A novel phenomena of EHD vortices as a promising technology for air purification application

Oscillations of a pair of sub-milli scale water droplets in air, created using non-invasive electric force, is studied using experimental, numerical and analytical methods. Nonlinear features of oscillations such as bifurcation between two critical states of drop deformations and nonlinearly beating oscillations of drops were quantified upon processing high speed imaging results. Such electrically triggered oscillations of drops create vortices around the droplets, which are engineered into novel phenomena we report as "Electrohydrodynamic vortices (EHDV)". EHDV contains unique spatio-temporal features to capture particulate matter from ambient air into the droplets. We report a particle size dependent scaling of optimal EHD vortex strength for maximizing the particle capture. Probability of electrostatic particle capture of a 0.3micron airborne particle improves from 3% to above 90% in a span of 100ms, by employing EHD vortices. With the versatile capabilities to capture airborne particulate matter, disinfect airborne pathogens, absorb gaseous pollutants and especially the ability to dispose of the pollutants captured into the droplets, EHDV enters the scientific community as a strong contestant to be the next generation air purification technology in future.