Electro-fluid-dynamic cooling devices (EFAs) are being recognized due to their enormous advantages for their application in several industrial sectors, their performance benefits from generated ionic winds and their singular features, which make them competitive with conventional fans and heatsinks. Due to the problems in the electronics industry, where traditional refrigeration systems are not effective due to their dimensions, this study analyzes an innovative arrangement based on wire-to-plane fins by direct current (DC) positive corona discharge in atmospheric air for applications. The paper focuses on optimizing the multicriteria geometry of the electrodes. Several parameters are analyzed such as the gap between emitter and ground electrodes, the electrode materials and geometry, the diameter of the high-voltage electrode and the influence of the dielectric barriers located near the corona electrode to improve heat exchange. Experimental validation shows the potential of this arrangement related to weight, volume, non-mobile parts and silence.

Atmospheric corona discharge devices are being studied as innovative systems for cooling, sterilization and propulsion, in several industrial fields, from robotics to medical devices, from drones to space applications. However, their industrial scale implementation still requires additional understanding of several complex phenomena, such as corrosion, degradation and fatigue behaviour, which may affect final system performance. This study focuses on the corrosive behaviour of wires that perform as a high-voltage electrodes subject to DC positive corona discharge in atmospheric air. The experiments demonstrate that the non-thermal plasma process promotes the growth of the oxidative films and modifies the physicochemical properties of the materials chosen as corona electrodes, hence affecting device operation. Surfaces exposed to this non-thermal plasma are electrically characterized by negative exponential decay of time-depend power and analysed with SEM. Implications on performance are analysed and discussed.