Drag Reduction in Surfactant Solutions

Abstract

Although one of the first publications on drag reduction by additives deals with surfactant solutions, Mysels (1949), these types of additives have received less attention than others, especially polymers. However, in the past years this has changed because drag reducing surfactant solutions do not degrade over long periods of time. This is a definite advantage for practical applications, especially in closed flow circuits, and for studying the structure of turbulence under drag reducing conditions because the rheological solution properties and, consequently, the drag reduction do not change with time. Furthermore, systematic research studies in the chemical industry, documented by several European and U.S. patents, have led to the discovery of surfactant systems exhibiting drag reduction at surfactant concentrations below 100 ppm.