Experimental investigations on characteristics of stable water electrospray in air without discharge.

An experimental study was conducted to resolve previous conflicting results on water electrospray in air at atmospheric pressure. Using a small flow rate relative to that used in previous studies and a small nonmetallic nozzle, we observed stable electrospray of water in air without discharge and distinguished three distinct operating regimes for applied voltage and flow rate. The well-known cone-jet mode was observed and the general scaling law of the generated droplet size in the cone-jet mode was confirmed by direct visualization of the meniscus, jet, and generated droplets. We also observed and analyzed whipping motion in the electrified water jet.