Drop breakage in a single‐pass through vortex‐based cavitation device: Experiments and modeling

Liquid–liquid emulsions are used in many sectors such as personal care, home and food products. There is an increasing need for developing compact modular devices producing with desired droplet size distribution (DSD). In this work, we have experimentally computationally investigated application of vortex-based hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) device emulsions. The focus on understanding drop breakage occurring a single-pass through the considered HC device. experiments were performed generating oil-in-water emulsion containing 1%–20% rapeseed oil. effect pressure across range 50–250 kPa was examined. DSD produced single pass measured using focussed beam reflectance measurements. Comprehensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model based Eulerian approach developed to simulate multiphase cavitating flow. Using simulated flow, population balance (PBM) appropriate kernels solved showed excellent efficiency (nearly 1% which much higher than other commercial rotor–stators or sonolators) able reduce mean from 66 ~15 μm pass. CFD PBM models DSD. presented results will be useful researchers engineers interested