Pressure-Flowrate Characteristics of Electrohydrodynamic Conduction Pump with Rod-Ring Electrodes Including Reverse Flow Range

When attempting to control the heat transport by the loop heat pipe (LHP) to an extremely small amount using an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pump, the EHD pump is exposed to conditions where the flow direction periodically changes. In this study, the pressure-flowrate (P-Q) characteristics of the EHD conduction pump, including the reverse flow regime, were investigated. The EHD pump consists of six pairs of rod-ring electrodes and is placed in a fluid loop with a mechanical pump to apply the reverse flow. The P-Q characteristics over the first and second quadrants were successfully measured. A EHD simulation model that is consistent with the pressure generated at zero flowrate is also developed, revealing the EHD field in the EHDpump.