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LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Numerical model development and analysis of a drop-on-demand inkjet application

Wagner, Patrick Alexander LU (2024) MVKM05 20241
Department of Energy Sciences
Abstract
The jet breakup and the potential occurrence of satellite droplets play a crucial role
in the print quality of drop-on-demand (DOD) systems. This thesis focuses on developing
a numerical model to simulate droplet formation utilizing the volume-of-fluid
(VOF) method. A particular focus is on the occurrence of satellite droplets and
how different fluid properties influence the jetting behaviour. The research centres
on a printhead with a native droplet size of 2-3 pL and limited data availability.
Therefore, an inlet boundary approximation method is developed to accurately simulate
the droplet formation for different actuation waveforms. The study utilized
the software StarCCM+ and experimental results from a JetXpert dropwatcher for... (More)
The jet breakup and the potential occurrence of satellite droplets play a crucial role
in the print quality of drop-on-demand (DOD) systems. This thesis focuses on developing
a numerical model to simulate droplet formation utilizing the volume-of-fluid
(VOF) method. A particular focus is on the occurrence of satellite droplets and
how different fluid properties influence the jetting behaviour. The research centres
on a printhead with a native droplet size of 2-3 pL and limited data availability.
Therefore, an inlet boundary approximation method is developed to accurately simulate
the droplet formation for different actuation waveforms. The study utilized
the software StarCCM+ and experimental results from a JetXpert dropwatcher for
the creation of the numerical model. With the developed approximation method,
a validated model was created that effectively captures both droplet formation and
velocity. Multiple experimental observations were recreated after the calibration
process, successfully predicting the tail breakup. Finally, the validated model was
used to investigate the effect of viscosity, density, surface tension and contact angle
on the droplet formation process. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wagner, Patrick Alexander LU
supervisor
organization
course
MVKM05 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Drop-on-demand (DOD) Ink Jetting, Volume-of-fluid (VOF) Method, Newtonian Fluid, Waveform Approximation, Satellite Formation
report number
LUTMDN/TMHP-24/5580-SE
ISSN
0282-1990
language
English
id
9166861
date added to LUP
2024-08-14 16:05:16
date last changed
2024-08-14 16:05:16
@misc{9166861,
  abstract     = {{The jet breakup and the potential occurrence of satellite droplets play a crucial role
in the print quality of drop-on-demand (DOD) systems. This thesis focuses on developing
a numerical model to simulate droplet formation utilizing the volume-of-fluid
(VOF) method. A particular focus is on the occurrence of satellite droplets and
how different fluid properties influence the jetting behaviour. The research centres
on a printhead with a native droplet size of 2-3 pL and limited data availability.
Therefore, an inlet boundary approximation method is developed to accurately simulate
the droplet formation for different actuation waveforms. The study utilized
the software StarCCM+ and experimental results from a JetXpert dropwatcher for
the creation of the numerical model. With the developed approximation method,
a validated model was created that effectively captures both droplet formation and
velocity. Multiple experimental observations were recreated after the calibration
process, successfully predicting the tail breakup. Finally, the validated model was
used to investigate the effect of viscosity, density, surface tension and contact angle
on the droplet formation process.}},
  author       = {{Wagner, Patrick Alexander}},
  issn         = {{0282-1990}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Numerical model development and analysis of a drop-on-demand inkjet application}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}