Parametric study of electrohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer in a wind tunnel using thermochromic liquid crystals and smoke tracing
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mahanakorn University of Technology
- 2Engineering Innovation Unit, Graduate School of Regional Innovation Studies, Mie University
- 3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aichi Institute of Technology
- 4School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
Abstract
This study experimentally investigates electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-enhanced heat transfer in a vertical air channel. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the combined application of TLC thermography and smoke visualization to systematically correlate EHD-induced flow structures, vortex formation, and localized heat transfer enhancement under different electrode configurations and spacings. The experiments were conducted at a constant heat input of 2 W, and voltages ranging from 2500 to 10,000 V using single (E = 1) and dual (E = 2) electrode configurations with varying electrode spacing (L = 1.0–3.0 cm). This study provides detailed spatial characterization of thermal boundary layer modification. Flow visualization reveals that the application of an electric field generates ionic wind that significantly enhances flow mixing and alters the flow structure. TLC measurements demonstrate that EHD forcing leads to substantial modification of the thermal boundary layer, producing localized regions of enhanced heat transfer near the electrodes. Increasing the applied voltage expands both the intensity and spatial extent of these regions. Quantitative analysis of local and area-averaged Nusselt numbers shows that heat transfer enhancement strongly depends on electrode configuration and spacing. Dual-electrode configurations outperform single-electrode systems, with the optimal performance achieved at L = 3.0 cm. The maximum area-averaged Nusselt number increases by up to 47% compared to the baseline case. The results also indicate that electrode spacing governs the balance between enhancement intensity and spatial coverage by modulating electric field interaction. These findings provide new physical insights into EHD-driven thermal transport mechanisms and offer practical design guidelines for compact and energy-efficient thermal management systems.
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BibTeX
@article{wongcharee2026parametric,
title = {{Parametric study of electrohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer in a wind tunnel using thermochromic liquid crystals and smoke tracing}},
author = {K. Wongcharee and D. Chutrakul and N. Maruyama and T. Shoon Wai and M. Hirota and V. Chuwattanakul and S. Eiamsa-ard},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-59585-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-59585-6},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Parametric study of electrohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer in a wind tunnel using thermochromic liquid crystals and smoke tracing
AU - K. Wongcharee
AU - D. Chutrakul
AU - N. Maruyama
AU - T. Shoon Wai
AU - M. Hirota
AU - V. Chuwattanakul
AU - S. Eiamsa-ard
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-59585-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-59585-6
AB - This study experimentally investigates electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-enhanced heat transfer in a vertical air channel. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the combined application of TLC thermography and smoke visualization to systematically correlate EHD-induced flow structures, vortex formation, and localized heat transfer enhancement under different electrode configurations and spacings. The experiments were conducted at a constant heat input of 2 W, and voltages ranging from 2500 to 10,000 V using single (E = 1) and dual (E = 2) electrode configurations with varying electrode spacing (L = 1.0–3.0 cm). This study provides detailed spatial characterization of thermal boundary layer modification. Flow visualization reveals that the application of an electric field generates ionic wind that significantly enhances flow mixing and alters the flow structure. TLC measurements demonstrate that EHD forcing leads to substantial modification of the thermal boundary layer, producing localized regions of enhanced heat transfer near the electrodes. Increasing the applied voltage expands both the intensity and spatial extent of these regions. Quantitative analysis of local and area-averaged Nusselt numbers shows that heat transfer enhancement strongly depends on electrode configuration and spacing. Dual-electrode configurations outperform single-electrode systems, with the optimal performance achieved at L = 3.0 cm. The maximum area-averaged Nusselt number increases by up to 47% compared to the baseline case. The results also indicate that electrode spacing governs the balance between enhancement intensity and spatial coverage by modulating electric field interaction. These findings provide new physical insights into EHD-driven thermal transport mechanisms and offer practical design guidelines for compact and energy-efficient thermal management systems.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -