Efficient electrode configuration for electro-conjugate fluid flow generation with dibutyl decanedioate: Experimental and theoretical investigation

Electro-conjugate fluid (ECF) is a functional fluid that can generate a high-power flow induced by a high direct-current voltage. While ECF has been used in various fields, including mechanical, chemical, and biomedical systems, its underlying principles have not been sufficiently understood to be applicable to ECF system design, and the lack of theoretical models hampers further applications of ECF. This study aims to investigate underlying principles of ECF flow generation with a rectangular-slit electrode pair. By analyzing the effect of electrode configuration on the flow generation, this paper proposes a theoretical model for electrode design for efficient flow generation. The proposed model has been validated by comparing the simulation results with the visualized characteristics from flow experiments. The results show that the flow rate can be controlled by changing the electrode configuration with the maximum flow rate with the rectangular-slit electrode gap of 1.0 mm and the slit electrode gap of 5.0 mm.