Stability Analysis of a Drop Generation from a Nozzle in an Electric Field

摘要

Stability of a conducting drop hanging from a nozzle in an electric field was examined theoretically. With this static model, stability of electrostatic ink/et process was estimated. The basic equations are the augmented Young-Laplace equation for drop shape and the Laplace equation for electric field. These coupled equations were solved by the Finite Element Method. By the initial condition of its shape, a drop could be deformed into different shapes, such as "conical shape, " "nipple " or "dog bone " with the increment of non-dimensional electric field. The concentration of electric field around the corner of a nozzle was found to be the cause of these multiple shapes.