Drop Breakup in Turbulent Stirred Tank Contactors. Part I: Effect of Dispersed-Phase Viscosity.

Abstract

The extent to which dispersed-phase viscosity influences equilibrium mean drop size and drop size distribution at constant interfacial tension is determined for dilute suspensions by dispersing silicone oils of various viscosity grades in water. A mechanistic model for mean drop size is developed which predicts the moderate-viscosity data and whose parameters correlate the high-viscosity results. Tends in the mean size data coincide with those for the drop size distribution, which broadens considerably as viscosity increases and suggests a dependency on breakage mechanism.