Electrohydrodynamic dryer: Effect of emitters’ density and gap between discharge and collecting electrodes

Abstract

This paper presents the results of experimental study and mathematical simulation of multi-pin electrohydrodynamic dryer as a function of emitters’ density and a gap between discharge and collecting electrodes. Experimental data for multi-pin electrodes with different emitters’ spacing 1 × 1, 2 × 2, 3 × 3, 4 × 4, 6 × 6 cm and different gaps between electrodes at 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 cm have been approximated with Warburg and Stuetzer models. Stuetzer model appears to be more accurate fit to experimental data for all electrode geometries. It also allowed decomposition of partial effects of emitters’ density and the gap between electrodes. Effect of emitters’ density was accounted through dimensionless geometry factor g_o. Using modified Stuetzer model, current density of the multi-pin electrode could be predicted as a function of voltage, gap and emitters’ density, which allows scaling up the multi-pin dryers for industrial applications.

Keywords:

• Corona discharge
• multi-pin electrode
• geometry factor
• EHD drying
• mathematical model