Fluid Motions Associated with Engineered Area Bubble Plumes

Abstract

Current bubble oil booms (BOBs) create bubble curtains to protect fixed installations in calm waters such as harbors, but fail in more energetic environments. Field and lab studies reveal that area bubble plumes enable BOB applications in such environments. Area bubble plumes exhibit dynamics distinct from point- or line-source plumes, including thicker and more robust outwelling flows and relatively smaller turbulence scales. Area bubble plume studies broaden our understanding of natural systems, where currents and waves are ubiquitous, leading to a variety of marine applications. Laboratory studies in a large flume have investigated the fluid dynamics of shallow line and area bubble plumes. These studies focused on area-plume application to oil spill response, which, based on preliminary tests, featured improved outflows with a downstream barrier. A range of ambient currents, current–plume angles, and airflows were tested. Key to understanding current–plume interactions was the upstream rotor or near-surface recirculation vortex. The strongest outwelling was for a