The results of detailed, three-dimensional numerical simulations of fixed spherical drops in a uniform flow are presented. The fluid dynamics outside and inside of the drops as well as the internal problem of mass (or heat) transfer are studied. Liquid drops in both a liquid and a gaseous ambient phase are considered. Special emphasis is put on the investigation of different modes of internal circulation. At low Reynolds numbers of the inner fluid, the flow field inside the drop resembles the well known Hill's vortex solution. However, at higher internal Reynolds numbers, stable steady or quasi-steady alternative modes of internal circulation are found. As these modes are not cylindrical symmetric around the streamwise axis, the often applied assumption of a two-dimensional, axisymmetric flow field is not justified in these cases. Thus, major discrepancies to previous numerical studies are obtained. However, it is shown that experimental results support our findings. For liquid drops surrounded by a liquid, a major influence of the state of internal circulation on the drag is discovered, whereas the drag is nearly unaltered in the case of a liquid drop in gas.
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