Kinetics behavior of water droplet deformation in emulsified oil subjected to non-uniform electric field

Kinetics behavior of droplet deformation under electric field is important in the research on emulsion electric dehydration mechanism. In order to study the dynamic behavior of water droplets under non-uniform electric field, a simulation model of droplet under non-uniform electric field was established through the phase field method based on Cahn-Hilliard formulation. The distributions of charge density and electric field force on the droplet surface as well as the coupling effect of flow field and electric field were investigated during the process of droplet deformation, moving and coalescence. The influences of droplet size, electric field strength and non-uniform coefficient on droplet behavior were simulated and analyzed. The experimental study on the emulsion dehydration under non-uniform electric field was conducted by using the small dehydration test system in laboratory, and the droplets motion in the emulsion under different conditions was observed and analyzed by high-speed camera. The distribution of polarization charges was different on the droplet surface under non-uniform electric field, increasing from the center to both ends of the droplet. The values of polarization charge and Maxwell stress at droplet's one end surface closed to electric field concentrated area were the largest. The increase of electric field strength, electric field non-uniformity coefficient or droplet diameter could lead to larger droplet deformation, faster moving of droplet to concentrated electric field area, and higher coalescence rate. ©, 2015, Chemical Industry Press. All right reserved.