Effects of Eccentricity and Horizontal Electric Field on the Characteristics and Outcomes of Binary Collisions of Water Drops

Abstract

AbstractEffects of eccentricity and horizontal electric field (EH) on the binary‐collision outcomes of water drops are examined using numerically calculated collision characteristics from previous studies and results of simulation experiment conducted by the authors. For a fixed collision kinetic energy (CKE), filament breakups can occur at all values of eccentricity but events of coalescence decrease, and that of sheet breakup increase with increasing eccentricity in absence of EH. However, as EH increases to ∼300 kVm−1 it opposes the variability of the coalescence and sheet breakup events with eccentricity. When EH exceeds ∼300 kVm−1 the collision outcomes might be determined only by the CKE and EH. The calculated value of coalescence efficiency and total number of fragments after a binary collision decreases with an increase in EH. It is argued that an electric field can significantly modify drop size distribution in thunderclouds and needs to be considered for development of precipitation.