The coalescence of water drops I. A theoretical model of approaching drops

Abstract

The approach of two water drops in the absence of air flow around them is theoretically investigated. By assuming deformation criteria it is possible to solve the equation of motion of the drops under the influence of a variety of forces. These forces include the viscous force exerted by the air between the two deformed surfaces, the London-Van Der Waals forces and the force of gravity. It is found that the viscous forces dominate over the whole distance of the interaction. The equations have analytical solutions when a head-on approach is considered and when the deformation of the drops is assumed constant during the interaction. The equations were solved numerically for other deformation criteria and for non head-on approaches. The results of the present model are used in the following paper to compute the coalescence efficiencies of water drops. The model is primarily applicable to situations in which the large drop is stationary and the small one approaches it from below. However, it could also be used for interaction between freely falling drops as long as their relative velocities exceed about 13 cm/sec.