A new algorithm for simulating flows of conducting fluids in the presence of electric fields Original Research Article

We propose an algorithm based on dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) for simulations of conducting fluids in the presence of an electric field. In this model, the electrostatic equations are solved in each DPD time step to determine the charge density at the fluid surfaces. These surface charges are distributed on a thin layer of fluid particles near the interface, and the corresponding interfacial electric forces are added to other DPD forces. The algorithm is applied to the electrospinning process at the Taylor cone formation stage. It is shown that, when the applied voltage is sufficiently high, the algorithm captures the formation of a Taylor cone with analytical apex angle 98.6°. Our results demonstrate the potential of the presented DPD algorithm for simulating two-phase problems in the presence of an electric field with non-periodic boundary conditions.