A Mathematical Model for Determining an Electrohydrodynamic Accelerator's Monopolar Flow Limit During Positive Corona Discharge

Abstract

This paper presents a mathematical model establishing the velocity limit of EHD fluid accelerators with tip to plane and cylinder to plane electrode configurations. The model is based on the calculation of the electric field lines length and trajectory, allowing practical use even if only the spatial characteristics of the geometry, the fluid's ion mobility and the applied voltage are known. Experiments are performed with wire-plane and needle-grid electrode configurations to validate the developed mathematical model, both for the calculation of the average flow limit of the geometry and for the calculation of the flow limit at the end of each electric field line.