Large Charged Drop Levitation Against Gravity

• Published in: IEEE transactions on industry applications 1987-11, Vol.IA-23 (6), p.975-979
• Main Authors: Rhim, Won-Kyu, Chung, Sang Kun, Hyson, Michael T., Trinh, Eugene H., Elleman, Daniel D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Charge coupled devices; Charge-coupled image sensors; Classical and quantum physics: mechanics and fields; Classical electromagnetism, maxwell equations; Classical field theories; Digital control; Electrodes; Electrostatic levitation; Exact sciences and technology; Gravity; Industry Applications Society; Materials Processing; Microcomputers; Physics; Propulsion
• ISSN: 0093-9994; 1939-9367
• DOI: 10.1109/TIA.1987.4505016

A hybrid electrostatic-acoustic levitator that can levitate and manipulate a large liquid drop in one gravity is presented. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time such large drops (up to 4 mm in diameter in the case of water) have been levitated against 1-gravity. This makes possible, for the first time, many new experiments both in space and in ground-based laboratories, such as 1) supercooling and superheating, 2) containerless crystal growth from various salt solutions or melts, 3) drop dynamics of oscillating or rotating liquid drops, 4) drop evaporation and Rayleigh bursting, and 5) containerless material processing in space. The digital control system, liquid drop launch process, principles of electrode design, and design of a multipurpose room temperature levitation chamber are described. Preliminary results that demonstrate drop oscillation and rotation, and crystal growth from supersaturated salt solutions are presented.