抄録
Continuous emulsification of kerosene-water systems was investigated with a novel motionless mixer named Ramond Supermixer® (RSM). The mixer is composed of a series of disk-shaped unit. One unit is composed of a pair of diverging and converging elements. On the surface of each element, a group of hexagonal cell of several millimeters in depth is arranged compactly like honeycomb. Kerosene was used as a continuous phase, in which nonionic surfactant (Span80) was dissolved, and deionized water as a dispersed phase. All of emulsification runs were carried out at a constant temperature of 303K. Water droplet diameters in emulsions were measured by means of a microphotography. In addition, the pressure drop of water flow passing the mixer was measured with a differential pressure transducer for the purpose of estimation of the energy dissipation rate. The size distributions of water droplets in emulsions normalized with Sauter mean diameter (d32) obeyed a log-normal distribution function with an upper-limit. The maximum droplet diameter (dmax) was 1.86 times d32. The correlation of dmax with the mean power input per unit mass of the media (PM) was compared with that with Kenics Static Mixer® (KSM). The slopes of the correlation lines took the same value of -0.4. This value was derived from an isotropic turbulence law in low-viscosity liquids. The line of RSM was slightly located below that of KSM.
