It is believed that the research reported in this thesis answers some fundamental questions about EHD flow and effect of different parameters on this phenomenon, assuming complicated discharge electrode geometries. However, there are number of issues which deserve further investigation.
7.2.1 Modeling
The models presented in this work provide a step forward in predicting the characteristics of EHD systems, but further development efforts would be desired. Numerical models could be improved to include; a wide range of non-symmetric geometries, details of plasma formation, geometry optimization for maximum performance.
7.2.2 Experimental studies
A database of experimental setups and measurements could also be used to identify strengths of the discussed models which may be further implemented in different applications.
7.2.3 EHD pump design for cooling an electronic circuit
One of the main applications of EHD pumps is in cooling of electronic circuits. As we know, to initiate and sustain a corona discharge process required in an EHD pump, the electric field in the area of ion creation must exceed the dielectric strength of air, which under standard conditions is approximately equal to three kilovolts per millimeter. For most practical devices, this requires an operating voltage greater than a kilovolt and often multiple kilovolts. As most electronic applications do not have an existing power source suitable to directly power an EHD air mover, a compact high voltage power supply must be included as part of the EHD system design. For compact applications, such as many consumer electronics, the development of small, efficient and low cost high voltage power supplies is essential. Such power supply devices are critical for commercial EHD applications.
7.2.4 Sliding Discharge
A relatively new design for plasma actuators is based on a sliding discharge. The concept is based on utilizing the AC DBD to weakly ionize the air, and then to superpose a DC electric field to establish a corona discharge between spatially separated electrodes. The DC component induces the sliding discharge. This design is based on the three-electrode geometry: two air-exposed electrodes flush mounted on the wall surface of a dielectric material (Electrodes 1 and 2) and another planar electrode on the other side of the dielectric wall (Electrode 3). The electrode placed below the dielectric may also be encapsulated in the dielectric wall. Electrodes 2 and 3 are connected together, and usually grounded, whereas Electrode 1 is excited. If Electrode 1 is excited by an AC HV, without a DC component, then there is a typical DBD between Electrodes 1 and 3. On the other hand, if one applies simultaneously a sufficient AC component to establish a DBD, plus a DC component sufficient to establish a typical corona between Electrodes 1 and 2, then a sliding discharge is produced. In fact, it seems that the DBD plays the role of ionizer around Electrode 1, and the DC component induces a sliding corona discharge between Electrodes 1 and 3. The advantages of this concept are that large plasma sheets can be produced and the plasma is stable with no glow-to-arc transition, except when the DC component is above the DC breakdown limit for the air.
7.2.5 Different applications of plasma actuators
There are an ever growing number of applications of DBD plasma actuators. New applications continue to appear as more investigators gain experience in using the concept of EHD actuator design. A partial list of these includes low-pressure turbine blade separation control, turbine tip-clearance flow control, unsteady vortex generation and control, and airfoil leading-edge separation control as well as boundary layer control. Study on real industrial applications and optimization of the EHD actuator for practical cases mentioned above looks a promising area for future work.
Curriculum Vitae
Name: Mohammadreza Ghazanchaei
Post-secondary Iran University of Science & Technology
Education and Tehran, Iran
Degrees: 2004-2008 B.Sc.
Iran University of Science & Technology Tehran, Iran
2008-2010 M.Sc. Western University London, Ontario, Canada 2011-2015 Ph.D.
Honors and First rank among the M.Sc. Power electronics students
Awards: of the Electrical Engineering Department,
Iran University of Science & Technology, Sep. 2010
Graduate research scholarship at Western Univ., London, Ontario, Sep. 2011
Second place best presentation award at ESA conference, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada,
June 2012
Third place best presentation award at ESA conference, University of North Dame, IN, USA,
June 2014
Related Work Teaching Assistant
Experience Western University
2011-2015
Research Assistant Western University 2011-2015
Research Engineer & Research Assistant, Advanced Electrical Machine Design & Drive Lab, IUST, Power Engineering Department, 2008-2010
Publications:
M.R. Ghazanchaei, K. Adamiak, G.S.P. Castle, “Predicted flow characteristics of a wire- nonparallel plate type electrohydrodynamic gas pump using the Finite Element Method,” J. Electrost., Vol. 73, pp. 103-111, Feb. 2015
M.R. Ghazanchaei, K. Adamiak, G.S.P. Castle, “Modeling of dielectric barrier discharge actuator for airflow control,” under review: J. phys. D: Appl. Phys., Mar. 2015
Mohammadreza Ghazanchaei, Kazimierz Adamiak, G.S. Peter Castle, “Numerical Modeling of EHD Interaction in the Boundary Layer of Air Flows,” under review: Int. J. Flow Control, Feb. 2015
Mohammadreza Ghazanchaei, Kazimierz Adamiak, G.S. Peter Castle, “Numerical study on the DC corona discharge for the active airflow control along the flat plate,” Ins. Phys., IOP: Electrostatics, Vol.1, pp.85, Southampton, UK, April, 2015
Mohammadreza Ghazanchaei, Kazimierz Adamiak, G.S. Peter Castle, “Quasi-stationary numerical model of the dielectric barrier discharge,” J. Electrost., Vol.72:4, pp. 261-269, Aug.2014
Mohammadreza Ghazanchaei, Kazimierz Adamiak, G.S. Peter Castle, “Investigation on dielectric barrier discharge actuator to control airflow boundary layer,” Electrostatic Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting on Electrostatics, Pomona, USA, June 2015 Mohammadreza Ghazanchaei, Kazimierz Adamiak, G.S. Peter Castle, “Modeling of dielectric barrier discharge actuator for airflow control,” CANCAM 2015, London, Canada, June 2015
Mohammadreza Ghazanchaei, Kazimierz Adamiak, G.S. Peter Castle, “Predicted flow characteristics of a wire-nonparallel plate type electrohydrodynamic gas pump using the Finite Element Method,” Electrostatics Society of America (ESA), Notre Dame, USA, June 2014
M.R. Ghazanchaei, K. Adamiak, G.S.P. Castle, “Numerical Modeling of EHD Interaction in the Boundary Layer of Air Flows,” Cage Club Student Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Applied Electrostatics, Hamilton, ON, Aug. 2014
M.R. Ghazanchaei, K. Adamiak, G.S.P. Castle, “Quasi-stationary numerical model of the dielectric barrier discharge,” Electrostatics Society of America (ESA), Cocoa Beach, USA, June 2013
M.R. Ghazanchaei, K. Adamiak, G.S.P. Castle, “Adaptation of Comsol software to the simulation of corona discharge phenomenon,” IEEE/ESA Joint Conference, Cambridge, Canada, June 2012