Influence of Droplet Size and Oil Viscosity on the Descending Velocity of Droplets Using Water Model With and Without Stirring

Abstract

Metal emulsions have been studied for several decades as a method of increasing the efficiency of the steelmaking process. This study was performed using a water model, observable at room temperature, to compensate for the disadvantages of the high-temperature experiment, the results of which are difficult to observe visually. As a substitute for metal-in-slag emulsions, experiments were conducted by dropping distilled water into silicone oil and comparing the results with the results of a calculation by momentum balance equations. The descending velocity of the water droplet decreased as the diameter of the droplet and viscosity of the fluid (silicon oil) increased. To simulate the descending velocity of a water droplet in silicon oil under stirring conditions, the flow rate of the fluid (silicon oil) was measured by particle image velocimetry (PIV) methods. The calculation of the descending velocity of the water droplet was in good agreement with the measured values, with and without stirring a viscous silicone oil.