English

The Optimal Faucet

Fluid Dynamics 2007-05-23 v2 Soft Condensed Matter

Abstract

The production of small fluid droplets relies on an instability of solutions to the Young-Laplace equation. We ask whether smaller droplets can be produced by changing the shape of the nozzle. At a given critical pressure, the circular nozzle actually produces the largest droplet. The droplet volume can be decreased by up to 18% using a triangular nozzle with stretched corners.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.physics/0311046,
  title  = {The Optimal Faucet},
  author = {Henry Chen and Michael P. Brenner},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0311046},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

4 pages, 2 figures, figures and presentation modified for clarity, reference added