Performance Evaluation of a Dual-Electrode Electro-Aero-Dynamic Propulsion System versus Conventional Propellers Under Flight-Representative Atmospheric Conditions

Commercial aviation accounts for approximately 2.5% of global carbon emissions, with current propulsion systems relying heavily on fossil fuels. This study examines the performance of electro-aerodynamic (EAD) thrusters, a potentially zero-emission propulsion system, under varying atmospheric pressures in comparison to conventional propeller systems, aiming to identify the optimal operating conditions of EAD technology within Earth's atmosphere. An EAD thruster requires a sharp crown-shaped cathode and a smooth ringshaped anode, which produces "ionic wind" when passing 25 kV of electricity through the electrodes. The thruster is then placed into a vacuum chamber to replicate low-pressure conditions similar to those experienced by aircraft at high altitudes. The air pressure was manipulated using a vacuum pump during our tests. Data analysis revealed that ionic propulsion is generally more efficient than traditional propellers, peaking at 1700 mN of thrust at 75 kPa of pressure. The conventional propellers performed their best at 100 kPa, producing 1308 mN of thrust. However, a limitation with EAD thrusters was their tendency to create arcs of electricity when the pressure dropped too low (around 30 kPa), potentially making them unreliable in highaltitude applications. This experiment demonstrates that in environments where pressure exceeds 30 kPA, EAD thrusters offer a greater magnitude of thrust than conventional propeller systems, making them a more efficient and sustainable alternative to current commercial propulsion systems. This work will contribute to the implementation of EAD thrusters on atmospheric aircraft by advancing the understanding of their performance across various atmospheric conditions.