The application of a strong electric field to water-in-oil emulsions is frequently used for phase separation owing to an electrical coalescence phenomenon. The present study is aimed to analyze numerically the probability of undesirable outcomes in the case when contacting droplets suspended in oil are of different sizes. Computations are based on the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) approach. The present study extends available data on non-coalescence outcomes that were obtained for equal-sized droplets and analyzes the scope of applicability of those simplified cases. It is shown that the threshold between complete and partial coalescence of different-sized droplets is nearly equal to that for equal-sized ones with the size of the bigger droplet from the former pair if the radius ratio is between 0.5 and 2. The partial coalescence yields many small droplets in the most cases and, in some cases, results in electrospraying inside the gap between two main droplets.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2024 IEEE 5th International Conference on Dielectrics, ICD 2024
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1-4
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)979-8-3503-0897-6
ISBN (Print)9798350308976
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 Aug 2024
Event5th IEEE International Conference on Dielectrics
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Тулуза, France
Duration: 30 Jun 20244 Jul 2024
https://ieee-icd.org/

Conference

Conference5th IEEE International Conference on Dielectrics
Abbreviated titleICD 2024
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityТулуза
Period30/06/244/07/24
Internet address

    Research areas

  • arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method, electrocoalescence, partial coalescence, unequal droplets, water-in-oil emulsion

    Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ID: 128241210