Passage of a Liquid Taylor Drop through Successive Bends in a Rectangular Channel

Numerical investigations on interfacial evolution of a kerosene Taylor drop in water medium while passing through bends have been carried out using the lattice Boltzmann method. During passage through a U bend, it has been observed that the drop reorients itself to adjust the effects caused by the restrictions along the bend. The phenomenon behind the interface evolution of the drop has been explained with the help of phase contours, streamlines, averaged water film thickness at a particular cross-sectional plane, drop tip Reynolds number, and inscribed angle at the bend center. Simulations have been performed by considering the effect of inflow Reynolds number, gravity influence, sudden contraction at the bend, reduced connecting length in the return bends, and change in bend direction. In the return bends, with the increase of Reynolds number or sudden contraction area, the drop became more and more slender as it progresses along the bends.