Experimental study on the role of electrical conductivity in pulsating modes of electrospraying

In the present experimental study, the effects of electrical conductivity on electrospraying modes and its produced droplets are investigated. A metallic nozzle with 0.6 mm ID as high voltage electrode were employed in a point to ring electrode configuration in this work. Experiments were carried out in still room temperature. Four different aqueous KCl solutions were sprayed in various high voltages and flow rates. Results confirmed that spraying modes are more dependent on electrical conductivity rather than flow kinetics. Applied electrical field required to form a cone shape on the nozzle tip decreases with increasing conductivity. Moreover, results revealed that electrical conductivity of dispersed solution plays a decisive role on elongation of the cones in ES procedure. Smaller size of produced droplets was obtained by increasing conductivity of dispersed liquid while velocity of filaments emanated from liquid jet decreases at the same time. In this study, we have presented insight to the role of physicochemical properties on the pulsating modes of spraying.