Analytical framework for corona discharge modelling at small distances integrated with established propulsion relationships

Electro-hydrodynamics (EHD) propulsion systems have attracted attention due to its potential for maintenance-free operation, greener energy, quieter, and more efficient technologies. This study aims to develop an analytical framework to investigate corona discharge characteristics in wire-NACA 00xx airfoil electrode configurations, which can serve as a module within a larger modular propulsion system. The analytical method developed in this study follows a step by step aiming for compatibility with experimental results. One of the most critical elements of this approach is creating an accurate approximation for corona discharge, which is rigorously validated against experimental data. The comparison between the proposed analytical results and experimental data shows a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 4.13% for a 20 mm electrode gap, indicating strong predictive accuracy for corona discharge at small distances. The framework integrates established analytical relationships for EHD force, drag force, thrust, power consumption, and effectiveness to provide a complete engineering analysis tool. Various parameters such as effectiveness (i.e., thrust to power), thrust, power consumption, electric potential, and corona discharge are investigated in relation to each other and in relation to the gap between the electrodes, for the given module. While the corona discharge component is experimentally validated, the remaining propulsion quantities are derived from established physical relationships and are intended for preliminary engineering guidance and parametric studies. The summary of the results can be given in two main parts. (1) The ionic wind propulsion is impractical for large aerodynamic systems (e.g., achieving 330 kN thrust of a commercial jet engine would require approximately 500 million modules) and it can be used as independent propulsion for very small systems and as an auxiliary propulsion for small to medium systems. (2) The ionic wind propulsion is a constrained multi-objective optimization problem with the constraints including the main system parameters (e.g., minimum thrust needed, mass, etc.) and the input parameters (e.g., high voltage power supply (HPVS)), and objectives including thrust, effectiveness, etc.