Effects of rotation on collection characteristics of fine particles by droplets

Removing particles dispersed in fluid through drops is widely presented in various fields, and the critical factor is particles captured by droplets. Drop rotation effects play a dominant role in the capture process. However, their influences on collection characteristics remain unclear. Thus, a particle collection model was developed to simultaneously consider rotation and translation effects on fine particles captured by an individual droplet. The finite volume method was used to solve for flow field and collection efficiency, and the proposed model was verified by comparison with experimental and published results. The Liutex method was used to identify the vortex structure, on which dimensionless droplet rotation rates ranged from 0 to 0.1. Velocity, drag coefficient, radial position, and captured particle velocity distribution and collection efficiency were also investigated in relation to the rotation effect. The results show that the established model is reasonable. Vortex strength increases with increased rotation speed where the increment can be up to 480, and fluid rotation strength depends on the competitive relation between the increase in the rotation rate and the vortex movement. Radial velocity increases in regions where the angle between the positive x axis and the normal vector of drop surface ranges from 115° to 180° but decreases in regions where the angle ranges from −180° to −120°, and corresponding regions produce a comparative relation for improving particle capture. Increasing the rotation rate can increase the drag force coefficient by about 0.025, hindering droplet–particle collision. Average radial velocity of particles with higher than 3.7 mm/s is necessary at high rotation rates, while collection efficiency decreases at increased droplet rotation rates.