A comparative analysis of the stability regimes of three different electroh
ydrodynamic atomization (electrospray) systems is presented. Availability o
f a high resolution imaging system allowed for a direct visualization of th
e breakup mechanisms. Both liquid flow rate and applied voltage are varied
in a large grid of values in order to build up a database of the observable
jet breakup regimes. The exploited conditions have been chosen with the pu
rpose of evidencing the relative influences of geometrical, electrical and
fluid_dynamical effects at various working conditions. Experimental results
shed light on the complex interaction between the controlling parameters a
nd resulted in the formulation of some necessary conditions for the occurre
nce of stable jet regimes. The final conclusion of the paper is the recogni
tion of the actual limitation in the mass Row rate range where such regime
can be stabilized. Nevertheless some suggestion comes for the exploitation
of atomization condition different from the classical Taylor cone jet that
could be successfully exploited either in combustion systems or other techn
ological application. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.