Characteristics and dynamics of electrolyzed bubbles in magnetohydrodynamic bubbly jet

Background: The magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are highly relevant to practical applications, including marine propulsion and hydrogen production etc. For better implementation to applications, typical characteristics of the MHD bubbly jet, such as the size distribution and motion of oxygen and hydrogen bubbles, need to be well realized. Methods: The MHD bubbly jet generated by high current density associated with strong permanent magnet is experimentally investigated. Two fields of view are taken to analyze the details of micro-sized bubbles and the whole pattern of bubbly jet. To couple the magnetoelectric effects and bubble dynamics, the Reynolds number based on the Lorentz force Re_L is applied in the parametric analysis. Findings: Dependence of the mean size of bubble on the current density is generally verified. Two regimes regarding the bubble sizes are distinguished. The proposed mechanisms of these two regimes are supported by the pattern of bubbly jet. For Re_L≤2000, size of bubble monotonically increases with current density, so that referred to as the electrochemistry regime. Nevertheless, the size of bubble remains nearly unchanged for Re_L>2000, referred to as the flow regime in which the turbulent breakup of the bubbly jet core starts to evolve.