Study of leaky dielectric droplet behavior under an electric field: effect of viscosity and electric conductivity ratios

In this research, hydrodynamic behavior of a leaky dielectric droplet under an electric field is simulated. The level set method is used for interface tracking and the ghost fluid method is used for modeling discontinuous quantities at interface. Using Taylor’s leaky dielectric model, electric field and electric force at the interface is calculated. Simulation results show the droplet deformation and induced flows inside and outside the droplet under an electric field. Droplet deformation dependent on the electric conductivity and electric permittivity ratio of droplet and surrounding fluid can be as elongation in electric field direction or perpendicular to it. The effect of electric conductivity ratio and viscosity ratio on hydrodynamic behavior of droplet is studied. According to the results, increase in these quantities increases the deformation of droplet. Also, the enhancement rate of droplet deformation is decreased by enhancement of electric conductivity ratio and viscosity ratio.