Numerical Investigation of Electrohydrodynamic Effect on Lift and Drag Forces on an Airfoil in Low Reynolds Air Flow

Effect of forces due to electric field on two-dimensional low Reynolds air flow around an airfoil and variation of lift and drag coefficients are numerically investigated. The electric current and Gauss’s equations are solved and the outcome is considered as a source term in momentum equations. The energy equation is not considered due to its weak effect on the phenomena. Finite volume method is used to solve both electrical and flow equations. Comparing results with an empirical work reveals that the numerical method gives tolerable results, where imposing high voltage electric field can alter the drag and lift forces acting on the body. The electric field effect increases by increasing imposed voltage and decreases by increasing Re number.