[Sina R]

Hello
I am working on a project and that is designing an experimental setup for de-oiling hydrocyclones. As the name suggests it separates oil from water. We first need to know the average droplet size or for a better analysis the droplet size distribution. My university does not have the necessary budget to buy the equipment to analyze the oil-water mixture (the particle analyzer).
I was wondering if there is a mathematical model or a numerical or computational method that allows us to predict the average droplet size (or better yet droplet size distribution). Or if there are any mixers that guarantee a specific droplet size (assume that the inlet pressure and the Reynolds number are known parameters).
Thank you in advance

[praphul]

Hi Sina,

You can consider Population Balance Method in multiphase flow. It can consider the breakage and coalescence of the droplets over time.

Regards,
Praphul T

[Sina R]

Praphul T, thank you very much for your prompt and helpful response.

[arjun]

While the idea of population balance is great, the breakup and coalescence kernels needs settings that is material and situation specific. So i really doubt you will have settings available to you.

I am doing another project with Dr. Beilke where we are trying to resolve these droplets with specialized dns type code. Something like that would be more suitable for you.

So if you try population balance and if you are not happy then send me pm. Given that you are in univ you might just able to resolve those droplets in simulation (I can allow you to try the code there).

[Sina R]

arjun, thank you, I'll be sure to try PBM and if it doesn't work, I'll PM you.
Many thanks again