Behavior of Loose Fibrous Beds During Centrifuging

Abstract

Conditions affecting the shape, size and location of droplets of surface moisture retained in centrifuged beds of textile fibers are discussed. Equations are developed for predicting the limiting maximum volume that can be retained by the surface tension forces for droplets of different shape. Computer solutions of these equations are verified experimentally. For several droplet configurations likely to exist, the bulk of the surface moisture retained during centrifuging is in the form of large droplets (larger than the fiber diameter) trapped at points of contact between the individual fibers in the bed. A possibility is suggested for predicting the final retention of moisture after centrifuging by calculating the number of contacts between the fibers in the bed and the maximum limiting volume of large droplets in terms of the centrifuging parameters and the physical properties of the fibers and the fluid.