Optimized Design of Electric Field Sensor Arrays for Engine Exhaust Charge Detection

To meet the requirements for detecting charged particles in engine exhaust, this paper proposes an optimized layout design method for electric field sensor arrays based on finite element analysis. The influence of array geometry is investigated by comparing cylindrical and flared structures, and a coupled thermal-electric field simulation is conducted to evaluate sensitivity performance. The flared configuration demonstrates superior sensitivity. Furthermore, based on Gauss’s theorem and electric flux integration, optimal array parameters are determined, including a minimum radius of 0.5 m and an extended length to maximize the side surface contribution. A multi-plane cooperative monitoring strategy is introduced, and the configuration with six monitoring layers achieves the best performance, with a measurement error of 8.55%. The proposed design significantly improves charge measurement accuracy, enhances real-time monitoring capabilities, and provides a practical and reliable approach for engine exhaust diagnostics.