Vivacqua, V, Mhatre, S, Ghadiri, M et al. (6 more authors) (2015) Electrocoalescence of water drop trains in oil under constant and pulsatile electric fields. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 104. pp. 658-668. ISSN 0263-8762
Abstract
This study addresses the effectiveness of constant and pulsed DC fields in promoting coalescence of dispersed water drops in an oil-continuous phase. For this purpose, a train of drops of relatively uniform size is injected into a stream of flowing sunflower oil. This stream is then admitted to a coalescing section, where an electric field is applied between a pair of ladder-shape bare electrodes. The capability of this device to enhance coalescence of droplets in a chain is investigated at different field intensities, frequencies and waveforms. The effect of the initial inter-droplet separation distance on the process performance is also addressed under constant DC fields. The dominant coalescence mechanism is found to be due to dipole-dipole interaction at low field strength, whereas electrophoresis becomes predominant at higher field strength. Experiments reveal the existence of an optimal frequency, where the average droplet size enlargement is maximized, especially at low field strengths. The droplet size at the outlet of the coalescer is also found to be dependent on the field waveform.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2015, The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Chemical Engineering Research and Design. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Electrocoalescence; Electrostatic de-emulsification; Phase separation; Oil treatment |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) > Institute for Particle Science and Engineering (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Qatar National Research Fund NPRP-5-366-2-143 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 14 Jan 2016 13:40 |
Last Modified: | 01 Nov 2016 21:06 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2015.10.006 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cherd.2015.10.006 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:93411 |