Foam breaking by high speed rotors

Abstract

AbstractThe first part of this paper presents a relationship for the minimum velocity of rotating installations for foam breaking. The derivation is based on equilibrium of inertia and surface forces. Inertia forces occur during the acceleration of foam bubbles and act mainly at the plateau borders. High and definite acceleration can be obtained with a deformer composed of a rotor and a stator. The surface force is due to the dynamic surface tension because surface‐active solutions react to a rapid change in surface area by altering their surface tension. The theoretical relationship is compared with experimental results of minimum velocities needed to break foams produced from aqueous solutions of detergents. The equation presented here explains why measured minimum velocities often range between 10 and 20 m/s. The second part of the paper deals with condensation of continuously generated foam in a closed system. In the process of condensation, foam is not completely separated into liquid and gas phase but turns into foam with small bubbles and high density. The collapse of this condensed foam must be considered for the control of persistent foams in a closed system. The collapse of foams made of aqueous solutions of different surface‐active agents has been investigated. Different highly surface‐active agents show small variations in times of coalescence. A relationship for the lifetime is given, which is based on laminar flow along plateau borders. Recommendations are made with respect to the geometry of the foam breaker, scale‐up and operating variables such as rotational speed of the foam breaker and gas flow rate.