Investigation of the lifter's lift mechanism and efficiency

The lift force of the lifter were measured with different voltage and geometry between electrodes.The ionic wind explanation of the lifter's flying was given and the formulas of the lifter's lift and efficiency was deduced based on it with an one dimensional electrohydrodynamic(EHD) method.The theoretical results agree with the present experimental results.The lift force generation and its magnitude depends on the corona discharge current.When the voltage between the electrodes is not very high,the magnitude of the lift fore is parabolic to the voltage,proportional to the distance between the electrodes,and inverse proportional to the length of the electrodes.The influence of the parameters on the lift force and efficiency of the lifter was analysed according to the theoretical formulas.The lifter's efficiency can be improved by reducing the ion drift velocity while the lifter force is reduced.The lifter's performance is compared with that of the present propulsion systems and it indicates the lifter's thrust power ratio is greater while its efficiency and thrust weight ratio is smaller.Thus the lifter can be only developed as an auxiliary aviation propulsion system.