The Effects of Partial Condensation around Ions in Electric Fluid Dynamic Energy Conversion Processes

摘要

Fluid dynamic energy is converted directly into electrical energy -- unipolar charges are seeded into a gas flow and are transported by viscous interaction with the gas molecules to an electrode of high potential. The effectiveness of the viscous coupling depends on the charge mobility being greatly increased when colloid sized particles rather than molecular ions are used as the charge carriers. The mobility of charged colloids is discussed theoretically. Negative ions are produced by a corona discharge from a needle placed along the axis of a nozzle. A dense air-vapor mixture is expanded through the nozzle. The vapor condense around the ions forming charged droplets. Water and carbon tetrachloride vapors are tested. The current and power outputs of the test generator are greatly increased over the corresponding performance when ions are the charge carriers - current increases are about a factor 4 and power increases about one order of magnitude. The observed results are in good agreement with the theory. (Author)