Kinetics of reversible gravitational coagulation in a spatially uniform disperse system

Spatially uniform disperse system where the processes of coagulation, fragm entation, and sedimentation of fractal aggregates occur simultaneously, was discussed. Kinetics of the passage of such system from the initial state, where the dispersed phase was already separated into fine and coarse fracti ons, to a new equilibrium state was studied. The enlargement of aggregates takes place both due to the capture of the particles of fine fraction and t heir adherence during collisions. Disintegration of aggregates occurs by th e detachment of fragments from the aggregate surface under the action of hy drodynamic stresses arising during aggregate sedimentation. The solution of the coagulation-fragmentation equations indicates that, at the intermediat e stage of a process, the aggregate mass distribution density is characteri zed by polymodal structure, which is degenerated into bimodal by the end of the passage.