Motion of water droplets of an emulsion in a non-uniform field

Bezemer, C.; Croes, G.A.

doi:10.1088/0508-3443/6/6/109

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

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“…These incidents could potentially occur due to the application of moderate electric fields during separation processes . For instance, alignment of the water droplets in the direction of the applied electric field forms a water bridge in the shape of a chain that causes an electric discharge (i.e., short circuit) and consequently a reduced coalescence rate. , These adverse characteristics can be alleviated either by coating the electrode tip with thin layers of dielectric materials with a compromise of extra cost and additional required electric field/power consumption. Alternatively, using a microfluidics setup could eliminate the chances of chain formation by continuous motion of the fluid inside the channels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contactless Method for Electrocoalescence of Water in Oil

2021

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This paper discusses an experimental approach to study the effects of a contactless method on electrocoalescence of water-in-oil mixture/emulsion. A positive corona discharge is utilized using a sharp conductive needle without direct contact with the mixture/solution to avoid potential corrosion of the electrode. This creates a nonuniform electric field, which is further used for the coalescence of water droplets in the range of micro to macro in oil. Two approaches are employed in this study: qualitative analysis conducted by visually studying coalescence patterns in videos captured with a high-speed camera and a quantitative analysis based on calculations obtained from dynamic light scattering measurements. From the behavior of the water droplets under the electric field, it is observed that dipole–dipole interaction, migratory coalescence/electrophoresis, and dielectrophoresis have major roles in promoting the coalescence events. The effects of oil viscosity and power consumption on the coalescence rate are also investigated, suggesting an optimal oil–water separation process. The results of this study pave a path for developing a safe, contactless, rapid, and low-power-consuming separation process, potentially suitable for an offsite application.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%