The Dispersion of Viscous Liquids by Turbulent Flow in a Static Mixer.

Abstract

Drops are stabilized in agitated liquid-liquid systems by both surface and internal viscous forces. The dispersion of an inviscid liquid into a turbulent continuous phase in static mixers has been studied but the effect of dispersed phase viscosity is not well understood. Systematic experiments have been conducted in a Kenics mixer by photographically examining dilute suspensions of viscous oils in water to determine how viscosity and conditions of agitation affect equilibrium mean drop size and size distribution. A semi-empirical theory is developed which correlates the mean size data and collapses to the well-known Weber No. result in the inviscid limit. A correlation for drop size distribution in terms of cumulative volume frequency is developed by normalization with D_32. Measurements at the mixer entrance indicate that the method of introduction of the dispersed phase should be considered when evaluating mixer performance.