Consequences of the effect of matrix elasticity on the rotation of droplet pairs for collision efficiency

• DOI: 10.1007/s00396-015-3540-9
• Publication Date: 2015-03-16T08:59:31Z
• Authors: Ivan Fortelný; Josef Jůza
• Keywords: Coalescence (physics); Elasticity; Matrix (chemical analysis)

The theory of flow-induced coalescence in viscoelastic matrix considering the effect of the matrix elasticity on the approach and rotation of coalescing droplets is derived. The study compares collision efficiencies, i.e. probabilities that the droplet collision will be followed by their fusion, Pc, calculated by means of equations for the droplet rotation in viscoelastic and Newtonian matrixes. It has been found that Pc slightly increases with relaxation time of the matrix for shear flow-induced coalescence, but strongly decreases for extensional flow-induced coalescence.