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Parameterization of drag and dissolution of rising CO 2 drops in seawater
Author(s) -
Gangstø Reidun,
Haugan Peter M.,
Alendal Guttorm
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl022637
Subject(s) - drop (telecommunication) , drag , dissolution , mechanics , seawater , mass transfer , drag coefficient , spheres , bubble , thermodynamics , clathrate hydrate , hydrate , materials science , mineralogy , physics , geology , chemistry , telecommunications , oceanography , astronomy , computer science , organic chemistry
In this work the dynamics and dissolution of a hydrate‐covered CO 2 drop were studied, using a numeric model and data from one of very few CO 2 experiments performed in the real ocean. A theory including the standard drag curve of rigid spheres was shown not to fit the observed drop rise velocity. However, a drag parameterization supported by numerous laboratory experiments with gas bubbles provides a good match of the observed rise velocity of a liquid CO 2 drop covered with hydrate. The results confirm laboratory results showing that shape is a key factor determining the CO 2 drop dynamics. We also found that hydrate reduces the mass transfer of the observed drop by a factor of 2, which is compatible with laboratory experiments. Numerical experiments with different drop sizes showed that the choice of drag parameterization has a significant impact on the estimated vertical distribution of dissolved CO 2 .