Performance of a Multiple Stage EHD Gas Pump in a Square Channel

Abstract

Earlier studies have shown that an electric field in the form of corona discharge can effectively produce air flow. Using this technique, it has been demonstrated that an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) gas pump can produce gas flows with a maximum velocity of 5 m/s. Its maximum performance of 34 L/s/W is better than that of conventional cooling fans used in personal computers. In this study, an EHD pump with two stages, each stage with 28 emitting electrodes, is tested for a wide range of operating voltages starting from the corona threshold voltage up to 28 kV for further improvement in its performance. To seek the relation between the pump performance and number of stages, the EHD gas pump is critically evaluated by experimental measurements and numerical simulations. The maximum performance of 34 L/s/W is achieved by using a total of 56 electrodes with 0.5 inch wide grounded plate in each stage.