Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Urmia University of Technology, Urmia, Iran
2 2nd km of Bad street, Urmia university of technology
Abstract
Droplet coalescence is important for many scientific and industrial uses, such as separating oil and water and using microfluidic technologies. This study examines the impact of an external electric field on the coalescence of two immiscible droplets (oil-in-water system) through numerical simulations utilizing the finite element method (FEM) within COMSOL Multiphysics. The model concurrently resolves the Navier-Stokes equations governing fluid dynamics and Laplace's equations pertaining to the electric field, employing the phase field method to monitor the evolving interface between the droplets. This study focuses on how the strength of the electric field affects droplet coalescence by looking at how droplets behave at different voltage levels (0–8 kV). The findings underscore the substantial influence of the electric field on film thinning and droplet deformation, demonstrating that elevated electric fields expedite coalescence by amplifying electrostatic forces, which deform the droplets into crescent shapes and diminish coalescence duration. These results give us important information that can help us make separation processes better in many areas, like treating wastewater and refining oil.
Keywords
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