Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Convective Field by Applying Ionic Wind

Abstract

This study has been conducted to pursue the enhancement of forced-convection heat transfer by applying an electric field. Experiments were performed in an air channel flow where a series of wire-electrodes were installed in parallel with the primary flow direction, or installed at right angle to the primary flow direction. By applying the electric field, secondary flow was electro-hydrodynamically induced by the Coulomb force. The visualization of flow patters and measurement of heat transfer coefficient and consuming power were carried out. The theoretical analysis on electric, flow and temperature field was also performed taking account of momentum transfer between ions and neutral fluid molecules. On the basis of these results, fundamental characteristics of the EHD combined flow and the heat transfer were clarified in conjunction with applied voltage, primary velocity and wire-electrode arrangement. And, the possibility of the practical applications of the ionic wind are discussed.