Fog Droplets in Electrostatic Field

The behavior of an artificial cloud of water droplets less than 20 ¿ in diameter was investigated in a cloud chamber in the presence of a quasi-uniform electrostatic field. The effect of fields below 180 V/cm upon the cloud precipitation was found negligible. Collection efficiency increased only at higher field intensities. Contrary to the case of large drops, no spark discharges were observed between droplets in fields less than 1500 V/cm. A theoretical analysis shows also that the merger of small drops in fields below 500 V/cm is not associated with drops disintegration. Electrostatic fields met in the nature should not therefore modify the precipitation of clouds composed of small uncharged droplets. High value of the required field intensity excludes also the possibility of the application of quasi-uniform electrostatic for dissipation of nonelectrified fogs.