Electrode arrangement for electrohydrodynamic enhancement of heat and mass transfer

Abstract

An electrode arrangement for electrohydrodynamic (EHD) enhancement of heat and mass transfer is disclosed. Electrodes of alternating polarity are embedded within a nonconductive heat transfer wall material and are connected to a high voltage source at either end of the heat transfer wall material where the heat transfer wall material passes through a tube sheet, fitting or other confinement. When voltage from the high voltage source is applied to the alternating electrodes, electric field gradients are created on both the interior and exterior heat transfer surfaces of the heat transfer wall material. Regions of intense electric field gradient reside in close proximity to both heat transfer surfaces, thus when nonconductive fluids pass over the heat transfer surfaces, bubbles are repelled from the regions of strong electric field gradients above the electrodes and additional fluid is attracted into these regions. The result is simultaneous augmentation of heat and mass transfer, particularly by evaporation and condensation, on both sides of the heat transfer wall material.