Numerical Simulation of Non-coalescence Regime for Two Conducting Droplets at High Voltage Electrostatic Separation of Water-in-oil Emulsion

To design electrostatic coalescers and determine the most efficient modes of their operation, it is important to know about the possible results of the interaction of two conductive droplets under external electric field. Possible non-coalescence outcomes—"bouncing," separation into three droplets, electrospraying—might influence demulsification negatively to varying degrees. Thus, the paper is devoted to numerical simulation of collision and subsequent separation of conductive same-sized droplets under the effect of a constant voltage exceeding the threshold of the transition from coalescence to non-coalescence. Droplet twin within a radius of 1 mm is considered and the simulation is performed since approach of the droplets until collision and further separation. The corresponding voltage ranges for every outcome are obtained. In addition, similar regimes with different ranges of electric field strength values are expected in respect of other droplet parameter values, and the implemented model can be used to specify these regimes.