Electrohydrodynamically (EHD) enhanced heat transfer system and method with an encapsulated electrode

Abstract

An electrohydrodynamically enhanced heat transfer system (EHD) and method takes advantage of an electrode completely encapsulated in an insulating material and coupled to a power supply to generate an electric field between a heat transfer surface and the encapsulated electrode when energized for interacting with the heat exchange surface and the working media to reduce frost formation on the heat transfer surface, thereby enhancing heat transfer therebetween. For certain applications of the EHD enhanced heat transfer technique with the encapsulated electrode, the power supply is completely encapsulated and can be immersed into the working media. In order to reduce accumulation of condensed liquid onto the electrode, the surface of the insulating material of the encapsulated electrode is either covered with a water repellent, or heated a few degrees above the dew point temperature of the air surrounding the heat transfer surface. The encapsulated electrode can be energized by an AC or DC electric field through a controlling switch, utilizing ON/OFF modes of operation or bi-directional pulses mode of operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.