Thrust Control with Switching in Electrodynamic Propulsion Systems with Corona Discharge

Electroaerodynamics (EAD) is one phenomenon that manipulates gas with high voltage. Corona discharge is a typical example and is known to produce thrust quietly without moving parts. Therefore, it is expected to be utilized in various ways, such as a thrust source of drones. As thrust with corona discharge depends on the applied voltage, it is necessary to manipulate the applied voltage for thrust control. However, large-scale systems require several tens of kV, and there is little adequate research on these systems. Thus, an adequate switching method is essential, and it is also crucial to elucidate the effect of switching on thrust. Hence, this study conducted thrust control with corona discharge and analyzed the influence of switching on thrust. Specifically, a resistor is connected in series to the electrode, and a switching element is connected in parallel with the resistor. The proposed method stabilizes and limits the voltage applied to the switching element and effectively controls the thrust and the voltage applied to the electrode. Two experiments were conducted to reveal the electrical characteristics of the electrode in corona discharge and confirm the effectiveness of the proposal. The first experiment showed the potential of switching for the electrode with corona discharge on the collector side. Moreover, the second experiment demonstrated that the proposed switching method worked properly, and thrust can be controlled by changing the duty ratio of switching. The achievements of this study are expected to control levitation systems EAD, such as corona discharge, and realize stable control.