| Abstract: | A study was made of the flow characteristics of large oscillating drops of pure liquid-liquid systems, using a thermostatically-controlled, rising drop column, 50 mm in diameter and 1000 mm in length. Mirrors in the jacket enabled front and side views of drops to be photographed simultaneously. Single drops in the size range 5–10 mm were investigated with both mutually-saturated phases and when the solute was being transferred from the dispersed phase. The systems studied were (1) toluene and acetone (dispersed)-water (continuous), and (2) n-heptane and acetone (dispersed)-water (continuous). Acetone concentrations were varied up to 3.75 kmol/m3. The oscillations of a travelling drop were asymmetrical; therefore, the amplitude cannot be expressed accurately in terms of only two axes. The area change of the drop compared to that of a sphere of equal volume ‘ε’, was shown to represent the amplitude accurately. The periods of droplet oscillation were uniform for the mutually saturated systems of constant physical and flow properties but changed when mass transfer was taking place. The interfacial tension exerted a marked effect on the amplitude, which also depended upon the oscillation frequency. The amplitude changed with droplet size in a similar manner to the terminal velocity, i.e. it increased with increasing size until it reached a maximum, subsequently decreasing less rapidly. The drag coefficient increased with increasing rate of mass transfer from the drop. Correlation of the results and the area eccentricity ‘ε’ by dimensional analysis embracing all possible parameters and physical properties affecting drop oscillation, resulted in the correlation ε = 0.22 Sr0.42 We?0.53 M0.13 with a mean deviation of ± 14%. This will facilitate more accurate prediction of the interfacial area for mass transfer calculations, relating to equipment containing droplets in the oscillating regime. |
