Coalescers are well-established for filtering tiny droplets out of mist. The commonly used filter materials are based on fibrous material and are employed in various applications and industrial environments such as oil-mist separation in oil and gas production, in aviation as part of the cabin air supply system, and in industrial air conditioners. As a result, coalescence filters are often placed near rotary machinery and in vibrating environments, where vibrations can affect their performance. The impact of vibrations on the filter performance and the underlying mechanisms of droplet-fiber interaction has not been previously investigated. In our current work, we aim to study the interaction of an already separated droplet on a single fiber acting as a collector. We use high-speed imaging technology to observe the microscopic events with state-of-the-art temporal and spatial resolution. Depending on the excitation of the fiber, the droplet can exhibit different basic forms of movement (elongation, deformation, lateral - and rotational movement). A sequence and/or a superposition of these basic forms of movement can be interpreted as mechanisms. The identified mechanisms include static, pulsating, rotating, and collapsing droplets on the fiber.

As a result of strong pulsating or rotation, a droplet can ...