On the dispersion dynamics of liquid–liquid surfactant-laden flows in a SMX static mixer
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This study aims to elucidate, for the first time, the intricate fundamental physics governing the dispersion dynamics of a surfactant-laden two-phase liquid–liquid system in the well-known SMX static mixer. Following the analysis carried out in the preceding publication to this work (Valdes et al., 2023), a comparative assessment of the most relevant and recurrent deformation and breakup mechanisms is conducted for a 3-drop scenario and then extrapolated to a more industrially-relevant multi-drop set-up. A parametric study on relevant surfactant physico-chemical parameters (i.e., elasticity, sorption kinetics) is undertaken, isolating each property by considering insoluble and soluble surfactants. In addition, the role of Marangoni stresses on the deformation and breakage dynamics is explored. High fidelity, three-dimensional direct numerical simulations coupled with a state-of-the-art hybrid interface capturing algorithm are carried out, providing a wealth of information previously inaccessible via volume-averaged or experimental approaches.
Date Issued
2023-11-01
Date Acceptance
2023-09-12
Citation
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 475
ISSN
1385-8947
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume
475
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.146058
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
146058
Date Publish Online
2023-09-16