Motion Dynamics of a Cluster of Monodispersed Liquid Drops in Another Immiscible Liquid

The paper describes an experimental study of the process in which a cluster of monodisperse drops of isoparaffin oil rises to the surface in distilled water in a range of Reynolds numbers Re = 200–800. It is shown that the initial volume concentration of drops in the cluster is one of the main parameters determining its dynamics. The study also touches upon the motion of two types of clusters, characterized by the presence or absence of collisions of the drops contained in it. Experimental dependences of the rising velocity of the drop cluster on the Reynolds number are obtained for different values of the initial volume concentration of drops. The limiting value of the initial volume concentration of drops is determined, corresponding to the onset of cluster motion with a velocity exceeding the velocity of a single drop.