Coalescence modelling in liquid/liquid dispersions is a challenging task and field of investigations up to now, which becomes apparent when comparing the various existent models with their different and partly even contradictive implementation of influencing factors. In this work, systematic investigations of single drop coalescence were used to compare and validate different coalescence efficiency models regarding the important influencing parameters relative collision velocity and drop size. The impact of these parameters could be analysed independently from each other for the first time and used to identify the best modelling approach. Moreover, the numerical parameter of the coalescence efficiency model could be obtained based on single drop experiments. Using this determined parameter the simulation of drop size distributions within a lab scale stirred vessel was possible. The presented method offers the possibility of independent parameter estimation for population balance equation simulations based on single drop experiments. The application of this systematic approach allows the separate validation of submodels and reliable parameter determination by small scale investigations. On this basis a sound scale-up is possible using population balance equation simulations. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.