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Stabilization of dielectric liquid bridges by electric fields in the absence of gravity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2006

H. González
Affiliation:
Dpto Electrónica y Electromagnetismo, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
F. M. J. Mccluskey
Affiliation:
Dpto Física Fundamental, U.N.E.D. Madrid, Spain
A. Castellanos
Affiliation:
Dpto Electrónica y Electromagnetismo, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
A. Barrero
Affiliation:
Dpto de Ingeniería Energética y Mecánica de Fluidos, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

Abstract

The stability of liquid bridges in zero gravity conditions under the influence of an a.c. electric field tangential to the interface is examined in this paper. For the theoretical study, a static analysis was carried out to find the bifurcation surfaces as a function of the three relevant non-dimensional parameters: Λ, the slenderness or ratio of height to diameter of the cylindrical bridge; β0, the ratio of dielectric constants of the two fluids used and Ξ, a non-dimensional quantity proportional to the applied voltage. Stable and unstable regions of Λ−βo−Ξ space were distinguished. Results indicate a strong stabilizing effect for higher values of β0. The experimental study, using silicone and ricinus oil to approximate zero gravity conditions fully confirmed quantitatively the theoretical results.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1989 Cambridge University Press

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