Electrohydrodynamic pressure drop in a silent and superimposed barrier discharge

An electrohydrodynamic (EHD) force generates secondary induced flow by electric fields in a barrier discharge reactor. In order to optimize a pumping power, the reactor pressure drop must be minimized. In this work, the role play by an EHD force on the pressure drop of coaxial barrier discharge reactor is experimentally investigated. Experiments are conducted for the simulated combustion gas (N/sub 2/:O/sub 2/:CO/sub 2/:NO), gas flow rate from 1 to 10 L/min, and 60 Hz ac applied voltage from 0 to 36 kV. Pressure drop of reactor is measured by the capacitance/diaphragm type VALIDYNE pressure transducer. The results show that: (1) For gas flow velocity Qg<6 L/min, the pressure drop slightly increases with increasing applied voltage for silent discharge; and (2) For gas velocity Qg>6 L/min, the pressure drop decreases with increasing applied voltage for silent and superimposed operating modes.