Turbulent liquid–liquid dispersion in SMV static mixer at high dispersed phase concentration

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of physico-chemical parameters on liquid–liquid dispersion at high dispersed phase concentration in Sulzer SMV™ mixer. Four different oil-in-water systems involving two different surfactants are used in order to evaluate the effect of interfacial tension, densities and viscosities ratio on mean droplets size diameters. Moreover the influence of the dispersed phase concentration on the pressure drop as well as on the droplet size distribution is investigated. Two different droplets size distribution analysis techniques are used in order to compare the resulting Sauter mean diameters. The comparison between residence time in the mixer and surfactants adsorption kinetics leads to take into account the evolution of the interfacial tension between both phases at short times. Finally experimental results are correlated as a function of dimensionless Reynolds and Weber numbers.

► SMV static mixer used for emulsification in turbulent. ► No effect of dispersed phase concentration on droplets size distribution until 50%. ► Good agreement between mean droplets size when measure ring it by two methods. ► Results modelled in terms of mean diameter as a function of dimensionless numbers.