On the calculation of droplet charging during corona discharge in the chamber of air ionic treatment of organic materials

A mathematical model is presented in the drift-diffusion approximation, which describes the transport of charged particles in the air under the action of a corona discharge, as well as a change in the surface charge of droplets in a droplet-air environment. This model allows us to calculate the dynamics of charge transmission to droplets of organic materials during their aeroion treatment, taking into account the heterogeneity of the electric field of the corona discharge. An inhomogeneous electric field is created when an electric voltage is applied between needle-type electrodes and the inner surface of the chamber for aeroion treatment of organic materials. It has been experimentally shown that the electric charge of nutrient medium and yeast cell molecules in a drop affects the diffusion of nutrients into the cell and, as a result, the development and productivity of yeast, which increases by 12–17 % compared with the use of methods not related to aeroion treatment of organic materials. The conducted experimental studies indicate the possibility of using the model to design real aeroion treatment chambers in order to optimize their operation.