Formation of a continuous gas layer in the discharge of a gas into a liquid

The transition from discrete to continuous discharge of a gas in a moving liquid is studied. Dissipative processes which occur with the formation of the phase boundary in the liquid flow are examined. It is shown that the energy balance equation alone is not enough to determine the moment of establishment of a jet discharge regime. Steady flow conditions are used, in accordance with the method of irreversible thermodynamics. The boundary of the transition from bubbly gas flow to jet flow is described by a system of nonlinear algebraic equations. The solution is represented by a criterional relation which agrees with established empirical relations. The results obtained with the theoretical model agree satisfactorily with well-known and recently obtained experimental data for flowing liquids.