Abstract
When two immiscible liquids are agitated, a dispersion is formed in which continuous breakup and coalescence of drops occur, and a dynamic equilibrium is attained between breakup and coalescence after a certain time. Effects of the volume fraction of dispersed phase, viscosity of liquid, impeller speed and impeller-to-vessel diameter ratio on the average drop size of a dispersion in a mixing vessel are discussed and correlative equations are proposed. It is also found that the dominant process in deciding average drop sizes in a mixing vessel changes from breakup to coalescence when the average energy dissipation rate or the volumetric fraction of dispersed phase is increased.
