Dispersion of viscous liquids by turbulent flow in a static mixer

Abstract Drops are stabilized in agitated liquid‐liquid systems by both surface and internal viscous forces. The dispersion of an inviscid liquid into a turbulent continuous phase in static mixers has been studied but the effect of dispersed phase viscosity is not well understood. Systematic experiments have been conducted in a Kenics mixer by photographically examining dilute suspensions of viscous oils in water to determine how viscosity and conditions of agitation affect equilibrium mean drop size and size distribution. A semiempirical theory is developed which correlates the mean size data and collapses to the well‐known Weber number result in the inviscid limit. A correlation for drop size distribution in terms of cumulative volume frequency is developed by normalization with the Sauter mean diameter D 32 . Measurements at the mixer entrance indicate that the method of introduction of the dispersed phase should be considered when evaluating mixer performance.