Collector electrodes and ion collecting surfaces for electrohydrodynamic fluid accelerators

Abstract

Embodiments of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) fluid accelerator devices utilize collector electrode structures that promote efficient fluid flow and reduce the probability of arcing by managing the strength of the electric field produced at the forward edges of the collector electrodes. In one application, the EHD devices dissipate heat generated by a thermal source in a thermal management system.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an emitter electrode; and   a collector-radiator assembly including a fluid permeable ion collection surface and an array of heat transfer surfaces extending downstream of the emitter electrode, the fluid permeable ion collection surface spanning a major dimension of the heat transfer surface array,   the emitter electrode and the collector-radiator assembly energizable to motivate fluid along a flow path through the fluid permeable ion collection surface and over the heat transfer surfaces of the collector-radiator assembly.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus comprising:
 an array of generally planar collector electrodes wherein at least a substantial subset thereof include respective hollows defined therein; and   an emitter electrode having a longitudinal extent spanning a major dimension of the collector electrode array and positioned relative to individual ones of the collector electrodes such that the emitter electrode passes through the respective hollows and such that, when the emitter and collector electrodes are energized, generated ions motivate fluid flow in a generally downstream direction toward and past dominant ion collecting surfaces of the collector electrodes that are nearest the emitter electrode,   wherein for at least the substantial subset of collector electrodes that include respective hollows, at least some ion collecting surfaces extend upstream of the emitter electrode.   
   
   
       3 . An apparatus comprising:
 an array of collector electrodes; and   an emitter electrode having a longitudinal extent spanning a major dimension of the collector electrode array and positioned relative to the collector electrodes such that, when the emitter and collector electrodes are energized, generated ions motivate fluid flow in a generally downstream direction toward and past leading surfaces of the collector electrodes that are proximate the emitter electrode,   wherein the leading surfaces of the collector electrodes, but not further surfaces downstream of the leading surfaces, are conditioned with a resistive material.