STUDY OF A HIGH-VELOCITY LIQUID JET STRESSED BY AN ELECTRIC-FIELD

In this work we report an experimental study dealing with the modifica tions of the breakup phenomena of a high-velocity jet when stressed by an electric field. We considered an arrangement consisting of a cylin drical electrode coaxial with the jet imposing an electric field at th e jet exit. With this arrangement we analyzed the behavior of the elec trified and nonelectrified jet. We tested a water liquid jet and measu red the droplet size and velocity ratio of the droplets of the spray a t different positions by means of a Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer. O ur results indicate that the electric field increases monotonically th e ratio of the components of the velocity in the radial and axial dire ction and promotes an earlier detachment of droplets from the jet. No significant change in droplet size could be detected. With the aid of a previously reported linear stability analysis we have analyzed the e xperimental data. This theory reveals itself as a good first approach to compare some aspects of the breakup phenomena of electrified and no nelectrified jets of conducting liquids flowing at high velocities. (C ) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-6631(98)01511-6].