Electrostatic control of particle deposition

Abstract

A two-dimensional simulation has been conducted in an electrostatic powder-coating booth for controlling particle deposition. In the absent of electrostatic forces, most of particles flow along steamlines and cannot deposit on the target. When electrostatic forces (coulombic and image forces) are added in the motion of the particle, the trajectories change significantly near the target. It is found that image force hardly affects the deposited position of the particle. From the calculated force distribution near the aimed region on the target, coulombic force is found to be larger than drag force when the particle is very close to the target. Particles with small Stokes number having small specific charge deposit exactly on the aimed regions. Furthermore the width of the aimed region also affects the accuracy of the particle deposition.