On the minimum and maximum flowrate of electrospraying: A practical approach, based on fundamentals, for design purposes

Abstract

The minimum and maximum flow rates (Q_min, Q_max) limit the operational window of electrospraying (cone-jet mode). Literature does not give a general, experimentally proven, useable formula. We derived with fundamental physics and curve fitting a relation between Q_min and Q_o $\left(=\frac{{\epsilon }_o\gamma }{\rho K}\right)$ , for Newtonian liquids with low/moderately high viscosities. The formula is corroborated by own experiments and data from literature. With the formula Q_min can be obtained by only measuring some properties of the liquid to be sprayed. Q_max, is difficult to address. An empirical result and experimental data indicate a ratio of Q_max/Q_min between some tens and some hundreds.