Experimental optimization of an electric blower by corona wind A. Rashkovan, E. Sher, H. Kalman * Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel Received 30 April 2002; accepted 25 June 2002 Abstract The effect of corona wind produced by stretched steel wire and two copper wings on the heat transfer from a heated horizontal plate was investigated experimentally. Although in such an arrangement the heat transfer augmentation is expected to be lower, some advantages may be postulated. In such a construction, the plate to be cooled is not a part of the wind generation system, it is not charged, the electrical field next to it is negligible, and it may be constructed from non-metallic materials. In the course of the study, optimal geometric parameters of the electric blower together with optimal value of high voltage supply have been established. Under these optimal conditions, augmentation by three times of the heat transfer coefficient over that for the natural convection has been achieved. Ó 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Corona wind; Heat transfer augmentation; Cooling electronic components; Natural and forced convection 1. Introduction The trend of future electronic chips is towards high power density (up to 200 W/m 2 by the year 2010) and high performance quality at temperatures lower than 105 °C. Therefore, many re- searches have been devoted recently towards this challenge. The efforts are concentrated on in- direct water cooling, direct immersion of the chips that might include boiling [1,10], heat pipes Applied Thermal Engineering 22 (2002) 1587–1599 www.elsevier.com/locate/apthermeng * Corresponding author. Tel.: +972-8-6477-099; fax: +972-8-6477-107. E-mail address: hkalman@bgumail.bgu.ac.il (H. Kalman). 1359-4311/02/$ - see front matter Ó 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII:S1359-4311(02)00082-0