Two Phase Flow Pressure Drop for the Coalescence of Secondary Dispersions in Ballotini Glass Particulate Beds

Abstract

Steady state and unsteady state operation of ballotini glass particulate bed coalesces were studied for separation of oil-in-water secondary dispersions at constant temperature. The study was made of pressure drop during two-phase flow to determine the pressure drop characteristic of the porous media (i.e., spherical ballotini glass particulate beds) for coalescence. The main variables affecting the two-phase flow pressure drop are inlet drop size, properties of dispersed and continuous phases, superficial velocity, phase ratio, particle size, bed depth, bed material, packing arrangement, wettability of the packing, bed voidage or porosity, and sphericity or shape of particles.