Semi-empirical model for the continuous separation of aqueous entrainment by electric fields

In liquid-liquid extraction related to nuclear fuel reprocessing a semi-theoretical model was developed for the design of pilot plant scale entrainment separators with a volume flow rate of one liter per hour. The general case will be considered in which the organic continuous phase has a relatively high electric conductivity. A correlation will be presented between the separation efficiencies determined experimentally and the frequency of droplet collisions derived from theoretical considerations. A factor has been introduced which is exclusively a function of the equipment and materials system and which expresses the ratio of coalescence performance to Joule effect performance. This correlation allows entrainment electric separators to be designed which run under operating conditions in the range of 0.35 to 1.36 % (wt) for entrainment initial concentrations and of 40 to 67 μm for the mean droplet diameters.