Bubble nucleation in hydraulic systems

Free gas in a hydraulic system is usually accompanied by negative aspects. Currently available models usually underestimate degassing at liquid -gas interfaces that are exposed to fluid flows, which is the most relevant degassing mechanism in hydraulic systems. Therefore, a new approach for physical modelling of bubble formation at liquid-gas interfaces is presented. Based on recent findings on diffusion-driven nucleation a simple model to calculate the mass fraction of gas being set free in a hydraulic fluid is derived. Th is approach is experimentally validated and could be implemented in available calculation tools.