Performance enhancement of electrohydrodynamic thruster using sub unit electrode configuration

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) propulsion has garnered significant interest as a lightweight and silent thrust generation technology, owing to its lack of moving parts and low vibration characteristics. However, enhancing the thrust output and energy efficiency of EHD thrusters remains a key challenge. This study introduces a novel thrust enhancement electrode configuration that incorporates a sub unit for an EHD propulsion system. Experimental results demonstrate that the introduction of the sub unit substantially increases thrust generation compared with the conventional electrode system without a sub unit. At an applied voltage of 22 kV, the conventional configuration generates a thrust of 50.23 mN, whereas the sub unit electrode system achieves 64.09 mN, representing an approximate 27.59% increase in thrust. To further enhance thrust generation, an additional structure, termed the sub unit plus, is implemented beneath the original sub unit electrode system. This enhanced configuration optimizes aerodynamic interactions within the investigated range, resulting in a thrust output of 68.70 mN. The sub unit plus electrode system delivers an additional 7.19% increase in thrust over the sub unit configuration alone, and a total improvement of 36.77% relative to the conventional system. These results indicate an engineering trade-off between maximizing absolute thrust and maintaining thrust to power ratio of the configuration. Overall, the incorporation of sub unit structures is crucial in enhancing thrust output. The proposed design strategy provides a promising pathway for improving thrust performance in EHD propulsion systems and provides valuable insights for the development of higher thrust output EHD thrusters.