Hydrodynamics of drop formation from a hydrocarbon film around a sphere placed in a moving aqueous phase

The study of the coalescence of secondary dispersions passing through a granular packing has led to the consideration of drop formation from a hydrocarbon film around a single sphere placed in the flux of an aqueous phase. An analogue mock‐up study led to a mathematical model for relating the diameter of the drop to various parameters participating in the phenomenon. A relationship enabling reasonably accurate calculation of the diameter of a drop formed by means of such a sphere placed in a stationary or mobile aqueous phase for a wide range of Reynolds numbers and Bond numbers is proposed.