System design in electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying – Effect of geometry and relative humidity

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying is an emerging technology using corona wind generated by a strong electric field between an emitter and a collector electrode. A product placed on the collector electrode is dried by this wind. To predict wind velocity and power consumption in larger scale EHD dryers, it is important to understand which factors impact the generation of electric current and corona wind. The objective of this study is therefore to assess the electric current and corona wind speed as function of the electrode configuration and relative humidity using a combination of experiments and Multiphysics modelling. The electric current and ionic wind speed increased at smaller distances between the emitter and collector electrodes and for larger mesh wire intervals of the collector mesh. The relative humidity of the air hardly influenced the electric current and wind speed. The experimental observations were adequately predicted by the Multiphysics model.