Optimizing chaotic frequency electric fields for deformation analysis of droplets based on numerical modeling

Abstract

Chaotic pulse group (CPG) electric field has already been proposed to achieve demulsification of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions; however, the electric field parameters of the CPG electric field for efficient demulsification of emulsions are unknown. Therefore, in this study, the numerical model of droplet deformation under the action of electric field was established by coupling the flow field and electric field, and the effectiveness of the model was verified by comparing with the experimental results. In the numerical model, the electric field parameters are optimized by droplet deformation; moreover, the influence of surface tension and oil viscosity on the optimal electric field parameters is discussed; the deformation of droplets under the optimized CPG electric field was analyzed. The results show that when the droplet radius is 1 mm, the optimal electric field strength is 612 kV/m, the optimal pulse width is 0.023 s, and the optimal pulse rest width is 0.017 s. The increase in interfacial tension leads to the increase in optimal electric field strength, and the decrease in optimal pulse width and pulse rest width. The increase in oil viscosity leads to an increase in the optimal electric field parameters. With the increase in interfacial tension and oil viscosity, their influence on the deformation of droplets gradually decreases. Droplets of different sizes could find their own optimal electric field parameters in the CPG electric field, so as to achieve the maximum deformation. The results provide valuable guidance for the selection of electric field parameters in CPG electric field industrial applications.