Dynamics of water droplets breakup in electric fields

The authors present an experimental and analytical study of the deformations and breakup of large water droplets that are approximately 1.4 cm in diameter, generated in microgravity, and subjected to an electric field. The deformations were recorded on films taken with a high-speed camera. The films show that under the electric field forces, the droplet extends along the direction of the electric field, forms Taylor cones at the elongated ends, and starts to eject several very small droplets from the tips of the cones before the entire mass breaks up in two or three droplets. The mathematical analysis and computer simulation presented show a successful reproduction of the various stages of the deformation process in time up to the formation of the Taylor cones. Up to that point, the numerical results show that (1) the dynamics of the deformation of the droplet is determined primarily by the electric and inertial forces, and the viscous effects appear less significant; and (2) the motion in the interior of the droplet is limited to translation due to the droplet deformation with no mixing taking place