A population balance model for the prediction of breakage of emulsion droplets in SMX+ static mixers

Abstract

This work deals with the numerical and experimental investigation of droplets breakage in SMX+ static mixers. While steady-state empirical correlations are commonly used for the prediction of the mean droplets size (e.g. Sauter mean diameter) during emulsification in static mixers, in the present study, a population balance equation (PBE)- based model is developed for the prediction of the dynamic evolution of the droplet size distribution (DSD). The system silicon oil-in-water stabilized by Polysorbate 20 (Tween20®) is considered under dilute conditions (<5%vol). Due to the physico-chemical properties of the system and the operating conditions, the droplets breakage process is dominant, while coalescence and Ostwald ripening are negligible. The breakage kernel proposed by Alopaeus et al. (2002) is employed and its parameters are identified and validated for the present system under different operating conditions. The effects of the number of SMX+ elements, viscosity and fraction of the dispersed phase, the DSD at the inlet of the mixers as well as the volume-average energy dissipation rate within the SMX+ elements on the evolution of the DSD are investigated. The model was found to be able of predicting the DSD over a wide range of operating conditions.