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Inducing gas flow and swirl in tubes using ionic wind from corona discharges

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Abstract

Air induction and rotation about the axis of a vertical tube is generated by an assembly of corona discharges between pinpoints and earthed electrodes, which induces a swirling ionic wind. The mechanism is elucidated and the geometrical configuration of the electric field lines of force is optimised by studying the deposition of charged particles on the earth electrodes, by numerical modelling of a simplified geometry and ultimately by maximising the measured tangential velocities. Upward convective flows of up to a litre per second are provided by an additional ionic wind pump at the base of the tube. With assemblies of up to three layers of six points each, tangential velocities of up to 3.3 m/s (≈900 rpm) are attained at the periphery, as recorded by small Pitot tubes. The concept, developed particularly for microgravity environments, appears suitable for adding a substantial centrifugal contribution to the operation of electrostatic precipitators and as a basis for further progress on electrical field-controlled burners.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to NASA for financial support under contract NNC04GA28G.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imperial College London, London, UK

    Felix Weinberg, Fred Carleton, Dhiren Kara & Agatha Xavier

  2. University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Derek Dunn-Rankin & Matthew Rickard

Authors
  1. Felix Weinberg
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  2. Fred Carleton
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  3. Dhiren Kara
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  4. Agatha Xavier
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  5. Derek Dunn-Rankin
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  6. Matthew Rickard
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Correspondence to Felix Weinberg.

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Weinberg, F., Carleton, F., Kara, D. et al. Inducing gas flow and swirl in tubes using ionic wind from corona discharges. Exp Fluids 40, 231–237 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-005-0062-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-005-0062-0

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