Coalescence behavior of two water drops in viscous oil under an AC electric field

摘要

Electric coalescence in alternating current (AC) electric field is one of the important electrical dehydrate technologies. In this study, the coalescence behavior of two water drops in an AC electric field was studied experimentally using a high-speed camera. There is a critical electric field strength above which the two drops would not coalescence. Such coalescence behavior was supposed to be depended on the electric field strength and the frequency. Lower electric field strength, lower frequency and smaller size would facilitate the coalescence of drops. The understanding of the electric coalescence could be helpful to advance the design of the electrocoalescencers.