The invention discloses a small micro-bubble generator and a method, and belongs to the field of micro-bubble drag reduction. The generator comprises a water pump, three valves, a controller, a bubblegeneration chamber, a first pipeline, a second pipeline and a one-way valve. The water pump, a first valve, the bubble generation chamber and a second valve are sequentially mounted on the first pipeline; a solid reaction raw material block is mounted in the first pipeline through a filter screen box to form the bubble generation chamber; a first port and a second port of a second pipeline are connected with two ends of the bubble generation chamber and are positioned between the first valve and the second valve; and a third port of the second pipeline is connected with the outlet end of thefirst pipeline, and a third valve and the one-way valve are installed between the second port and the third port. According to the device, a carbon dioxide gas is generated through reaction of mixed solids of water, an organic acid and sodium bicarbonate, generated bubbles are small, density is large, drag reduction is better facilitated, distribution in water flow is uniform, an extra gas sourcedoes not need to be carried, and the device is small in size and low in cost.