Entropic and energetic factors in steady state coagulation—break-up processes

Abstract

Based on a recently developed model, the distributional entropy and the corresponding energy absorbed in the formation of clusters in steady state coagulation—break-up processes within vigorously stirred suspensions are investigated here. A major conclusion of this work is that a minimal but finite amount of energy, arising from entropic factors, is necessary to accommodate the conformational possibilities of the final cluster size distribution. As a result, a relatively small fraction of the stirring work put into the system contributes directly to creating the clusters, while the rest is dissipated into viscous heat.