Investigation on carbon dioxide bubble plume dynamics and mass transfer under regular waves

Carbon dioxide (CO2) bubble injection into seawater represents a promising approach to carbon storage and global climate change mitigation. This study conducted a series of experiments and developed a numerical model that couples computational fluid dynamics and CO2 mass transfer to investigate CO2 bubble plume dynamics and mass transfer characteristics under regular waves. The results indicate that at the seaside and leeside of the CO2 bubble plume, the surface water flows in opposing directions in two circulation areas. The dissolved carbon dioxide concentration is high near the bubble plume and wave surface. The dimensionless velocity half-width and CO2 mass transfer coefficient of the bubble plume increase with the incident wave height, wave period, and CO2 flow rate; however, they decrease with increasing still-water depth. These findings shed light on interactions between wave and CO2 bubbles, CO2 mass transfer mechanisms, and CO2 capture and storage in the ocean.