1995 Volume 35 Issue 3 Pages 234-241
Cold model studies have been carried out to characterize the drop-size distribution in liquid-liquid emulsions formed by bottom gas injection. The emulsion was formed by injecting compressed air through the bottom of a tank containing water and kerosene. A polycondensation technique was used to take samples of the dispersed water drops inside the plume, using a specially designed pneumatic trap. The drop samples were photographed and size analysis was done using an image analysis software.
The drop-size distribution closely obeyed the Gaudin-Schuhmann equation. Correlations have been developed between the drop size distribution characteristics (the Sauter diameter and standard deviation) and appropriate dimensionless numbers characterizing the operating conditions. The experimental conditions covered the industrial range of these dimensionless numbers. Typical drop diameters were in the range of 0.5 to 8 mm. The values of the Sauter diameter were between 4 and 6 mm and those for the standard deviation were between 0.8 and 1.6 mm.
