Numerical study of airborne particle dynamics in vortices near curved electrode surfaces

Abstract

A study is formulated to identify unique features in the dynamical behavior of airborne particles near curved surfaces, subject to a combination of aerodynamic and electrostatic influences. Particle tracing investigation is conducted in numerically fabricated steady vortices distorted near curved electrodes. The effect of direction and strength of air circulation on uncharged airborne particles is studied relative to that of the externally induced electric field, for a range of particle sizes and inertia. Unique features such as (a) improvement, deterioration, and controlled cutoff of electrostatic capture of particles; (b) segregation of particles expelled onto the domain walls selectively based on their size and inertia; and (c) particle flight manipulation with airborne trapping in inertial limit cycle trajectories and inverse cyclonic separation are observed. These phenomena are characterized by suitably identified dimensionless numbers Stv and ξv representing the ratio of the aerodynamic drag and the dielectrophoretic force to the particle inertia, respectively.