EHD-enhanced drying with wire electrode

The enhancement of drying rate by electrostatic field (corona wind) has been experimentally evaluated in this study. The samples used are 3mm and 6mm glass beads saturated with water. Two sets of experiments were conducted, with and without cross-flow, at 1 kV increment from the corona threshold voltage until the occurrence of sparkover. For each case a companion experiment was carried out simultaneously under the same ambient conditions but without the application of electric field. The result of which is used as a basis in the evaluation of drying enhancement using electric field (with or without cross-flow). Each experiment lasted for at least 5 h. The weight loss of water as well as the ambient temperature and humidity were measured. For EHD drying without cross-flow, the enhancement in drying rate increases with the applied voltage. With the presence of cross-flow, the enhancement in drying rate is nearly independent of the applied voltage and is close to the result obtained by drying with cross-flow alone.