle collision rate, however, remains unclear. This is largely because effects arising from a finite drift velocity of suspended species, such as preferential concentration, remain entirely unexplored and hence unaccounted for. Bubbles and light particles behave fundamentally different in a turbulent flow compared to their heavy counterparts and therefore the problem. Therefore the bubble-particle problem is fundamentally different from e.g. droplet collisions in clouds, requiring new concepts.
I intend to investigate bubble-particle collisions through combined experimental and numerical efforts. Experiments using Particle Tracking Velocimetry will provide much needed reference data while direct numerical simulations via point-particle and immersed-boundary methods will allow us to study various physical effects in detail. Together, these will enable us to develop and test realistic theories and models for the geometric collision rate between particles and bubbles as well as for their collision efficiency. The ultimate goal is a physics-based parametrization of the effective bubble-particle collision rate in realistic conditions.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2020-STG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 250 000,00
Address
DRIENERLOLAAN 5
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands

See on map

Region
Oost-Nederland Overijssel Twente
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 250 000,00

Beneficiaries (2)

My booklet 0 0