Numerical Studies of Droplet Behavior in a Steady Non-Uniform Electric Field
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Date
2013
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North Dakota State University
Abstract
An initially uncharged droplet suspended in another immiscible fluid under the influence
of a steady non-uniform electric field may experience deformation, migration and bursting.
This work numerically investigated the behavior of the droplet. Both the droplet and the
suspending fluid are assumed as leaky-dielectric or perfect-dielectric. We used a threedimensional
spectral boundary element method which has been validated by comparing
with other numerical results and experimental findings for droplet deformation in a uniform
electric field. The electric properties of the fluids are found to have a big influence on the
droplet migration direction and speed in a non-uniform electric field. We have investigated
the droplet deformation and motion affected by permittivity ratio, resistivity ratio, viscosity
ratio and the electric capillary number in a non-uniform electric field.