Analysis method of negative ion by electrostatic atomization

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an analysis method of negative ion by electrostatic atomization. Because the electrostatic atomization includes large deformation of a drop of water, it is difficult to analyze with conventional fluid analysis methods such as the finite differences method, the finite element method (FEM) and so on.

Design/methodology/approach

In this method, electrostatic field equation is coupled with Navier‐Stokes equation of a drop of water, employing the moving particle semi‐implicit method and FEM. The validity of the method is verified through the measurement.

Findings

It was found that the difference between calculated and measured results becomes large as the voltage increases.

Research limitations/implications

In order to improve the accuracy, it is necessary to improve the way to calculate surface tension and the analysis condition.

Originality/value

This paper confirms the usefulness of the numerical method to elucidate electrostatic atomization.

Citation

Okaue, Y., Yoshikawa, G., Miyasaka, F. and Hirata, K. (2010), "Analysis method of negative ion by electrostatic atomization", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 29 No. 5, pp. 1285-1293. https://doi.org/10.1108/03321641011061498