Experimental and Analytical Investigations of Wire-Partially Insulated Parallel Plate Electrode Type Electrohydrodynamic Fan

Abstract

As an alternative to conventional mechanical fans, EHD fans and/or EHD gas pumps, which generate less noise, were investigated for cooling systems, such as in electronic equipment and automobiles. Wire-parallel plate electrode type EHD fans, which have greater design freedom and potential for practical application, have been suggested. This study clarifies the characteristics of a wire-partially insulated parallel plate electrode type EHD fan under DC positive applied voltage. In order to understand the characteristics of the EHD fan more deeply, visualizations of the air flow in the flow channel and the exit area were conducted by using PIV and CFD analyses. In the experiment, air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature was used as a working fluid. The experimental results for fan characteristics of the EHD fan, such as the velocity profile, cross-sectional average velocity, volumetric flow rate in the flow channel or at the exit area, power, and so on, are considered in detail. In addition, the flow visualization and the instantaneous and time-averaged velocity profiles from the PIV analysis are discussed. A comparison with the experimental results described above, and differences of flow regime for different locations, are also presented and discussed. Furthermore, a two-dimensional steady state flow simulation by means of CFD analysis was conducted and its experimental results analyzed.