Experimental study on electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) in stable cone-jet with middle viscous and low conductive liquid

Abstract The cone-jet is one of the most interesting means in electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) for wide applications because of highly charged and monodisperse drops. The pulsating and stable cone-jet modes in EHDA of diethyleneglycol (DEG) are observed by means of high-speed photography technology, as well as the breakup modes transition of electrified jet from varicose to kink instability. The conductive liquid is driven to form a liquid cone at the outlet of the capillary tube, and form a permanent jet from the apex of the cone by the tangential electric stress. With an increase in electric potential, the cone angle and jet length increase. The electrified meniscus and cone may appear convex, linear sides and concave in cone jet mode/regime, which depends on the static equilibrium of forces exists at each point of electrified liquid surface. The jet breakup modes with multi-jet, varicose and kink instabilities are successively recorded as liquid flow rates increasing. The jet breakup transition depends on flow rate. The drops size rises proportionally with an increase in liquid flow rate or a decrease in electric potential in stable cone-jet mode. The dimensionless diameter d/d0 as a function of the dimensionless flow rate qV/qm is in good agreement with the universal scaling laws.