A Theoretical Study of Induction Electrohydrodynamic Pumping in Outer Space

Abstract

The challenge for designers of a space station is to meet requirements ofweight, reliability, power, and maintainability. Several new technologies must be developed to insure the success of the space station. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pumping may have an impact on the design of novel pumping devices for space stations or other space-related operations. The principal advantage of EHD pumping is that it is non-mechanical; therefore, it has neither moving mechanical parts nor the need for external pressure for operation. Typical applications of EHD pumping include cooling of underground cables, transformers and similar electrical equipment. An EHD pump uses electric fields acting on electric charges embedded in a fluid to move that fluid. One way of setting up the free charges is induction charging, based on establishing an electrical conductivity gradient perpendicular to the desired direction of fluid motion. This gradient perpendicular to the desired direction of fluid motion. This gradient can be established in the presence of a temperature gradient. There are two basic kinds of induction EHD pump: attraction (forward) and repulsion (backward) pumps. In the attraction pump, the pipe is cooled at the wall, giving a negative electric conductivity gradient. In the repulsion pump, the pipe is heated atmore » the wall, causing a positive electric conductivity gradient. In the attraction pump, the fluid is pumped in the same direction as the traveling electric wave. In this mode, the fluid velocity is limited by the speed of the moving electric field (synchronous speed), which depends on frequency and on the spacing of the electrodes (wavelength) along the channel. Unlike the attraction pump, a repulsion pump has no velocity limit. In the repulsion mode, the fluid is pumped in the opposite direction to the traveling electric wave.« less