Drop size measurements in electrostatic paint sprays

Drop-sizing experiments were performed on an electrostatic fan-spray atomizer operated in the airless mode. Tests were conducted with and without application of a high-voltage charge to the electrode tip placed downstream of the nozzle exit. A nonintrusive Malvern 2600 particle sizer, based on the forward scattering of a 5 mW He-Ne laser beam, was used to yield line-of-sight and cross-sectional drop size distributions. The atomizer was traversed across the laser beam, and drop size profiles as a function of distance from the centerline were developed. Enamel paint with a viscosity of 17 cp was sprayed over a differential pressure range of 1.38 to 6.20 MPa. Results indicate that at low injection pressures the charge application has a significant effect on the average drop size and the spatial drop distribution. However, as injection pressure is increased, the electrostatic influence on drop size and distribution decreases