Induction of waves on a horizontal water film by an impinging corona wind

The electric wind produced by corona discharge of a high-voltage electrode in air is employed for destabilizing a horizontal water film. In wire-to-plane geometry, the phenomenon is characterised by current versus voltage curves and visual observations of the onset of free-surface oscillations. The effect of the following parameters is examined for both positive and negative coronas: distance between the wire and the film (S), film thickness (h), wire diameter (phi) and composition, applied voltage (HV), and relative humidity (RH). The free-surface destabilisation is retarded by increasing d and phi and is insensitive to h in the tested range. The onset of corona discharge is predicted by Peek´s law and compared with the experimentally observed threshold. In negative corona discharge, the current values are higher and the film is destabilised at lower HV than in positive polarity. Humidity tends to decrease the corona current at a given HV. Correlations are proposed for the current-voltage curves, in terms of the mean electric field in the inter-electrode gap and of RH, satisfactorily agreeing with the experimental data. Both positive and negative corona currents turn out to be stable for days of operation. The power loss by corona discharge is in any case lower than 12 W. Wave induction on the liquid-gas interface can effectively enhance heat and mass exchange between the two phases.