Numerical simulation of electrospray in the cone-jet mode

We present a robust and computationally efficient numerical scheme for simulating steady electrohydrodynamic atomization processes (electrospray). The main simplification assumed in this scheme is that all the free electrical charges are distributed over the interface. A comparison of the results wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Vol. 86; no. 2 Pt 2; p. 026305
Main Authors Herrada, M A, López-Herrera, J M, Gañán-Calvo, A M, Vega, E J, Montanero, J M, Popinet, S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.2012
Subjects
Algorithms
Computer Simulation
Diffusion
Electrochemistry - methods
Hydrodynamics
Microfluidics - methods
Models, Statistical
Models, Theoretical
Physics - methods
Static Electricity
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Summary:We present a robust and computationally efficient numerical scheme for simulating steady electrohydrodynamic atomization processes (electrospray). The main simplification assumed in this scheme is that all the free electrical charges are distributed over the interface. A comparison of the results with those calculated with a volume-of-fluid method showed that the numerical scheme presented here accurately describes the flow pattern within the entire liquid domain. Experiments were performed to partially validate the numerical predictions. The simulations reproduced accurately the experimental shape of the liquid cone jet, providing correct values of the emitted electric current even for configurations very close to the cone-jet stability limit.
ISSN:1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.86.026305