Optimal Working Fluid and Electrode Configuration for EHD-Enhanced Single-Phase Heat Transfer

The application of a high voltage to a sharp electrode immersed in a single-phase fluid can lead to the creation of ions, which are driven towards the opposite electrode, while dragging the fluid neutral molecules. The resulting electrohydrodynamic flow, if impinging on a heat transfer surface, can become an extremely efficient means of heat exchange. In order to maximize the heat transfer enhancing effect and at the same time limiting the power consumption, an optimum combination of working fluid and electrode configuration was searched. In this way, even at low Reynolds numbers, stable high heat transfer coefficients were obtained.