Dispersion of viscous liquids by turbulent flow in a static mixer

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Abstract
Drops are stabilized in agitated liquid‐liquid systems by both surface and internal viscous forces. The dispersion of an inviscid liquid into a turbulent continuous phase in static mixers has been studied but the effect of dispersed phase viscosity is not well understood. Systematic experiments have been conducted in a Kenics mixer by photographically examining dilute suspensions of viscous oils in water to determine how viscosity and conditions of agitation affect equilibrium mean drop size and size distribution. A semiempirical theory is developed which correlates the mean size data and collapses to the well‐known Weber number result in the inviscid limit. A correlation for drop size distribution in terms of cumulative volume frequency is developed by normalization with the Sauter mean diameter D32. Measurements at the mixer entrance indicate that the method of introduction of the dispersed phase should be considered when evaluating mixer performance.