Heat transfer enhancement using corona wind generator

Heat transfer enhancement using corona wind generators in a square channel has been numerically examined in this study. Three configurations of the corona wind generator (separately with 4, 12, and 28 pins of emitting electrodes) are investigated for their effectiveness in the enhancement of heat transfer as well as the pumping power requirement. To achieve the maximum enhancement in heat transfer, the emitting electrodes of the corona wind generator are flush mounted on the channel walls so that the corona wind produced directly perturbs the momentum and thermal boundary layers. The Reynolds number considered varies in a range between 200 and 2000. The influence of electric field on the flow and temperature fields is examined for a wild range of operating conditions. It has been found that the thermal hydraulic parameter, a measure of the effectiveness in heat transfer enhancement, is not only greater than unity but also higher than those of other techniques, which indicates that EHD technique has a great potential for many engineering applications.