Spray Mode and Monodisperse Droplet Properties of an Electrospray

Abstract

As a method of fluid atomization via application of a high voltage, electrospraying forms more uniform droplets than other spraying modes. This approach involves various spraying modes depending on the applied voltage. Most previous studies on electrospraying focused on the cone jet mode, which has limited applications since the applied voltage has a narrow range. To overcome this limitation, it is necessary to consider alternative spray modes, which require an in-depth understanding of their characteristics. To compare different spray modes, an investigation was conducted based on experimental parameters and fluid properties. In this study, a total of nine modes were identified, and the droplet characteristics in four modes were compared. The maximum deviation of the Sauter mean diameter (SMD) between the spray modes was approximately 1.7 times, and the SMD standard deviation was up to 2.8 times. In addition, the conditions required to realize Coulomb fission and monodisperse distribution depending on the Rayleigh critical charge (RSD < 6.76) were compared and examined.