Multi-electrode assisted corona discharge for electrohydrodynamic flow generation in narrow channels

The present article proposes a multi-electrode discharge, called the assisted corona discharge as a possible solution to the challenges facing the miniaturizing of ionic wind blowers. Ionic wind blowers utilizing a corona to generate electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow have garnered increased interest as a cooling mechanism for electronic devices. As the size of these devices reduces, miniaturization of EHD blowers becomes essential. This offers many challenges including reducing the operating potentials (voltages), sustaining a stable discharge, and generating appreciable flow rate in a miniaturized configuration. An electrode configuration consisting of multiple collecting electrodes in an asymmetric geometry and electrostatically unbalanced configuration can generate a discharge regime termed an assisted corona discharge. The multiple collecting electrodes increase the overall current production at the corona source, but the discharge onset to both collecting electrodes is only controlled by the closer, primary collecting electrode. The utilization of multiple collectors inside a 4 mm high duct increased flow rates significantly in comparison to a standard corona discharge between a source and single collecting electrode, while also consuming less power, thus increasing efficiency.