HYDRODYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF DISPERSED PHASE IN A SPRAY COLUMN WITH AN ELECTRIC FIELD FOR LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

Abstract

A new spray column with vertical four-pole electrodes is developed for use as an electrostatic liquid extractor. The population behavior of dispersed drops in a d.c. electric field is studied in terms of dispersed-phase holdup, drop velocity, drop size distribution by use of the system of water drops in cyclohexane. It is found that the holdup characteristic, drop velocity and drop volume can be easily controlled by changing the strength of electric field in the two-phase flow contactor.