Coalescence of viscous drops translating through a capillary tube

Eisa Almatroushi, Ali Borhan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

An experimental study of the interaction and coalescence of viscous drops moving through a cylindrical capillary tube under low Reynolds number conditions is presented. The combined pressure- and buoyancy-driven motion of drops in a Newtonian continuous phase is examined. The interaction between two drops is quantified using image analysis, and measurements of the coalescence time are reported for various drop size ratios, Bond numbers, and viscosity ratios. The time scale for coalescence in the non-axisymmetric configuration is found to be substantially larger than that for coalescence in the axisymmetric configuration. Measurements of the radius of the liquid film formed between the two drops at the instant of apparent contact are used in conjunction with a planar film drainage model to predict the dependence of the coalescence time on drop size ratio for coalescence of low viscosity-ratio drops in the axisymmetric configuration.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)341-350
Number of pages10
JournalHeat and Mass Transfer/Waerme- und Stoffuebertragung
Volume50
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 1 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

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