Acceleration of the condensational growth of water droplets in an external electric field

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that an external electric field significantly accelerates the condensational growth of water droplets, supported by laboratory experiments and a kinetic model, revealing potential mechanisms for enhanced droplet growth.

Contribution

It introduces a combined experimental and theoretical approach to quantify how electric fields accelerate water droplet growth during condensation.

Findings

Electric field accelerates droplet growth by 1.5 to 2 times.

Droplets become polarized, facilitating steam molecule deposition.

The kinetic model supports the hypothesis of electric field-induced acceleration.

Abstract

The condensational growth of spherical water microdroplets is studied in a laboratory setup and with a mathematical model. In the experiment, droplet clusters are kept in a freely levitated state within an upward-oriented flow of water vapor. In the presence of an electrostatic field of 1.5 * 10^5 V / m, droplet growth is accelerated by factors 1.5 to 2.0 as compared to conditions without any external electric field. Presumably water molecules in the ambient air are accelerated through the presence of the electric field. A kinetic model to predict the acceleration of condensational growth confirms this hypothesis to be feasible. The droplets themselves are polarized so that the deposition of steam molecules is facilitated in the electric field. The simplifications and limitations of the model are discussed.